Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interferometric apodization by homothety – II. Experimental validation

This work presents the results of experimental laboratory tests on the apodization of circular and rectangular apertures using the Interferometric Apodization by Homothety (IAH) technique. The IAH approach involves splitting the amplitude of the instrumental PSF into two equal parts. One of the two produced PSFs undergoes a homothety to change its transverse dimensions while its amplitude is properly controlled. The two PSFs are then combined to produce an apodized image. The diffraction wings of the resulting PSF are subsequently reduced by some variable reduction factor, depending on an amplitude parameter γ and a spread parameter η. This apodization approach was implemented in the laboratory using an interferometric setup based on the Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). The experimental results exhibit a strong agreement between theory and experiment. For instance, the average experimental contrast obtained at a low angular separation of 2. 4λ/D does not exceed 5 × 10−4. This work also allowed us to study the influence on the apodizer’s performance of some parameters such as the wavelength and the density of the neutral filters.
Impact of different treatments on the antioxidant properties of two market types of peanuts grown in Mexico

The effect of roasting, frying, microwave heating, and germination on the antioxidant properties, total phenolics and flavonoids content of two types of peanuts (Valencia and Virginia) grown in Mexico was investigated. The thermal treatments affected the phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity of the two varieties of peanuts differently (by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP and iron chelating activity methods). Germination was the best method to increase the antioxidant activity (up to 157% increase in the Virginia variety) and the contents of compounds with nutraceutical potential in the peanuts (up to 59% increase in total phenolics in the Valencia variety and 700% increase in total flavonoids in the Virginia variety). Germinated peanuts could be used as raw material for the production of functional foods.
MultAtt-RippleNet: Multi-attribute and Knowledge-based Attention Fusion Recommendation Model

RippleNet model is mainly through the joint training of knowledge graph and recommendation algorithm. In the recommendation system used this model, the effect is good but ignored the relevance of the semantics of each jump entity in the knowledge graph. The user of different degrees of relationship preference has not been taken into account, so a new model MultAtt-RippleNet is proposed. In the new model, we fuse the user’s preference weights for the relationship with the knowledge-aware weights to obtain more accurate and add realistic user preference weights to the ripple. The experimental results show that the highest performance of the MultAtt-Ripple model has increased to 92.67% for AUC and 85.90% for ACC, and the overall model has improved significantly, solving the problem that the generalization ability and accuracy of the model are not very high.
Flexible wearable antenna incorporating metasurface for WBAN applications

The wireless body area networks (WBAN) have received much interest from researchers in the field of medical application in recent years such as heart rate, temperature monitoring and blood pressure. In this study, a new antenna design with a low profile or easy fabricates introduced (WBAN) applications. In this work, a metasurface technique was used to improve the antenna characteristics, including return loss, gain and radiation patterns. The designed structure, and numerical analysis have been performed by using Computer Simulations Technologies (CST) microwave studio. The structure of the antenna a composite of three layers from top to bottom as follows: radiation copper patch, felt substrate and ground copper. The key idea for this work is loading the MTS structure of a 5 × 5 unit cell to the designed antenna to enhance the antenna parameters. The overall structure thickness is 4.68 mm and the antenna operates between 6 and 14 GHz. According to the results, for the simulation and measurement, the gain increased from 7.33 dBi to 7.47 dBi and from 10.23 dBi to 11.1 dBi with and without MTS, respectively. The antenna was investigated in free space and on a human body both numerically, and experimentally. In addition, the bending evaluation was investigated. The novelties of this work are high gain, wide-band, directional radiation pattern, small size, low profile, and easy fabrication. The experimental, and simulation results are in good agreement. We believe this work can be helpful in future medical applications.
Outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with extreme large infarction core

Background Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and large infarction core may still benefit from mechanical thrombectomy (MT). In this study, we evaluate outcomes of MT in LVO patients presenting with extremely large infarction core Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS 0–2). Methods Data from the Stroke Thrombectomy and Aneurysm Registry (STAR) was interrogated. We identified thrombectomy patients presenting with an occlusion in the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) or M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and extremely large infarction core (ASPECTS 0–2). A favorable outcome was defined by achieving a modified Rankin scale of 0–3 at 90 days post-MT. Successful recanalization was defined by achieving a modified Thrombolysis In Cerebral Ischemia (mTICI) score ≥2B. Results We identified 58 patients who presented with ASPECTS 0–2 and underwent MT . Median age was 70.0 (59.0–78.0) years, 45.1% were females, and 202 (36.3%) patients received intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. There was no difference regarding the location of the occlusion (p=0.57). Aspiration thrombectomy was performed in 268 (54.6%) patients and stent retriever was used in 70 (14.3%) patients. In patients presenting with ASPECTS 0-2 the mortality rate was 4.5%, 27.9% had mRS 0-3 at day 90, 66.67% ≥70 years of age had mRS of 5-6 at day 90. On multivariable analysis, age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale on admission, and successful recanalization (mTICI ≥2B) were independently associated with favorable outcomes. Conclusions This multicentered, retrospective cohort study suggests that MT may be beneficial in a select group of patients with ASPECTS 0–2.
Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene Family in Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)—Phylogenetic Patterns and Molecular Characteristics

Simple Summary Spirometra mansoni is a neglected human-infective tapeworm. Its motile larva can invade humans, causing a parasitic zoonosis known as sparganosis. Cestoda parasites live in an oxygen-deprived environment in the gastrointestinal tract of their hosts; they mainly depend on energy production from glucose to lactate catalyzed by a series of enzymes under anaerobic conditions. Meanwhile, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a complicated multi-gene family and plays key roles in oxidative production capacity and detoxification pathways in organisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the gene diversity, phylogenetic patterns and molecular characteristics of the S. mansoni lactate dehydrogenase (SmLDH) protein family to explore the potential important roles of SmLDH in the growth and development of S. mansoni. Abstract The plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni can parasitize both human and animals, resulting in sparganosis. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an important enzyme in parasites. However, our knowledge of the LDH family in S. mansoni is still inadequate. This work identified 19 new LDH members in S. mansoni. Clustering analysis demonstrated that all SmLDHs were divided into two main groups, which is consistent with the patterns of conserved motif organization. According to RT-qPCR, 2 LDHs were highly expressed in the plerocercoid stage and 17 LDHs were highly expressed in the adult stage. The evolutionary tree showed a high level of diversity of both cestode and trematode LDHs. SmLDHs contained both conserved family members and members in the process of further diversification. rSmLDH has a NAD-binding domain and a substrate-binding domain. The protein was immunolocalized in the epidermis of the pleroceroid and in the tegument, uterus and egg shell of adult worms. The optimum activity for rSmLDH in the pyruvate reduction reaction was found to be pH 4.5 and 37 °C. In the oxidation reaction, optimal values for pH and temperature were 9.0 and 30 °C, respectively. Gossypol was found to be the most powerful inhibitor in both reduction and oxidation reactions. The results provide a basis for the further study of the biological roles of LDHs in S. mansoni and other LDH-containing taxa.
Endosomal trafficking inhibitor EGA can control TLR7-mediated IFNα expression by human plasmacytoid dendritic cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are the major producer of type 1 IFN in response to TLR7 agonists. Aberrant TLR7 activation and type 1 IFN expression by pDCs are linked to the pathogenesis of certain types of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study investigated the underlying mechanisms for TLR7-mediated cytokine expression by pDCs using a late endosome trafficking inhibitor, EGA (4-bromobenzaldehyde N-(2,6-dimethylphenyl) semicarbazone). We found that EGA treatment decreased IFNα expression by pDCs stimulated with imiquimod (R837), single-stranded RNA40, and influenza virus. EGA also decreased TNFα expression and secretion by R837-stimulated pDCs. Mechanistically, EGA treatment decreased phosphorylation of IKKα/β, STAT1, and p38, and prolonged degradation of IκBα. Furthermore, EGA treatment decreased the colocalization of 3F, a substituted adenine TLR7 agonist, with LAMP1+ compartments in pDCs. EGA was also capable of diminishing IFNα expression by SLE pDCs treated with R837 or live PR8/A/34 influenza viruses. Therefore, we concluded that trafficking of TLR7 agonists to LAMP1+ compartments is important for IFNα expression by pDCs. Data from this study support additional examinations of the potential benefits of EGA in treating type 1 IFN-associated inflammatory diseases in the future.
Fast, Light-weight, and Accurate Performance Evaluation using Representative Datacenter Behaviors

Datacenters rapidly evolve by adopting new features such as new hardware deployment and software patches. Adopting a new feature requires an accurate evaluation of its impact to minimize the risk to the multi-million dollar computing infrastructure. However, a comprehensive performance analysis of a datacenter is extremely challenging due to its cost and multitenancy. Evaluating the performance in a live datacenter is accurate but prohibitive to prevent any damage to production services. Using conventional load-testing benchmarks on small-scale testbeds is imprecise as they do not consider the effect of other co-located jobs. In this paper, we propose FLARE, a fast, lightweight, and accurate performance evaluation method using representative datacenter behaviors. The key idea is to extract a small set of representative job colocation scenarios from all possible job colocations in a target datacenter. FLARE systematically characterizes and groups job colocations according to performance and resource metrics, providing high-level insights into the datacenter's behaviors. Then, it reconstructs the colocations on a testbed and allows accurate feature evaluation with load-testing benchmarks. We evaluate FLARE using an in-house datacenter and three features: cache sizing, DVFS, and SMT configurations. FLARE accurately estimates the impact of features with less than 1% errors by incurring 50× and 10× lower evaluation costs compared to full datacenter and sampling-based evaluation, respectively.
On-board medium resolution SAR processing for fast image generation

Spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instruments are becoming a very important source of information for Earth observation. These systems produce a great amount of data to be stored and extensively processed on ground. However, recent technological developments concerning microprocessors and solid state memories will enable the possibility of on-board SAR data processing. In this scenario, efficient algorithms for generating SAR images are demanded. This new situation requires specially designed algorithms for the processing stages because high-resolution approaches to SAR image generation are still too computationally expensive. We compare and analyse a very efficient SAR processing method for reduced resolution images called spectral analysis (SPECAN) and its variants. This work compares for the first time SPECAN techniques and their variants with other possible candidates. Overall processing evaluation is validated in a simulation environment using ERS-1 raw data. This study compares the computational cost of the algorithms. The conclusion obtained from this study is that SPECAN and especially SPECAN combined with Chirp-Z Transform is a very appropriate candidate for processing SAR data not only in azimuth but also in range. The results show that these new developments are very promising for obtaining fast and simple SAR image generation and they could be suitable candidates for potential on-board implementation.
Kindergarten children’s math anxiety and its relationship with mathematical performance (Ansiedad matemática en niños y niñas de kínder y su relación con el rendimiento matemático)

ABSTRACT There is limited evidence on the occurrence of math anxiety among kindergarten children. This study sought to measure the occurrence of math anxiety in this group by adapting a math anxiety scale to Chilean children and evaluating the association between math anxiety and mathematical performance. The sample included 124 kindergarten children (age M = 5.69) enrolled in Chilean public schools. The results confirmed the two-factor structure of the original scale (worry and somatization). Notably, outcomes pertaining to math anxiety did not show gender differences or an association with math self-concept. A multiple regression analysis revealed that math anxiety is a significant predictor of mathematical skills, even after controlling for gender, age and math self-concept. These results underscore the significance of tackling math anxiety during early education to foster early mathematical learning in children.
River water quality modelling for river basin and water resources management with a focus on the Saale River, Germany

(TYPE=abstract)This thesis focuses on computer modelling issues such as i) uncertainty, including uncertainty in parameters, data input and model structure, ii) model complexity and how it affects uncertainty, iii) scale, as it pertains to scaling calibrated and validated models up or down to different spatial and temporal resolutions, and iv) transferability of a model to a site of the same scale. The discussion of these issues is well established in the fields of hydrology and hydrogeology but has found less application in river water quality modelling. This thesis contributes to transferring these ideas to river modelling and to discuss their utilization when simulating river water quality. In order to provide a theoretical framework for the discussion of these topics several hypotheses have been adapted and extended. The basic principle is that model error decreases and sensitivity increases as a model becomes more complex. This behaviour is modified depending if the model is being upscaled or downscaled or is being transferred to a different application site. A modelling exercise of the middle and lower Saale River in Germany provides a case study to test these hypotheses. The Saale is ideal since it has gained much attention as a test case for river basin management. It is heavily modified and regulated, has been overly polluted in the past and contains many contaminated sites. High demands are also placed on its water resources. To provide discussion of some important water management issues pertaining to the Saale River, modelling scenarios using the Saale models have been included to investigate the impact of a reduction in non-point nutrient loading and the removal and implementation of lock-and-weir systems on the river.
Evaluation of Baseflow Modeling with BlueM.Sim for Long-Term Hydrological Studies in the German Low Mountain Range of Hesse, Germany

So far, research with the hydrological model BlueM.Sim has been focused on reservoir management and integrated river basin modeling. BlueM.Sim is part of the official toolset for estimating immissions into rivers in Hesse (Germany) via long-term continuous modeling. Dynamic runoff modeling from rural catchments is permitted within the Hessian guidelines, but in practice, a constant flow or low flow is used. However, due to increasing water stress in the region caused by climate change, the dynamic modeling of runoff from rural catchments will become necessary. Therefore, dynamic baseflow modeling with BlueM.Sim is of the greatest importance. This study evaluated baseflow modeling with BlueM.Sim in a representative hard-rock aquifer in the German Low Mountain range. Two model setups (Factor Approach (FA): CN method + monthly baseflow; Soil Moisture Approach (SMA): physical soil moisture simulation) were calibrated (validated) for a 9-year (5-year) period. The FA achieved an NSE of 0.62 (0.44) and an LnNSE of 0.64 (0.60) for the calibration and validation periods. The selection of a solution for the successful validation of the FA was challenging and required a selection that overestimated baseflow in the calibration period. This is due to the major disadvantage of the FA, namely, that baseflow can only vary according to an estimated yearly pattern of monthly baseflow factors. However, the data requirements are low, and the estimation of monthly baseflow factors is simple and could potentially be regionalized for Hesse, leading to a better representation of baseflow than in current practice. The SMA achieved better results with an NSE of 0.78 (0.75) and an LnNSE of 0.72 (0.78). The data requirements and model setup are extensive and require the estimation of many parameters, which are limitations to its application in practice. Furthermore, a literature review has shown that a single linear reservoir, as in BlueM.Sim, is not optimal for modeling baseflow in hard-rock aquifers. However, for detailed climate change impact studies in the region with BlueM.Sim, the SMA should be preferred over the FA. It is expected that BlueM.Sim would benefit from implementing a more suitable model structure for baseflow in hard-rock aquifers, resulting in improved water balance and water quality outcomes.
Hajj and Hajj Attire for Bugis Women: A Phenomenological Study in Bone District, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

For the Bugis people in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) is a religious practice that illustrates a balance between practicing Islamic teachings and preserving local culture. This article explores the construction of meaning in hajj practices among Bugis women through various rituals and attributes, including wearing hajj attire. Data were collected through fieldwork in Bone District, South Sulawesi in which we conducted interviews with Bugis women of different ages, levels of education, and social classes who had made the pilgrimage. Through a phenomenological approach, we found that the practice of Bugis hajj rituals, such as mappatoppo, is common among all Bugis women across different groups. However, the hajj attire varies and can be categorized into traditional, modern, and moderate. The variations are influenced by the level of education, access to information and technology, social status, knowledge of the Islamic religion, occupation, kinship and association, and generational groups. We argued hajj attire carries different functions for different Bugis women, i.e., social control, traditional identity, representation of past political memory, social status and legitimacy, and markers of exclusivity. This study contributes to the global talk about the mix between religious and cultural expression by showing a complex continuity and changes of the expression amid the modernization the Bugis people experience.
O POTENCIAL DE IMAGENS QUICKBIRD PARA ANÁLISE DO RELEVO DE UM SETOR DO PLANALTO DAS ARAUCÁRIAS, RS: CENTRO DE PESQUISAS E CONSERVAÇÃO DA NATUREZA PRÓ-MATA

This paper analyzes the potential of high-resolution images (QuickBird satellite) to mapping the relief features of a sector of the Planalto das Araucarias, an elevated area in northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, State, Brazil. The Center for Research and Nature Conservation PRO-MATA was chooses as an experimental area. In 1994, the PRO-MATA was created to perform studies and to propose actions for the conservation of the so-called Mata Atlântica. QuickBird data and GIS techniques were used to execute the mapping. Two field surveys were done to obtain ground-based information and to get control points through differential GPS. Main steps of the work: creation of a Digital Elevation Model (DEM), merging and geometric correction of the QuickBird image, mapping hydrology and geomorphology. Topographic features, such as slope, elevation and 3D views of the area were extracted from the DEM. Considering the morphologic and morphometric features of relief, the geomorphologic map was constructed at the 1/15,000 scale. The drainage network was mapped in detail. At the area under study, the strong relief and the steep slopes made it difficult to get ground control points and to correct geometric distortions of the image used. Nevertheless, the high spatial resolution of the image allowed a detailed mapping of the area, optimizing field surveys. The results show that the QuickBird image is fully adequate for study the relief of high-elevation area with rough terrain.
3 - Utilisation du cepstre d'énergie pour la vélocimétrie par images de particules

While the autocorrelation is often computed in particle image velocimetry (PIV), we propose instead to use the power cepstrum for such a measurement. We discuss different formulations of the power cepstrum which is indeed a Cool well-suited for the detection of the echoes due to multi-exposure . Contrary ta the autocorrelation, the resolution of the power cepstrum is not related to the size of particles . Thence, the use of the power cepstrum has the advantage to allow the measurement of displacements lower than the size of particles . We show that the contribution of the echo in comparison with the contribution of the initial signal in the cepstrum is increased by the use of a window. We verify that such a use also allows to improve the cepstrum over noise ratio .