Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Processing of Lithium in Halo Stars Cooler than the Spite Plateau. III. Observations and Abundance Analysis

We have measured the Li abundances, or upper limits, of 26 metal-poor stars generally cooler than the Spite plateau, where Li destruction (in dwarfs) and dilution (in subgiants) is expected. These stars were targeted in order to study Li processing mechanisms that must be understood in order for the primordial Li abundances in warmer less-depleted halo stars to be inferred. Iron abundances have also been measured from the spectra. For the cool dwarfs, depletion of Li relative to hotter plateau stars (which may or may not be depleted) becomes significant at 5700 K. They show depletion of Li by ≃0.27 dex per 100 K over the interval 5000 K < Teff < 5500 K. This trend is shallower than predicted by a subset of 16.5 Gyr Yale "standard" (nondiffusive, nonrotating, nonmagnetic, non-mass loss) models, but is in reasonable agreement at 5000 K. The overall depletion pattern appears to be generally independent of metallicity for halo stars. However, several stars of similar temperature and metallicity exhibit different degrees of depletion, and it is possible that metallicity plays a role in this more complex situation. Despite the shallower slope of the observations over this temperature range, depletion becomes a much steeper function of temperature cooler than ~4900 K, consistent with these (and other) models. The subgiants conform to the dilution patterns previously revealed for this class, except for the high Li abundance of HD 89499. Another mechanism is believed to be responsible for this short-period binary, possibly the suppression by tidal forces of main-sequence rotationally induced mixing.
Tightly Coupled Integration of Pedestrian Dead Reckoning and Bluetooth Based on Filter and Optimizer

As a critical topic of Internet of Things applications, smartphone-based indoor navigation has a rapidly growing need in various applications. However, indoor navigation technology is unreliable when facing a challenge in complex indoor environments. This article presents a tightly coupled (TC) integration of pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) and Bluetooth for indoor pedestrian navigation and enhances it from three approaches. We first establish a Gaussian-based distance model (GDM) that improves the signal path-loss model to incorporate the prior information on the variation of signal volatility with distance. Then, the use of map information and a back-off strategy to optimize the particle transfer strategy further improves the positioning accuracy and rationality of the system. Moreover, we leverage behavioral landmarks, signal landmarks, and distance information to build a graph optimization model to optimize the proposed navigator. We have extensively verified the proposed navigator and compared it with the existing solutions and systems. Experimental results demonstrated that the average errors of the proposed solutions in three scenes were 34.71% of Bluetooth, 14.04% of PDR, 45.13% of the extended Kalman filter, 57.83% of the unscented Kalman filter, and 56.10% of PF, respectively. The results showed that our proposed solution has apparent advantages, especially when addressing the issues of incorrect trajectory updating and divergence of the system in a complex environment.
Polyaniline and Polyaniline-Based Materials as Sorbents in Solid-Phase Extraction Techniques

Polyaniline (PANI) is one of the best known and widely studied conducting polymers with multiple applications and unique physicochemical properties. Due to its porous structure and relatively high surface area as well as the affinity toward many analytes related to the ability to establish different types of interactions, PANI has a great potential as a sorbent in sample pretreatment before instrumental analyses. This study provides an overview of the applications of polyaniline and polyaniline composites as sorbents in sample preparation techniques based on solid-phase extraction, including conventional solid-phase extraction (SPE) and its modifications, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), dispersive solid-phase extraction (dSPE), magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). The utility of PANI-based sorbents in chromatography was also summarized. It has been shown that polyaniline is willingly combined with other components and PANI-based materials may be formed in a variety of shapes. Polyaniline alone and PANI-based composites were successfully applied for sample preparation before determination of various analytes, both metal ions and organic compounds, in different matrices such as environmental samples, food, human plasma, urine, and blood.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of acupuncture as an adjunct to IVF cycles in China and the world

Acupuncture has been introduced as an adjuvant therapy to in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles in many randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, there has been a debate among trials regarding the effectiveness and safety of the procedure. To determine how effective and safe acupuncture is as an adjunct to IVF cycles for primary and secondary female infertility. We conducted a literature search for relevant RCTs and ultimately included nine studies. The main selected outcomes included the rates of clinical pregnancy, ongoing pregnancy, miscarriage, live birth, and side effects. Patients receiving acupuncture were grouped together regardless of the acupuncture points used or the protocol for the insertion of needles. We performed a subgroup analysis according to whether studies originated inside and outside China to investigate the results of the different RCTs. We pooled outcomes as a risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). The analysis revealed that in China, acupuncture led to lower clinical [RR=0.80, 95% CI (0.66, 0.97), p=0.02] and ongoing [RR=0.78, 95% CI (0.63, 0.97), p=0.03] pregnancy rates than placebo. Outside China, acupuncture increased clinical pregnancy rates [RR=1.38, 95% CI (1.11, 1.71), p=0.003] and ongoing [RR=1.73, 95% CI (1.29, 2.31), p<0.001] pregnancy rates. Rates of live birth and miscarriage did not significantly differ between the arms. Regarding side effects, acupuncture groups had a significantly higher rate of puncture site itching compared to control groups [RR=1.51, 95% CI (1.12, 2.04), p=0.007]. Overall analysis does not show a statistically significant increase in clinical pregnancy rates worldwide when using acupuncture as an adjunct therapy to IVF. There were no issues regarding patient safety from any included study. Subgroup results indicated that better rates for clinical pregnancy seem to be occurring more often in RCTs performed outside China than within.
Convergence and error analysis of a numerical method for the identification of matrix parameters in elliptic PDEs

We analyze a numerical method for solving the inverse problem of identifying the diffusion matrix in an elliptic PDE from distributed noisy measurements. We use a regularized least-squares approach in which the state equations are given by a finite element discretization of the elliptic PDE. The unknown matrix parameters act as control variables and are handled with the help of variational discretization as introduced in (Hinze M 2005 Comput. Optim. Appl. 30 45–61). For a suitable coupling of Tikhonov regularization parameter, finite element grid size and noise level we are able to prove L2-convergence of the discrete solutions to the unique norm-minimal solution of the identification problem; corresponding convergence rates can be obtained provided that a suitable projected source condition is fulfilled. Finally, we present a numerical experiment which supports our theoretical findings.
Time-series measurements of chromospheric Ca II H and K emission in cool stars and the search for differential rotation

Enregistrements durant plusieurs saisons des raies Ca II H et K des cœurs de plusieurs etoiles froides, essentiellement des etoiles de la basse sequence principale ayant ete observees par Wilson pour des fluctuations d'activite chromospherique a long terme
Simulating Spatiotemporal Changes in Land Use and Land Cover of the North-Western Himalayan Region Using Markov Chain Analysis

Spatial variabilities and drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) change over time and are crucial for determining the region’s economic viability and ecological functionality. The North-Western Himalayan (NWH) regions have witnessed drastic changes in LULC over the last 50 years, as a result of which their ecological diversity has been under significant threat. There is a need to understand how LULC change has taken place so that appropriate conservation measures can be taken well in advance to understand the implications of the current trends of changing LULC. This study has been carried out in the Baramulla district of the North-Western Himalayas to assess its current and future LULC changes and determine the drivers responsible for future policy decisions. Using Landsat 2000, 2010, and 2020 satellite imagery, we performed LULC classification of the study area using the maximum likelihood supervised classification. The land-use transition matrix, Markov chain model, and CA-Markov model were used to determine the spatial patterns and temporal variation of LULC for 2030. The CA-Markov model was first used to predict the land cover for 2020, which was then verified by the actual land cover of 2020 (Kappa coefficient of 0.81) for the model’s validation. After calibration and validation of the model, LULC was predicted for the year 2030. Between the years 2000 and 2020, it was found that horticulture, urbanization, and built-up areas increased, while snow cover, forest cover, agricultural land, and water bodies all decreased. The significant drivers of LULC changes were economic compulsions, climate variability, and increased human population. The analysis finding of the study highlighted that technical, financial, policy, or legislative initiatives are required to restore fragile NWH regions experiencing comparable consequences.
Morphometric Analysis of Fouquieria splendens Callogenesis by Image Segmentation Strategies

Developmental biology needs also the quantification of cellular properties during development and experimental data as a prerequisite to the study of developing cellular structures of plants and computational techniques are useful information that includes image processing, digital morphology and computational geometry. This work applies the CellSet software that performs quantitative analysis of cellular geometry data by shape descriptors, to analyze the morphogenetic development of Fouquieria splendens callus by segmentation analysis of images.
The patterns of false positive lesions for chest radiography observer performance: insights into errors and locations

To examine the lobar distribution of false positives on a set of nodule-free and nodule-containing chest radiographs when radiologists are requested to perform an unframed task (oral report) compared to a framed task (nodule/s identification). A set of 40 chest images, 21 nodule-free (NF) and 19 nodule-containing (NC), was used. Ten radiologists participated in the study; first an oral clinical report was performed (unframed task, UFT) naming any abnormality seen, a confidence score and the location of reported abnormalities. The second (framed task, FT) had the same images randomly presented and radiologists were asked to locate any lung nodule/s and record their confidence and location of nodules. There was no statistical difference between the mean number of false positives (FPs) per lobe per case type (UFT or FT) with the exception of the right lower lobe (RLL) P=0.021. When the comparison of FPs for tasks and case types was carried out there were significant changes. For the NF cases there are significant differences for right upper lobe (RUL) P=0.0003, left upper lobe (LUL) P=0.0412; for NC cases there are significant differences for RUL P=0.009, RLL P=0.0112, LUL P=0.0337 and left lower lobe (LLL) P=0.0209. There was no significant correlation between the presence of a nodule in a given lobe and the occurrence of a FP in that lobe. The number and lobar location of FPs identified on a chest image by a radiologist is influenced by the task and case type.
Period–magnitude relation of Mira-like variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud as a tool to understanding circumstellar extinction

We derive the near- to mid-infrared period–magnitude relations and the period–bolometric luminosity relation of OGLE-III Mira-like variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The relations have a kink, and the period at which the break occurs is quantitatively obtained. There are many Mira-like variables whose fluxes at the optical and near-infrared wavebands are fainter than those predicted by the period–magnitude relations. The deviation is a result of the circumstellar extinction, and the amount of deviation is found to be strongly correlated with near-infrared colours. We derive the empirical formulae relating the amount of deviation and the near-infrared colours. These relations are useful to accurately calculate the distances to the dusty Mira-like variables, because the dimmed fluxes resulting from the circumstellar extinction can be estimated. In a manner analogous to the interstellar extinction law, the ratios of deviations at any two different wavebands are calculated. The ratios are found to change with the pulsation period, indicating that the dust properties are subject to change as Mira-like variables evolve.
Cardiac fibrosis in three dimensions – mechanistic insights into arrhythmic risk due to hypertrophy

Sudden cardiac death, predominantly due to ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF), has a staggering death toll, by some estimates up to 10 million deaths/year worldwide (Rubart & Zipes, 2005). Underlying heart disease increases the risk of VT/VF and arrhythmic death (Rubart & Zipes, 2005). Physiological (uniform/orderly) impulse propagation in the myocardium is critically dependent on proper organization of the myocardial bundles and cell-cell communication (Kleber & Rudy, 2004). Myocardial fibrosis is a major structural alteration of the myocardium as a result of various disease processes. Cardiac injury (e.g. infarction, focal inflammation) results in the formation of a fibrotic scar (Rutherford et al., 2012). Other cardiac diseases such as hypertension that are associated with cardiac hypertrophy are also associated with myocardial fibrosis. Fibrosis is a central problem in arrhythmia biology, by distorting myocardial architecture and interrupting electrical propagation pathways it sets the stage for non-uniform impulse propagation. These altered ‘zig zag’ conduction pathways form reentrant circuits that sustain VT/VF (Nguyen et al., 2014). The pattern and location of fibrosis also profoundly influences the formation of arrhythmogenic circuits in the heart (Nguyen et al., 2014). Fibrotic scars secondary to myocardial infarction have been the subject of intense study over several decades. These scars (usually encompassing a perfusion bed of a coronary artery) contain strands of viable myocardial bundles interspersed with fibrotic tissue that can create reentrant circuits (Janse & Wit, 1989). The translational potential of understanding myocardial scars by the experimental mapping of reentry in experimental models has resulted in substantial clinical benefit (Ajijola et al., 2013). Clinical translation of these experimental findings resulted in mapping of VT circuits in humans. The development of catheter ablation of VT as a clinical therapy followed and is an excellent example of the direct beneficial consequence of these scientific advances (Shivkumar, 2019). In contrast to fibrosis/scars secondary to infarction, patchy fibrosis seen with diseases such as hypertrophy can result in complex circuits and set the stage for additional electrophysiological effects such as triggered activity (Qu et al., 2022) secondary to myofibroblast-myocyte interactions and source sink effects (Nguyen et al., 2012). Complex fibrosis (as seen in cardiac hypertrophy) has been the subject of intense experimental investigation. In a recent issue of The Journal of Physiology, Khwaounjoo et al. (2022) report the risk of VT/VF in the spontaneous hypertensive rat (SHR), a well-established model,
Defect Cluster Centers in MgO

A study of the production and annealing of defect cluster centers in MgO single crystals has been undertaken. A comparison of the annealing of single negative-ion vacancies in neutron-irradiated, electron-irradiated, and Mg-additively colored samples is made. The results indicate that isolated negative-ion vacancies are not mobile below 900\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, and the annealing of these defects at lower temperatures in irradiated crystals is due to interstitial migration. The broad absorption bands at 352, 573, and 975 nm and the zero-phonon lines observed in neutron-irradiated crystals, previously proposed as due to $F$-aggregate centers, are not observed in electron-irradiated and additively colored samples even after annealing. Therefore, there is some uncertainity whether these lines and/or bands are due to $F$-aggregate centers.
Privacy in LA Research: Understanding the Field to Improve the Practice

Protection of student privacy is critical for scaling up the use of learning analytics (LA) in education. Poorly implemented frameworks for privacy protection may negatively impact LA outcomes and undermine trust in the discipline. To design and implement models and tools for privacy protection, we need to understand privacy itself. To develop better understanding and build ground for developing tools and models for privacy protection, this paper examines how privacy hitherto has been defined by LA scholars, and how those definitions relate to the established approaches to define privacy. We conducted a scoping review of 59 articles focused on privacy in LA. In most of these studies (74%), privacy was not defined at all; 6% defined privacy as a right, 11% as a state, 15% as control, and 16% used other approaches to explain privacy in LA. The results suggest a need to define privacy in LA to be able to enact a responsible approach to the use of student data for analysis and decision-making.
Parametric Analysis of Perfect Matched Layer Model of Finite Difference Time Domain Method

The parametric analysis of the electrical conductivity distribution for the Perfect Matched Layer (PML) method, is discussed in this communication. The Berenger’s PML defines a new computational space around the area of interest yielding to reduce any undesirable reflection that may perturb the main computational domain. The optimal parameters values for the conductivity distribution are obtained in order to provide lower levels of reflection, given raise to model infinite electromagnetic propagation spaces and as a consequence, to optimize the computing resources.
Bridging the Access Gap: The Telepractice Experience of Speech Therapists and Audiologists at a Public Health Care Facility in South Africa

South Africa is a low to middle income country (LMIC) with a population of 60 million people. The public health sector serves more than 80% of the population. Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is a central level public health care facility situated in Gauteng. The Speech Therapy and Audiology Department provides insight into their telepractice services through a qualitative approach. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in therapists exploring telepractice as a sustainable model of service delivery. Therapists and patients encountered many challenges to the implementation of telepractice, however, the commitment of therapists ensured that creative solutions were developed. A comprehensive needs analysis at public health institutions is required to ensure the sustainability of telepractice. A hybrid model (telepractice and in-person consults) holds the potential to reduce the financial burden on patients and increase access to quality patient-centered care.
Heat transfer analysis in thermal energy storage—A comprehensive review‐based latent heat storage system

Thermal energy storage (TES) system is the most eminent storage method that aids in the power generation. Latent heat storage (LHS) is on the rapid mark‐up that fosters the TES with the utilization of the phase transition of a material to store the heat. Typically the phase change materials (PCM) are used in the LHS system to store the energy. During the material's phase transition, thermal energy is stored and released. Nevertheless, the low thermal conductivity of the PCM in the LHS is susceptible to deteriorate the charging and discharging of the thermal energy. Hence there is a necessity to enhance the thermal performance of the LHS system, on which various studies have been done. Therefore this paper aims in providing a review on the enhancements of the LHS system with improved heat transfer rate and heat transfer enhancement techniques in the PCM for better efficiency. A comprehensive review on the LHS system component is provided to make an emphasis on the heat transfer enhancement rate and storage time. Various characterizations and categories of the PCM are provided to intensify the outcomes of the review as PCMs are most viable materials for storing thermal energy. In addition the recent researches on the integration of PCM with other materials are also discussed that help in the improvements of the thermal conductivity of the PCM. The selection parameters of the PCM materials are also discussed in brief to avoid the poor performance of the PCMs. The heat transfer analysis methods are analyzed to improve the efficiency and reduce the heat loss. Finally, advancements in the future trends for the enhancement of heat transfer is provided.
Optimization of a laser‐plasma x‐ray source for contact x‐ray microscopy

Presented are the detailed characteristics of a laser‐plasma x‐ray source that is successfully used for producing x‐ray images of biological specimens in water by contact microscopy. The conversion efficiencies of laser energy to soft x rays are measured for various target materials using a 0.53 μm, 500 ps laser pulse. Yttrium target showed the highest conversion efficiency of around 2.5%/sr to the ‘‘water window’’ region x rays at 3×1012 W/cm2. Angular distributions of x rays and ions are studied to find the best angular position of specimen for reducing the target debris. The effective x‐ray spectrum contributing to making an image of a specimen in water is discussed. It is shown that an extremely small laser could be employed in high‐resolution contact microscopy.
White light emission from InGaN CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots LEDs

II-VI family semiconductor nanocrystals have attracted most interests in nanometer science and technology recently. The quantum dots have many applications in optoelectronic device such as LEDs for its superior properties resulting from the three-dimensional confinement effect of its carrier. Hybrid inorganic/organic electroluminescent devices were demonstrated using monolayers of CdSe/ZnS core/shell QDs sandviched between two organic thin films. However, the luminous efficiency of the hybrid in organic/organic device was very low. In this paper, an intermediate shell of CdS was used as the lattice parameter adaptation layer to improve the core/shell interface quality the luminous efficiency of the core/shell QDs. White light-emitting diodes (WLEDs) were fabricated by combining blue InGaN chips with luminescent colloidal core/shell CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots (QDs). Photoluminescence of CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots demonstrated high photoluminescence efficiency with a quantum yield more than 44%, and size-tunable emission wavelengths from 380 to 620nm. WLED was successfully assembled by blue InGaN chip plus green and red emitting CdSe/CdS/ZnS QDs. The InGaN chip white-light-emitting diodes with CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots as the emitting layer are potentially useful in illumination and display applications.