Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selective differential ammonia gas sensor based on N‐doped SWCNT films

The sensing performance of a micro‐sensor based on a thick film of nitrogen‐doped single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs) is compared to a pristine SWCNTs film. Transfer length method analysis is used to extract the film sheet resistance from electrical measurements and reveals that the gas sensing mechanism is mainly attributed to the charge transfer between gas molecules and SWCNTs. We demonstrate that the sensitivity to NH3 can be improved by using a sensor based N‐doped SWCNTs films while the sensitivity to NO2 and water vapour is unmodified. These unique gas‐sensing properties can be used to develop a new NH3‐selective differential gas sensor.
Infertility in systemic lupus erythematosus: what rheumatologists need to know in a new age of assisted reproductive technology

Fertility is often a concern for women with SLE. In addition to known indirect factors that influence the ability of a woman with SLE to become pregnant, such as cytotoxic agents, other medications, advanced age and psychosocial effects of the disease, direct disease-related factors are believed to influence fertility. These include diminished ovarian reserve, menstrual irregularities (a function of disease activity) and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. The question of whether SLE intrinsically affects fertility, however, remains unanswered. In this review, we address known factors affecting fertility, assess current data regarding a direct impact of SLE on fertility and evaluate potential disease-related risk factors. We focus primarily on studies measuring anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicle count, the most widely measured markers of ovarian reserve. Our goal is to provide information to rheumatologists faced with counselling patients with SLE regarding their fertility, family planning and options for assisted reproductive technologies, which now include fertility preservation through oocyte cryopreservation.
Fully distributed multi-area economic dispatch method for active distribution networks

Distributed generators can be integrated in geographically distributed areas and microgrids of active distribution networks (ADNs), and can operate independently. On the basis of the alternating direction method of multipliers, the authors describe an efficient fully distributed algorithm to solve multi-area economic dispatch problems in ADNs without requiring a central coordinator. The physical interpretation of the distributed algorithm and a proof for its convergence are both given. Network losses are taken into account by exploiting the features of ADNs. Two other popular distributed algorithms, including Lagrangian relaxation and auxiliary problem principle, are also implemented and compared with numerical tests. They discuss numerical results that demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the algorithm.
Dense media radiative transfer theory based on quasicrystalline approximation with applications to passive microwave remote sensing of snow

Dense media radiative transfer (DMRT) equations based on quasicrystalline approximation (QCA) for densely distributed moderate size particles are developed. We first compute the effective propagation constant and coherent transmission into a dense medium on the basis of the generalized Lorentz‐Lorenz law and the generalized Ewald‐Oseen extinction theorem. The absorption coefficient of the dense media is then calculated. The distorted Born approximation is next applied to a thin layer to determine the bistatic scattering coefficients and the scattering coefficient. The phase matrix in DMRT is then obtained as bistatic scattering coefficient per unit volume. The model is applied to multiple sizes and for sticky particles. Numerical results are illustrated for extinction and brightness temperatures in passive remote sensing using typical parameters in snow terrain. The QCA‐based DMRT is also used to compare with satellite Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) brightness temperatures for four channels at 19 and 37 GHz with vertical and horizontal polarizations and for two snow seasons. It shows reasonable agreement to snow depth of 1 m.
Effect of accelerated ageing on viability and longevity of wheat (Triticum aestivum) seed

The accelerated ageing test (AAT) has been successfully used to rank and determine germinability of seed lots in various kind and varieties. An experiment was conducted to determine the influence of artificial ageing on seed viability and longevity of wheat seed of 2 varieties, viz. GW 496 and Lok 1. Progressive ageing period resulted in lowered seed quality in both wheat varieties. Combined effect of varieties and ageing duration showed the significant effect on all the observed seed quality parameters and recorded significant variation in these characters during (2015-16 and 2016-17) and in pooled analysis. The fresh seeds (without ageing) of wheat variety Lok 1 recorded highest average pooled germination (97. 50%), seedling vigour index I (2166), seedling vigour index II (20. 32) as well as observed biochemical parameters at the end of 5 days of accelerated ageing. Progressive ageing duration showed negative effect on biochemical parameters of the 5 days aged seeds of wheat variety GW 496 recorded lowest average pooled protein content (9.78%), carbohydrate content (60.36%), Î± amylase assay (6.19 micromoles/mg/min) and higher electrical conductivity (28.60 Î¼S/cm/g) due to fast deterioration at the end of artificial ageing.
In vivo PIWI slicing in mouse testes deviates from rules established in vitro

Argonautes are small RNA-binding proteins, with some having small RNA-guided endonuclease (slicer) activity that cleaves target nucleic acids. One cardinal rule that is structurally defined is the inability of slicers to cleave target RNAs when nucleotide mismatches exist between the paired small RNA and the target at the cleavage site. Animal-specific PIWI clade Argonautes associate with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) to silence transposable elements in the gonads, and this is essential for fertility. We previously demonstrated that purified endogenous mouse MIWI fails to cleave mismatched targets in vitro. Surprisingly, here we find using knock-in mouse models that target sites with cleavage-site mismatches at the 10th and 11th piRNA nucleotides are precisely sliced in vivo. This is identical to the slicing outcome in knock-in mice where targets are base-paired perfectly with the piRNA. Additionally, we find that pachytene piRNA-guided slicing in both these situations failed to initiate phased piRNA production from the specific target mRNA we studied. Instead, the two slicer cleavage fragments were retained in PIWI proteins as pre-piRNA and 17–19 nt by-product fragments. Our results indicate that PIWI slicing rules established in vitro are not respected in vivo, and that all targets of PIWI slicing are not substrates for piRNA biogenesis.
Gender differences in Syrian refugees in Jordan: Psychological, self-esteem, family function, marital satisfaction, and life satisfaction

Aim: The current study examined gender differences in mental health, self-esteem, family function, marital satisfaction, and life satisfaction between men and women living in a refugee camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan. Method: A snowball method used by local female and male students trained to collect data according to culturally competent methods. The following research instruments were deployed: Symptoms Checklist-SCL90, Self-esteem Scale, the McMaster Family Assessment Device, Marital Satisfaction Scale, and life Satisfaction Scale. Results: A sample of 290 adults (196 women and 94 men) living in a refugee camp in Jordan participated in the study. Findings revealed that marital satisfaction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction were significantly different between males and females, indicating less subjective well-being for women. Many of the mental health symptoms in this study were more common for women than men; particularly noteworthy were somatization, obsessive compulsive behavior, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, psychoticism, and higher scores on the Global Severity Index (GSI). Conclusion: While some stressors are not gender-specific, there are unique factors that women face which place them at increased risk of mental health problems. Implications for practice include a greater understanding of the challenges and resilience mechanisms that are related to gender and culture.
Nanomanipulation system for scanning electron microscope

Traditionally scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is often used as a scientific instrument for providing high magnification images and analytical capability for microstructural analysis. In recent years different applications for SEM has been developed and is gaining popularity in doing characterizations of fine-scale materials such as in-situ annealing, cryo-microscopy, micro-tensile testing, electrical resistivity measurements and grain boundary/texture analysis (EBSD). With the increasing demand in these sub-micron to nano-scale characterizations, there's an increasing need to have a more sophisticated stage within the microscope. In other word, a stage that would have "hands" built onto the SEM stage to allow operator to manipulate objects and execute different tasks under high magnification. In this paper we presented a compact nanomanipulation system that is designed to be retrofitted easily onto many SEMs. Capabilities and potential applications of using such manipulation system will be discussed.
A Study of Students’ Perceptions Toward the Use of ICT Tools and Collaboration Activities to Increase Interactions During COVID-19

This study has been conducted to investigate what students thought about their experiences trying to interact more frequently during the fall semester of 2020. It took place in a general English classroom at a private Korean university during the COVID-19 pandemic and aimed to gain insight into students’ perceptions of whether using a learning management system and other Information and Communication Technology tools, taking part in asynchronous discussion board activities, and completing voluntary activities would increase the number of interactions despite taking an emergency online class. A total of 28 first-year students from 6 different sections of a freshmen-level general English course voluntarily participated by filling out a survey at the end of the semester. For data analysis, descriptive statistics were initially analyzed to provide basic numerical data. Then, qualitative analysis was used to find common themes. Finally, student quotes were used to add greater meaning to the findings. The main finding was that the number of interactions between learners and the content, their instructors, and their peers increased due to the use of the learning management system and Information and Communication Technology tools. More detailed findings and implications for future uses are discussed.
Wall effects on the slow steady motion of a particle in a viscous incompressible fluid

In this paper, asymptotic expansions with respect to small Reynolds numbers are proved for the slow steady motion of an arbitrary particle in a viscous, incompressible fluid past a single plane wall. The flow problem is modelled by a certain boundary value problem for the stationary, nonlinear Navier-Stokes equations. The coefficients of these expansions are the solutions of various, linear Stokes problems which can be constructed by single layer potentials and corresponding boundary integral equations on the boundary surface of the particle. Furthermore, some asymptotic estimates at small Reynolds numbers are presented for the slow steady motion of an arbitrary particle in a viscous, incompressible fluid between two parallel, plane walls and in an infinitely long, rectilinear cylinder of arbitrary cross section. In the case of the flow problem with a single plane wall, the paper is based on a thesis, which the author has written under the guidance of Professor Dr. Wolfgang L. Wendland.
Associations between Depression and Self-Reported COVID-19 Symptoms among Adults: Results from Two Population-Based Seroprevalence Studies in Switzerland

(1) Mental health may modulate the perceived risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it is unclear how psychological symptoms may distort symptom perception of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 infection. We assessed whether depressive symptoms predicted self-reported COVID-19 symptoms, independently of serologically confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. (2) Participants (aged 20–64) in the Geneva (N = 576) and Ticino (N = 581) Swiss regions completed the Patient Health Questionnaire before being tested for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies and recalled COVID-19-compatible symptoms on two occasions: April–July 2020 (baseline), and January–February 2021 (follow-up). We estimated prevalence ratios for COVID-19 symptoms by depression scores in interaction with serological status. (3) At baseline, in Geneva, higher depression predicted higher probability of reporting systemic, upper airways, and gastro-intestinal symptoms, and fever and/or cough; in Ticino, higher depression predicted systemic, upper airways, and gastro-intestinal symptoms, fever and/or cough, dyspnea, and headache. At follow-up, in Geneva, higher depression predicted higher probability of reporting systemic symptoms and dyspnea; in Ticino, higher depression predicted higher probability of reporting systemic and upper airways symptoms, dyspnea and headache (all p values < 0.05). (4) We found positive associations between depressive symptoms and COVID-19-compatible symptoms, independently of seropositivity. Mental wellbeing has relevant public health implications because it modulates self-reported infection symptoms that inform testing, self-medication, and containment measures, including quarantine and isolation.
ON THE DEGREE OF RATIONAL APPROXIMATION OF MEROMORPHIC FUNCTIONS

Questions concerning the theory of rational approximation of analytic functions are considered. One of the main results is Theorem 1, which characterizes the degree of rational approximation of meromorphic functions of finite order. The proof of the results obtained are based on the methods of the theory of Hankel operators.Bibliography: 29 titles.
Running in the Family: Inheritance and Family Resemblance in Suetonius’ Lives of the Caesars

Abstract The ancestry sections in Suetonius’ Lives of the Caesars demonstrate the inheritance of character traits down the family line. The effectiveness of this as a rhetorical technique rests on an expectation of inheritance and resemblance along the family line. This study investigates the mechanism of that resemblance from the evidence available in Suetonius’ text—nature or nurture? —and then proposes that since the mechanism appears to be not quite the same as that evidenced in earlier writers, the biographer's model of inheritance and degeneration is part of a conversation about succession to the principate. Part one sets out the patterns of resemblance/difference that appear from the lists of ancestors, part two the evidence for nature and nurture of character traits in Suetonius’ Lives, and part three compares the way resemblance works in Suetonius with the way it works in other authors. As modern views on nature and nurture have changed with social and political changes, the final section proposes that the changes over the first century of the principate have to do with the political and social changes in that period. Suetonius’ model of hereditary vice, not hereditary virtue, arises from a disaffection with the system of hereditary succession.
Small‐bodied fish species from the western United States will be under severe water stress by 2040

Human need to appropriate freshwater in combination with climate change has intensified the rapid decline in freshwater biodiversity. Based on 216 currently imperiled freshwater species in the United States, the Southwest, and the Rocky Mountains, were predicted to experience the highest increase in future water stress for 2040 in 41 minor watersheds. Resident‐small species in the Southwest, found in single locations (21.6%) or on local level (62.2%), were listed as endangered (n = 37) and are predicted to experience severe water stress increases by 2040. Endangered species in the Rocky Mountains (n = 9), were found on a basin or local level (33.3%), exhibiting predominantly potamodromous behavior (66.7%). Furthermore, many endangered species in key regions lack life‐history data (41%). Our results highlight that determining priority of species for conservation using biodiversity as an indicator may not be useful for identifying future impacts to imperiled species, since many regions undergoing high water stress did not coincide with biodiversity hotspots.
Evaluating the effect and user satisfaction of an adapted and translated mobile health application ASTHMAXcel© among adults with asthma in Pune, India

Abstract Objective ASTHMAXcel© is a mobile application previously shown to improve asthma knowledge, control, and quality of life. In this study, we translated the application to Marathi for pilot testing in Pune, India in order to evaluate its impact on user satisfaction and asthma knowledge among adult asthma patients. Methods ASTHMAXcel© was adapted to Marathi with the help of asthma patients and clinicians from Bharati Hospital. 57 different asthma patients were then recruited and received the Asthma Knowledge Questionnaire (AKQ), Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), and Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Mini-AQLQ) to complete at baseline. Study participants then completed the adapted ASTHMAXcel© application. Post-intervention, participants filled out a post-AKQ and Questionnaire for User Interface Satisfaction (QUIS). A subset of participants was also interviewed for qualitative feedback. Paired t-tests and Pearson’s correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results Mean AKQ improved from 5.0+/−2.4 to 12.4+/−1.6 (p = 0.0001). QUIS results revealed that participants were highly satisfied with the application, scoring an average of 50 out of 54 maximum points. Better baseline asthma control was correlated with greater overall experience with the application (–0.110, p = 0.0417). Finally, the qualitative feedback revealed four themes for future refinement. Conclusion The adapted version of ASTHMAXcel© was linked to significant improvement in patient asthma knowledge and a high level of user satisfaction. These results support the potential utility of mHealth applications in promoting guideline-based asthma care in India. However, further studies are needed to establish a causal relationship between ASTHMAXcel© and improved clinical outcomes.
Equivalent edge currents for arbitrary aspects of observation

Explicit expressions for equivalent edge currents are derived for an arbitrary local wedge angle and arbitrary directions of illumination and observation. Thereby the method of equivalent currents (MEC) is completed as a practically applicable theory of the electromagnetic high-frequency diffraction by edges. The derivation is based on an asymptotic relationship between the surface radiation integral of the physical theory of diffraction (PTD) and the line radiation integral of MEC, and the resulting expressions are deduced from the exact solutions of the canonical wedge problem.
Emergence of a Partially Split Flux Tube into the Solar Atmosphere

We performed a three-dimensional MHD simulation for the emergence of a partially split flux tube into the solar atmosphere, which was focused on the mechanism of activity observed on the Sun, such as the merging of magnetic polarity regions in the photosphere and the formation of multi-flux domains in the corona. The simulation reproduced that a small polarity region associated with a rotational flow merges into a main polarity region, and the main polarity region later develops a rotational flow in the same direction as the small polarity region. In accordance with the photospheric merging process, multi-flux domains form in the corona and a current layer separating these flux domains travels outward as the flux domains expand. We also investigated the time variations of the magnetic flux, energy, and helicity injected into the atmosphere by the partially split flux tube to see the nature of helicity injection in a multi-pole system.
Seeing beyond the spikes: reconstructing the complete spatiotemporal membrane potential distribution from paired intra‐ and extracellular recordings

Although electrophysiologists have been recording intracellular neural activity routinely ever since the ground‐breaking work of Hodgkin and Huxley, and extracellular multichannel electrodes have also been used frequently and extensively, a practical experimental method to track changes in membrane potential along a complete single neuron is still lacking. Instead of obtaining multiple intracellular measurements on the same neuron, we propose an alternative method by combining single‐channel somatic patch‐clamp and multichannel extracellular potential recordings. In this work, we show that it is possible to reconstruct the complete spatiotemporal distribution of the membrane potential of a single neuron with the spatial resolution of an extracellular probe during action potential generation. Moreover, the reconstruction of the membrane potential allows us to distinguish between the two major but previously hidden components of the current source density (CSD) distribution: the resistive and the capacitive currents. This distinction provides a clue to the clear interpretation of the CSD analysis, because the resistive component corresponds to transmembrane ionic currents (all the synaptic, voltage‐sensitive and passive currents), whereas capacitive currents are considered to be the main contributors of counter‐currents. We validate our model‐based reconstruction approach on simulations and demonstrate its application to experimental data obtained in vitro via paired extracellular and intracellular recordings from a single pyramidal cell of the rat hippocampus. In perspective, the estimation of the spatial distribution of resistive membrane currents makes it possible to distiguish between active and passive sinks and sources of the CSD map and the localization of the synaptic input currents, which make the neuron fire.
Influx of T cells into corpus callosum increases axonal injury, but does not change the course of remyelination in toxic demyelination

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a focal inflammatory and demyelinating disease. The inflammatory infiltrates consist of macrophages/microglia, T and B cells. Remyelination (RM) is an endogenous repair process which frequently fails in MS patients. In earlier studies, T cells either promoted or impaired RM. Here, we used the combined cuprizone/MOG‐EAE model to further dissect the functional role of T cells for RM. The combination of MOG immunization with cuprizone feeding targeted T cells to the corpus callosum and increased the extent of axonal injury. Global gene expression analyses demonstrated significant changes in the inflammatory environment; however, additional MOG immunization did not alter the course of RM. Our results suggest that the inflammatory environment in the combined model affects axons and oligodendrocytes differently and that oligodendroglial lineage cells might be less susceptible to T cell mediated injury.