Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Experimentally advancing morning emergence time does not increase extra-pair siring success in blue tit males

Abstract Extra-pair paternity occurs frequently in socially monogamous birds, but there is substantial variation in extra-pair siring success among males. Several studies have shown that siring success relates to the timing of morning activity, with the earliest active males being more successful, suggesting that early activity is important for acquiring extra-pair copulations. However, these studies are correlational, and it, therefore, remains unclear whether the relationship between timing and extra-pair siring success is causal. An alternative explanation is that successful extra-pair sires tend to be active earlier (e.g., because they are of high quality or in good condition), but that early activity in itself does not increase siring success. We experimentally advanced the emergence time of male blue tits by exposing them to light about half an hour before their natural emergence time. Although males that were exposed to the light treatment emerged from their roost substantially earlier than males that were exposed to a control treatment, light-treated males were not more likely to sire extra-pair offspring. Furthermore, whereas control males showed the expected relation between emergence time and siring success (although not statistically significant), there was no relation between emergence time and extra-pair siring success among light-treated males. Our results suggest that the timing of emergence from the roost is not an important factor underlying extra-pair siring success.
Intravascular Imaging of Atherosclerosis by Using Engineered Nanoparticles

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, and high-risk atherosclerotic plaques can result in myocardial infarction, stroke, and/or sudden death. Various imaging and sensing techniques (e.g., ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, fluorescence, photoacoustic) have been developed for scanning inside blood vessels to provide accurate detection of high-risk atherosclerotic plaques. Nanoparticles have been utilized in intravascular imaging to enable targeted detection of high-risk plaques, to enhance image contrast, and in some applications to also provide therapeutic functions of atherosclerosis. In this paper, we review the recent progress on developing nanoparticles for intravascular imaging of atherosclerosis. We discuss the basic nanoparticle design principles, imaging modalities and instrumentations, and common targets for atherosclerosis. The review is concluded and highlighted with discussions on challenges and opportunities for bringing nanoparticles into in vivo (pre)clinical intravascular applications.
The Dust-Radio Connection in 3CR Radio Galaxies

We investigate dust in the nuclear regions of radio galaxies on the basis of 120 images of 3CR radio galaxies in the redshift range 0 < z < 0.5, taken with the WFPC-2 on the Hubble Space Telescope. At least 40 of these radio galaxies show evidence for absorption due to clumpy dust features; a large range of morphologies is observed for these dust features, including disklike and filamentary structures. No difference in host galaxy properties was found between the radio galaxies with clumpy dust and those without. Where dust absorption is detected, the morphological properties of the dust depend strongly upon the Fanaroff & Riley (FR) classification of the source. The dust in FR I host galaxies is generally situated in sharply defined disks on small (<2.5 kpc) scales, and for eight out of the nine FR I galaxies with dust disks, the radio source lies nearly perpendicular to the dust disk. In contrast, FR II host galaxies have dust that varies both in morphology and in linear size, and the correlation between the dust and radio orientation only exists (and less strongly) for the sources that have a significant mass of dust in disks within a distance of 2.5 kpc of the center of the galaxy. The derived dust masses also correlate with the FR type of the host galaxy: high masses of clumpy dust are not seen in FR I radio galaxies, while they are present in FR II radio galaxies. Further, FR I galaxies have derived dust masses that are typically larger than the dust masses found in a matched sample of radio-quiet ellipticals. We suggest that the observed differences between FR I and FR II radio galaxies are produced due to differences in their formation.
Prediction of Fatigue Crack Initiation under Variable Amplitude Loading: Literature Review

Metallic materials are widely employed in engineering constructions, and one of the most common failure mechanisms in metals is fatigue failure. Even though metal fatigue has been studied for almost 160 years, many problems remain unsolved. Fatigue in metal occurs when the metallic material is subjected to varying loads, resulting in failure due to damage accumulation. The fatigue process consists of a buildup of damage that leads to crack initiation, followed by a period of crack growth until the critical flaw size is reached. The sum of a start phase and a propagation phase represents the total life. To better understand the fatigue phenomenon at its different stages and predict the fatigue life, various types of prediction models have been developed and reported in the literature. This paper reviewed the different models that include microstructure scale parameters that can be used to predict how fatigue cracks start under variable amplitude loading, including the Modified Tanaka-Mura Model, Acoustic Second Harmonic Generation, and the Probability of Crack Initiation on Defects. For perfect life prediction under variable amplitude loading, a stress-based approach, a strain-based approach, and a continuum damage mechanics approach are reviewed. The purpose of this paper is to get overview of the current state of approaches to the life prediction of fatigue crack initiation with variable amplitude. Finally, gaps in knowledge about the prediction of fatigue crack initiation under variable loading at high temperatures are pointed out.
Dynamic beam propagation method for flared semiconductor power amplifiers

In this paper, we present the results of a dynamic two-dimensional time-domain beam propagation method (two spatial dimensions plus time) for simulating travelling wave semiconductor optical amplifiers with nonuniform transverse section in pulsed regime. Using the effective refractive index method, the paraxial approximation and a moving timeframe, we reduce the scalar wave equation to a nonlinear parabolic partial differential equation for the slow complex envelope of the electric field. Diffraction, refractive index dispersion up to the second order, gain saturation and gain dispersion are included in the model. We numerically solve the equation through a locally one-dimensional (LOD) method employing both finite-difference techniques and FFT-based pseudospectral methods.
Lexico-Semantic Influence on Syntactic Processing: An Eye-Tracking Study with Spanish Relative Clauses

This paper investigates the interaction between lexicosemantic and syntactic information in sentence processing by examining the online comprehension of Spanish relative clauses (RCs) of both restrictive and non-restrictive types. A corpus study shows that, in Spanish, a RC may be introduced by different function words (called relativizers), which differ in lexical frequency, as well as semantic features. Based on these facts, an eye-tracking experiment was conducted with the aim of analyzing whether lexicosemantic information could influence sentence processing at the early stages. The results report an early influence of lexicosemantic information not only when activating a relativizer but also when integrating it within the syntactic structure. Additionally, the semantic role played by each RC type seems to constrain sentence processing at different regions. Our results favor an interactive view of language processing, according to which language comprehension is guided from the early stages by different kinds of linguistic information rather than syntactic information alone.
Prognostication of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung diseases: A cohort study

Background Connective tissue diseases-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD) is a heterogeneous condition that impairs quality of life and is associated with premature death. Progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF) has been identified as an important risk factor for poor prognosis. However, different criteria for PPF are used in clinical studies, which may complicate comparison between trials and translation of study findings into clinical practice. Methods This is a retrospective single center study in patients with CTD-ILD. The prognostic relevance of PPF definitions, including INBUILD, ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2022, and simplified progressive fibrosing (simplified PF) criteria, were examined in this cohort and validated in the other reported Dutch CTD-ILD cohort. Results A total of 230 patients with CTD-ILD were included and the median follow-up period was six (3—9) years. Mortality risk was independently associated with age (adjusted HR 1.07, p < 0.001), smoking history (adjusted HR 1.90, p = 0.045), extent of fibrosis on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) at baseline (adjusted HR 1.05, p = 0.018) and baseline DLCO (adjusted HR 0.97, p = 0.013). Patients with regular pulmonary function tests in the first 2 years (adjusted HR 0.42, p = 0.002) had a better survival. The prognostic relevance for survival was similar between the three PPF criteria in the two cohorts. Conclusion Higher age, smoking, increased extent of fibrosis and low baseline DLCO were associated with poor prognosis, while regular pulmonary function evaluation was associated with better survival. The INBUILD, ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT 2022, and simplified PF criteria revealed similar prognostication.
Altered Storage and Function of von Willebrand Factor in Human Cardiac Microvascular Endothelial Cells Isolated from Recipient Transplant Hearts

The assembly of von Willebrand factor (VWF) into ordered helical tubules within endothelial Weibel–Palade bodies (WPBs) is required for the efficient deployment of the protein at sites of vascular injury. VWF trafficking and storage are sensitive to cellular and environmental stresses that are associated with heart disease and heart failure. Altered storage of VWF manifests as a change in WPB morphology from a rod shape to a rounded shape and is associated with impaired VWF deployment during secretion. In this study, we examined the morphology, ultrastructure, molecular composition and kinetics of exocytosis of WPBs in cardiac microvascular endothelial cells isolated from explanted hearts of patients with a common form of heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM; HCMECD), or from nominally healthy donors (controls; HCMECC). Using fluorescence microscopy, WPBs in HCMECC (n = 3 donors) showed the typical rod-shaped morphology containing VWF, P-selectin and tPA. In contrast, WPBs in primary cultures of HCMECD (n = 6 donors) were predominantly rounded in shape and lacked tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Ultrastructural analysis of HCMECD revealed a disordered arrangement of VWF tubules in nascent WPBs emerging from the trans-Golgi network. HCMECD WPBs still recruited Rab27A, Rab3B, Myosin-Rab Interacting Protein (MyRIP) and Synaptotagmin-like protein 4a (Slp4-a) and underwent regulated exocytosis with kinetics similar to that seen in HCMECc. However, secreted extracellular VWF strings from HCMECD were significantly shorter than for endothelial cells with rod-shaped WPBs, although VWF platelet binding was similar. Our observations suggest that VWF trafficking, storage and haemostatic potential are perturbed in HCMEC from DCM hearts.
Design of a temperature-feedback controlled automated magnetic hyperthermia therapy device

Introduction: Magnetic hyperthermia therapy (MHT) is a minimally invasive adjuvant therapy capable of damaging tumors using magnetic nanoparticles exposed radiofrequency alternating magnetic fields. One of the challenges of MHT is thermal dose control and excessive heating in superficial tissues from off target eddy current heating. Methods: We report the development of a control system to maintain target temperature during MHT with an automatic safety shutoff feature in adherence to FDA Design Control Guidance. A proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control algorithm was designed and implemented in NI LabVIEW®. A standard reference material copper wire was used as the heat source to verify the controller performance in gel phantom experiments. Coupled electromagnetic thermal finite element analysis simulations were used to identify the initial controller gains. Results: Results showed that the PID controller successfully achieved the target temperature control despite significant perturbations. Discussion and Conclusion: Feasibility of PID control algorithm to improve efficacy and safety of MHT was demonstrated.
Reliability Prediction of Interleaved Boost Converter using Bayesian Belief Network

The power electronic converters are an integral part of the energy systems. There are wide range of applications of the converters from energy conversions to motor drives. With the increasing renewable energy sources, the need for intermediate DC – DC converters have also increased tremendously. Interleaved Boost Converter (IBC) is a more commonly used DC – DC converter, as it can work on stages thereby reducing the stress across the components. Along with the performance of a converter, its reliability also greatly decides the choice of the converters for an application. The reliability study of the converters plays a vital role in designing the safety systems for the converter. The paper presents the reliability prediction of IBC using Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) in detail.
Motion Compensation Method Using Direct Wave Signal for CTSR Bistatic HFSWR

Coast-transmit ship-receive (CTSR) bistatic high-frequency surface wave radar (HFSWR) can fully exploit the flexibility of moving platforms and the anti-interference advantages of bistatic radar. However, the platform motion can cause the spread of target echo in the frequency spectrum and reduction of amplitude, which is not conducive to detection. In this letter, a motion compensation method using a direct wave signal is proposed for CTSR bistatic HFSWR. First, the frequency shift characteristics of direct wave signal and target echo are analyzed by simulation. The simulation results show that the platform motion has a similar modulation form on both target echo and direct wave signal, and their difference is mainly caused by different azimuths. In addition, the direct wave signal is only affected by the platform motion, so it can be used to obtain the platform motion effect. Then, the proposed method uses a direct wave signal as the reference information to estimate and eliminate the phase modulation caused by the platform motion. At last, the effectiveness of the method is verified by the experiment based on simulated and measured attitude data.
Quantifying the yield gap minimization in lentil (Lens culinaris) under Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLD) conducted in Uttar Pradesh

On-farm cluster front line demonstrations were conducted for lentil crop across the nine districts of Eastern Plain Zone (Faizabad, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Azamgarh, Ballia, Chandauli, Mau, Gazipur and Jaunpur) and six districts of Bundelkhand Zone (Jhansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Banda, Jaloun and Chitrakoot) of Uttar Pradesh during rabi season of (2015- 16) in Indian sub-continent. In Eastern Plain Zone an area of 120 ha and in Bundelkhand zone 230 ha area each with plot size of 0.40 ha (1 acre) were included under these demonstrations with active participation of 930 farmers from both the zones. Data were analyzed in terms of yield gap, yield advantages and yield gap minimized for district level, state level and potential yield level of winter pulse crop lentil (Lens culinaris L.). The profitability analysis was also done for these demonstrations. The district level yield gap was computed highest in Bundelkhand (133-296%) followed by in the districts of eastern plain zone (128-158%). The obtained yield advantages helped to minimize the extension gap to maximum extent in districts of eastern plain zone (43-66%). Similar trend was observed in state level yield gap minimization (%) in both the zones of Uttar Pradesh. The potential yield gap minimized (%) at farmer level through demonstration of lentil was computed to be higher (31-52%) for most (3) of the districts of Bundelkhand and remaining districts (2) could witness 15 to 30 percent yield gap minimization except for Banda (7.64%) whereas in other districts of eastern plain zone, the potential yield gap could be minimized only to the extent of 5.43 to 15.43% and for the district Jaunpur, the gap was minimized to as lower extent as 1.62%. The major economic indicators like gross cost (Rupees/ha), gross return (Rupees/ha), net return (Rupees/ha), and B:C ratio were computed both for farmers field and demonstrated plot. The percentage increase in net return over farmers' existing plot and demonstration plot was highest in the district of Mau (219.27%), Sultanpur (115.70%), Jhansi (110.34%), Faizabad (105.57%) and other districts ranged from 18.29 to 88.12% in both the zones of Uttar Pradesh. The above study is, thus, the indicated the practical implications and usability of CFLD in minimizing the yield gap of lentil at the farmersâ€™ fields.
Multi-Architecture COexistence Enabling Network Framework for 5G and Beyond Mobile Systems

The recently coined concept of cell-Less radio access network (RAN) architecture clearly matches the beyond 5G expectation of achieving more spectral efficiency. However, the roll out of any novel solution like cell-less within the entire network is time consuming and challenging. Therefore, there is a need to enable the coexistence of newly deploying architectures with existing networks. In this research we propose a multi-architecture coexistence (MACO) network model to enable inter-connection of different architecture through coexistence and cooperation logical switches in order to enable smooth deployment of cell-less architecture within the legacy network. In addition to its impact on performance enhancement, more usage of existing architecture to contribute to the partially deployed cell-less network will provide the higher cost-efficiency in terms of network migration toward the ideal entire cell-less RAN as well as smooth compatibility alignment of architectures. Simulation results show that the proposed model for coexistence of cellless and cellular architectures will provide a higher network quality experience for the users compared to legacy cellular networks. The proposed MACO network will ensure higher network performance for a massive number of users which is a challenging concern beyond 5G networks.
Logarithmic behavior of the conductivity of electron-beam deposited granular Pt C nanowires

We found that granular Pt/ C composite nanowires have a logarithmic temperature dependence of conductivity in a wide range of temperatures. The logarithmic dependence can be explained by Coulomb interaction between Pt grains in a conductive carbon matrix. We stress the difference of the conductivity mechanism in the composite nanogranular material and known mechanisms in bulk metals/semiconductors and low-dimensional systems, including logarithmic dependence in systems with two-dimensional weak localization. Our observations show that local voltage fluctuations between grains result in the logT dependence for the samples with high conductivity annealed nanowires, while the samples with low conductivity as fabricated nanowires appear to be insulators with a Coulomb gap.
An adaptive total variation image reconstruction method for speckles through disordered media

Multiple scattering of light in highly disordered medium can break the diffraction limit of conventional optical system combined with image reconstruction method. Once the transmission matrix of the imaging system is obtained, the target image can be reconstructed from its speckle pattern by image reconstruction algorithm. Nevertheless, the restored image attained by common image reconstruction algorithms such as Tikhonov regularization has a relatively low signal-tonoise ratio (SNR) due to the experimental noise and reconstruction noise, greatly reducing the quality of the result image. In this paper, the speckle pattern of the test image is simulated by the combination of light propagation theories and statistical optics theories. Subsequently, an adaptive total variation (ATV) algorithm—the TV minimization by augmented Lagrangian and alternating direction algorithms (TVAL3), which is based on augmented Lagrangian and alternating direction algorithm, is utilized to reconstruct the target image. Numerical simulation experimental results show that, the TVAL3 algorithm can effectively suppress the noise of the restored image and preserve more image details, thus greatly boosts the SNR of the restored image. It also indicates that, compared with the image directly formed by ‘clean’ system, the reconstructed results can overcoming the diffraction limit of the ‘clean’ system, therefore being conductive to the observation of cells and protein molecules in biological tissues and other structures in micro/nano scale.
Single-Electron Transport and Detection of Graphene Quantum Dots

The integrated structure of graphene single-electron transistor and nanostrip electrometer was prepared using the semiconductor fabrication process. Through the electrical performance test of the large sample number, qualified devices were selected from low-yield samples, which exhibited an obvious Coulomb blockade effect. The results show that the device can deplete the electrons in the quantum dot structure at low temperatures, thus, accurately controlling the number of electrons captured by the quantum dot. At the same time, the nanostrip electrometer coupled with the quantum dot can be used to detect the quantum dot signal, that is, the change in the number of electrons in the quantum dot, because of its quantized conductivity characteristics.
Molecular identification of wines using in situ liquid SIMS and PCA analysis

Composition analysis in wine is gaining increasing attention because it can provide information about the wine quality, source, and nutrition. In this work, in situ liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was applied to 14 representative wines, including six wines manufactured by a manufacturer in Washington State, United States, four Cabernet Sauvignon wines, and four Chardonnay wines from other different manufacturers and locations. In situ liquid SIMS has the unique advantage of simultaneously examining both organic and inorganic compositions from liquid samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) of SIMS spectra showed that red and white wines can be clearly differentiated according to their aromatic and oxygen-contained organic species. Furthermore, the identities of different wines, especially the same variety of wines, can be enforced with a combination of both organic and inorganic species. Meanwhile, in situ liquid SIMS is sample-friendly, so liquid samples can be directly analyzed without any prior sample dilution or separation. Taken together, we demonstrate the great potential of in situ liquid SIMS in applications related to the molecular investigation of various liquid samples in food science.