Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bistable reflective polarizer-free optical switch based on dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal [Invited]

The work demonstrates a polarizer-free bistable reflective electro-optical switch that is based on dichroic dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal (DDCLC). Bistable opaque and transparent states can be achieved using the planar and ULH textures of CLC, respectively. In the planar texture, the liquid crystal and dye molecules have a periodic helical structure with axes perpendicular to the substrate surface. They therefore absorb arbitrarily polarized light. In the ULH texture, the liquid crystal and dye molecules twist along the helical axes parallel to the substrate, and allow most of the arbitrarily polarized light to pass. Both the planar and ULH textures of CLC are stable states, and each can be switched to the other by applying a low-frequency (30Hz) electrical field, owing to the electro-hydrodynamic effect. A bistable electro-optical switch has the advantages of being polarizer-free and consuming low power. It can therefore potentially be used in portable information systems.
Crane Dynamics with Modulated Hoisting

For many types of cranes commonly used in technical applications, the reduction of payload pendulations is an important design issue. Especially for cranes with variable cable length, oscillations are boosted by the hoisting of the payload due to nonlinear effects. Most of the techniques for active damping are based on a control input that displaces the support of the hoisting mechanism perpendicularly to the direction of the pendulum. However, controlled motion of the carrying structure might not be suitable or even impossible for some applications.
Iterative CT reconstruction using continuous model

A typical iterative CT reconstruction using SART involves ray-driven forward projection and voxel-driven back- ward projection. Bilinear interpolation is usually applied on image data for forward projection, and linear interpolation is usually applied on projection data for backward projection, when both data are represented using discrete samples in 2D fan-beam geometry. The applied interpolations, however, may affect the spatial resolution, bias and noise properties of the reconstruction. A basis function (such as blob and spline) is therefore applied to formulate a continuous model for the image data to reduce bias. In this paper we propose to apply the blob representation on the projection data and explore its effectiveness. In this way we use continuous model for the data of projection difference during backward projection, and we avoid the linear interpolation in this process. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme is able to provide higher spatial resolution than linear interpolation, while introducing more local variations in the reconstruction. However, the introduced local variations may be reduced with the combination of total variation (TV) minimization. The proposed scheme is therefore able to provide improved spatial resolution while keeping low local variations in reconstructions.
Molecular Detection of Porcine Parainfluenza Viruses 1 and 5 Using a Newly Developed Duplex Real-Time RT-PCR in South Korea

Simple Summary In the present study, we first developed a highly specific and sensitive TaqMan probe-based duplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dqRT-PCR) assay for simultaneous and differential detection of porcine parainfluenza virus 1 (PPIV1) and PPIV5 in a single reaction. The developed dqRT-PCR, with high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, was useful for the detection of PPIV1 and PPIV5 in clinical pig samples, and the diagnostic sensitivity was higher than that of the previous qRT-PCR for PPIV1 and consistent with that of the previous qRT-PCR for PPIV5. Using the dqRT-PCR, we demonstrated that PPIV1 and PPIV5 are co-circulating in Korean pig herds, and subsequent phylogenetic analysis suggested that genetically diverse PPIV1 strains are presented in Korean pig herds. The new dqRT-PCR developed in this study will be a valuable tool for diagnosis and further studies for PPIV1 and PPIV5. Abstract Two species of porcine parainfluenza viruses (PPIV), PPIV1 and PPIV5, are globally distributed in pig herds and associated with porcine respiratory diseases, and a diagnostic tool for the simultaneous detection of the two viruses is required. In this study, a TaqMan probe-based duplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dqRT-PCR) assay was first developed for the differential detection of PPIV1 and PPIV5 nucleocapsid protein (NP) genes in porcine clinical samples. The dqRT-PCR assay was highly sensitive, its limit of detection was approximately 10 RNA copies/reaction, it specifically amplified the targeted NP genes of PPIV1 and PPIV5 without cross-reacting with other porcine pathogens, and their clinical detection rates were 15.2% and 0.7%, respectively. The results from 441 clinical samples taken from 278 Korean domestic pig farms showed that the prevalence of PPIV1 and PPIV5 was 11.2% and 1.1%, respectively, and co-infection of both viruses was confirmed in a farm, suggesting that PPIV1 and PPIV5 are co-circulating in current Korean pig herds. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial NP genes suggested that genetically diverse PPIV1 strains are circulating in Korean pig herds. The developed dqRT-PCR assay was found to be an accurate, reliable, and quantitative detection tool for PPIV1 and PPIV5 RNA in clinical pig samples and will be useful for etiological and epidemiological studies and the control of viral infections in the field.
The Interval-Censored Biplot

The principal components biplot is a useful visualization tool for the exploration of a samples by variables data matrix. In several data analysis situations, the data values are interval censored so that only the interval of a data value is available, but not the value itself. For such data, we propose the interval-censored biplot (IC-Biplot), a new exploratory and graphical method that is an extension of the principal component analysis biplot. It provides not only a two-dimensional graphic representation of respondents and their attributes, but also point estimates for the data values that are constrained to be in their interval. Two applications of the IC-Biplot are discussed. The first application considers data on emergence times of permanent teeth focusing on the pattern of emergence. The IC-Biplot confirms rank orders suggested earlier in the literature. Goodness-of-fit measures show that the present model seems to fit these data very well. The second application discusses a regular sample by attribute matrix from the literature on characteristics of several types of oils. This article has online supplementary materials.
Determining Resonant Frequencies of Various Microstrip Antennas within a Single Neural Model Trained Using Parallel Tabu Search Algorithm

Abstract Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are one of the popular intelligent techniques in solving engineering problems. In this paper, an intelligent new approach based on ANN trained with a parallel tabu search (PTS) algorithm to determine the resonant frequencies of microstrip antennas of regular geometries is presented. A single ANN model was used to determine the resonant frequencies of the rectangular, circular, and triangular microstrip antennas. The determination performance of a single neural model was improved with the help of PTS. The results obtained from the single neural model for the resonant frequencies of the rectangular, circular, and triangular microstrip antennas are in very good agreement with the experimental and other methods presented in the literature.
Identification of lncRNAs associated with the progression of acute lymphoblastic leukemia using a competing endogenous RNAs network

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignancy of bone marrow lymphoid precursors. Despite effective treatments, the causes of its progression or recurrence are still unknown. Finding prognostic biomarkers is needed for early diagnosis and more effective treatment. This study was performed to identify long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) involved in ALL progression by constructing a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network. These lncRNAs may serve as potential new biomarkers in the development of ALL. The GSE67684 dataset identified changes in lncRNAs and mRNAs involved in ALL progression. Data from this study were re-analyzed, and probes related to lncRNAs were retrieved. Targetscan, miRTarBase, and miRcode databases were used to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) related to the discovered genes and lncRNAs. The ceRNA network was constructed, and the candidate lncRNAs were selected. Finally, the results were validated with reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The ceRNA network outcomes demonstrated that the top lncRNAs associated with altered mRNAs in ALL are IRF1-AS1, MCM3AP-AS1, TRAF3IP2-AS1, HOTAIRM1, CRNDE, and TUG1. Investigations of the subnets linked to MCM3AP-AS1, TRAF3IP2-AS1, and IRF1-AS1 indicated that these lncRNAs were considerably related to pathways associated with inflammation, metastasis, and proliferation. Higher expression levels of IRF1-AS1, MCM3AP-AS1, TRAF3IP2-AS1, CRNDE, and TUG1 were found in ALL samples compared to controls. The expression of MCM3AP-AS1, TRAF3IP2-AS1, and IRF1-AS1 is significantly elevated during the progression of ALL, playing an oncogenic role. Due to their role in the main cancer pathways, lncRNAs could be suitable therapeutic and diagnostic targets in ALL.
Extratropical Transition of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones: An Overview and Conceptual Model of the Transformation Stage

Abstract Extratropical transition (ET) in the western North Pacific is defined here in terms of two stages: transformation, in which the tropical cyclone evolves into a baroclinic storm; and reintensification, where the transformed storm then deepens as an extratropical cyclone. In this study, 30 ET cases occurring during 1 June–31 October 1994–98 are reviewed using Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System analyses; hourly geostationary visible, infrared, and water vapor imagery; and microwave imagery. A brief climatology based on these cases is presented for the transformation stage and the subsequent cyclone characteristics of the reintensification stage. A three-dimensional conceptual model of the transformation stage of ET in the western North Pacific Ocean is proposed that describes how virtually all 30 cases evolved into an incipient, baroclinic low. The three-step evolution of the transformation of Typhoon (TY) David (September 1997) is described as a prototypical example. Four importa.
Identifying the Gut Virome of Diaphorina citri from Florida Groves

Simple Summary Controlling Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri), the insect vector of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), is an important part of Huanglongbing management. Specific viruses were recently discovered in a psyllid host where they may act as biological agents for minimizing psyllid populations or CLas transmission. We analyzed the psyllid gut virome from five regions in Florida and identified four D. citri-associated viruses at different compositions. The presence of these specific viruses in the gut indicated potential interactions between these viruses and CLas. Our results provided evidence that D. citri-associated viruses located in the host gut and their potential activities may be useful for pest management. Abstract Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) transmits the bacterial pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the putative causative agent of citrus Huanglongbing disease (HLB). Insect-specific viruses can act against insects as their natural enemies, and recently, several D. citri-associated viruses were discovered. The insect gut plays an important role as not only a pool for diverse microbes but also as a physical barrier to prevent the spread of pathogens such as CLas. However, there is little evidence of the presence of D. citri-associated viruses in the gut and of the interaction between them and CLas. Here, we dissected psyllid guts collected from five growing regions in Florida, and the gut virome was analyzed by high throughput sequencing. Four insect viruses, including D. citri-associated C virus (DcACV), D. citri densovirus (DcDV), D. citri reovirus (DcRV), and D. citri flavi-like virus (DcFLV), were identified, and their presence in the gut, including an additional D. citri cimodo-like virus (DcCLV), were confirmed with PCR-based assays. Microscopic analysis showed that DcFLV infection leads to morphological abnormalities in the nuclear structure in the infected psyllid gut cells. The complex and diverse composition of microbiota in the psyllid gut suggests a possible interaction and dynamics between CLas and the D. citri-associated viruses. Our study identified various D. citri-associated viruses that localized in the psyllid gut and provided more information that helps to evaluate the potential vectors for manipulating CLas in the psyllid gut.
Financial Constraints and Firm Productivity in Vietnamese Manufacturing Industries

ABSTRACT Financial constraint is detrimental to firm productivity but has been less explored in the literature. In this empirical study, I fill this gap by using a rich Vietnamese firm-level dataset for manufacturing firms over the period of 2010 to 2015 to estimate a total factor productivity (TFP) model augmented with financial factors. The estimation results indicate that sufficient internal financing and the development of the financial sector boost firm productivity, whereas the leverage ratio has a negative impact on firm productivity. I also provide the heterogeneous impact of financial development on firm productivity across different firm sizes as well as different trade modes.
Learning Mixed Multinomial Logits with Provable Guarantees

A mixture of multinomial logits (MMNL) generalizes the single logit model, which is commonly used in predicting the probabilities of different outcomes. While extensive algorithms have been developed in the literature to learn MMNL models, theoretical results are limited. Built on the Frank-Wolfe (FW) method, we propose a new algorithm that learns both mixture weights and component-specific logit parameters with provable convergence guarantees for an arbitrary number of mixtures. Our algorithm utilizes historical choice data to generate a set of candidate choice probability vectors, each being close to the ground truth with a high probability. We further provide a sample complexity analysis to show that only a polynomial number of samples is required to secure the performance guarantee of our algorithm. Finally, we conduct simulation studies to evaluate the performance and demonstrate how to apply our algorithm to real-world applications.
Acidification of colostrum affects the fecal microbiota of preweaning dairy calves

Graphical Abstract Summary: Diarrhea is a leading cause of death in preweaning calves. Acidification of colostrum is an effective tool in colostrum management. The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of feeding acidified colostrum to calves at birth on fecal microbiota during the preweaning period compared with calves fed nonacidified colostrum. Findings of this study indicated a considerable flux in the calf microbiome through the neonatal period and weaning transition. Feeding calves with acidified colostrum induced changes only in a few fecal bacteria but allowed for early colonization of Faecalibacterium compared with control calves. Faecalibacterium is a butyrate-producing bacterium that is associated with decreased diarrhea and improved growth in calves.
A taxonomic revision of the Sinopterus complex (Pterosauria, Tapejaridae) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota, with the new genus Huaxiadraco

Tapejarids are edentulous pterosaurs particularly abundant in the Chinese Jiufotang Formation, counting with over 10 described specimens and dozens of undescribed ones. A total of seven nominal tapejarid species (within two genera) have been proposed, though it is disputed how many of those are valid instead of sexual or ontogenetic morphs of fewer, or a single, species. However, detailed revisions of the matter are still lacking. In the present work, we provide a specimen-level survey of anatomical variation in previously described Jiufotang tapejarid specimens, as well as of six new ones. We present qualitative and morphometric comparisons, aiming to provide a basis for a taxonomic reappraisal of the complex. Our results lead us to interpret two Jiufotang tapejarid species as valid: Sinopterus dongi and Huaxiadraco corollatus (gen. et comb. nov.). Our primary taxonomic decisions did not rely around cranial crest features, which have typically been regarded as diagnostic for most of these proposed species albeit ever-growing evidence that these structures are highly variable in pterosaurs, due to ontogeny and sexual dimorphism. However, a reassessment of premaxillary crest variation in the Sinopterus complex reveals that while much of the observed variation (crest presence and size) can easily be attributed to intraspecific (ontogenetic and sexual) variation, some of it (crest shape) does seem to represent interspecific variation indeed. A phylogenetic analysis including the species regarded as valid was also performed.
Learning and employee-driven innovation in the public sector – the interplay between employee engagement and organisational conditions

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine learning and employee-driven innovation (EDI) in the public sector, with a particular focus on the interplay between employee engagement and organisational conditions. Design/methodology/approach The material consists of qualitative interviews with 23 participants from three municipal sites of innovation support that participated in a national programme aiming to strengthen municipalities’ innovation work. Findings The study found numerous constraining organisational conditions resulting in consequential loss of employee engagement for EDI. The conclusion drawn is that employee engagement and enabling organisational conditions are central to EDI in public sector workplaces, and that incorporating EDI into municipal daily operations requires paying attention to the interplay between organisational conditions and employee engagement. Originality/value This paper provides important guidance for supporting EDI in the public sector. Implementing EDI into operations requires employee engagement to be successful. However, employees’ engagement should not be overlooked or taken for granted. A practical implication of this study is that EDI in the workplace must be encouraged by creating a learning environment that supports innovative learning in the workplace. In practice, measures should be taken to support employee engagement by creating organisational conditions that provide a more expansive learning environment to ensure the continuity and perpetuation of EDI in public sector organisations.
Analysis of painted arts by energy sensitive radiographic techniques with the Pixel Detector Timepix

Non-invasive techniques utilizing X-ray radiation offer a significant advantage in scientific investigations of painted arts and other cultural artefacts such as painted artworks or statues. In addition, there is also great demand for a mobile analytical and real-time imaging device given the fact that many fine arts cannot be transported. The highly sensitive hybrid semiconductor pixel detector, Timepix, is capable of detecting and resolving subtle and low-contrast differences in the inner composition of a wide variety of objects. Moreover, it is able to map the surface distribution of the contained elements. Several transmission and emission techniques are presented which have been proposed and tested for the analysis of painted artworks. This study focuses on the novel techniques of X-ray transmission radiography (conventional and energy sensitive) and X-ray induced fluorescence imaging (XRF) which can be realised at the table-top scale with the state-of-the-art pixel detector Timepix. Transmission radiography analyses the changes in the X-ray beam intensity caused by specific attenuation of different components in the sample. The conventional approach uses all energies from the source spectrum for the creation of the image while the energy sensitive alternative creates images in given energy intervals which enable identification and separation of materials. The XRF setup is based on the detection of characteristic radiation induced by X-ray photons through a pinhole geometry collimator. The XRF method is extremely sensitive to the material composition but it creates only surface maps of the elemental distribution. For the purpose of the analysis several sets of painted layers have been prepared in a restoration laboratory. The composition of these layers corresponds to those of real historical paintings from the 19th century. An overview of the current status of our methods will be given with respect to the instrumentation and the application in the field of cultural heritage.
Describing motion for recognition

Our goal is to describe motion of a moving human figure in order to recognize individuals by variation in the characteristics of the motion description. We begin with a short sequence of images of a moving figure, taken by a static camera, and derive dense optical flow data for the sequence. We determine a range of scale-independent features of each how image as a whole, ranging from the motion of the centroid of the moving points (assuming a static background), to the integral of the torque relative to the centroid. We then analyze the periodic structure of these sequences. All elements are multiples of the fundamental period of the gait, but they differ in phase. The phase is time-invariant, since it is independent of the sampling period. We show that there are several regularities in the phase differences of the signals. Moreover, some scalar measures of the signals may be useful in recognition. The representation is model-free, and therefore could be used to characterize the motion of other non-rigid bodies.
Passivated graphene transistors fabricated on a millimeter-sized single-crystal graphene film prepared with chemical vapor deposition

In this work, we first investigate the effects of partial pressures and flow rates of precursors on the single-crystal graphene growth using chemical vapor depositions on copper foils. These factors are shown to be critical to the growth rate, seeding density and size of graphene single crystals. The prepared graphene films in millimeter sizes are then bubbling transferred to silicon-dioxide/silicon substrates for high-mobility graphene transistor fabrications. After high-temperature annealing and hexamethyldisilazane passivation, the water attachment is removed from the graphene channel. The elimination of uncontrolled doping and enhancement of carrier mobility accompanied by these procedures indicate that they are promising for fabrications of graphene transistors.
Kinetic simulations of ion temperature measurements from retarding field analyzers

Retarding field analyzers (RFA) provide an integral of the ion velocity distribution in tokamak edge plasmas, leading, in principle, to an estimate of the ion temperature. However, the presence of the RFA itself perturbs the ambient plasma, such that the measured distribution is distorted with respect to the unperturbed one far from the probe. Here, collisionless kinetic modeling is employed to investigate the modification of the plasma characteristics (temperature, particle flux, density, and electric potential) in the presheath of the RFA. The kinetic equations are solved independently by means of two different numerical methods, which provide a reliable check of their results. Moreover, they are interpreted in light of a simplified kinetic analytical model. Systematic numerical studies are performed for a large range of values of the ion-to-electron temperature ratio and the parallel drift speed. In the same way that a Mach probe measures upstream–downstream asymmetries of ion saturation current in flo.