Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Human Motion Synthesis Using Trigonometric Splines

In this work, we present a simple framework to synthesize human motion. Our main goal is to propose a methodology tailored for inexperienced users to initiate their research in human motion simulation and human motion trajectory optimization. The novelties of the work include the following. First, trigonometric splines are used instead of traditional B-splines to discretize the generalized coordinates and velocities. Second, useful identities for trigonometric splines are derived. Third, this work is intended to be an example, so that even non-skilled users, such as undergraduate students, can perform human motion analysis using a high-level programming language such as MATLAB. Four simulations of human motion are generated: walking, sitting and standing, side-step, and jump. The results of the walking simulation are validated by experiments. Simulation and experimental results are presented and discussed.
Mitigation Effect of Dense “Water Network” on Heavy PM2.5 Pollution: A Case Model of the Twain-Hu Basin, Central China

The influence of the underlying surface on the atmospheric environment over rivers and lakes is not fully understood. To improve our understanding, this study targeted the Twain-Hu Basin (THB) in central China, with a unique underlying surface comprising a dense “water network” over rivers and lakes. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) was used to simulate the impact of this dense “water network” on a wintertime heavy PM2.5 pollution event in the THB. On this basis, the regulating effects of density and area of the lake groups, with centralized big lakes (CBLs) and discrete small lakes (DSLs), on PM2.5 concentrations over the underlying surface of the dense “water network” in the THB were clarified, and the relative contributions of thermal factors and water vapor factors in the atmospheric boundary layer to the variation of PM2.5 concentrations were evaluated. The results show that the underlying surface of dense “water networks” in the THB generally decreases the PM2.5 concentrations, but the influences of different lake-group types are not uniform in spatial distribution. The CBLs can reduce the PM2.5 concentrations over the lake and its surroundings by 4.90–17.68% during the day and night. The ability of DSLs in reducing PM2.5 pollution is relatively weak, with the reversed contribution between −5.63% and 1.56%. Thermal factors and water vapor–related factors are the key meteorological drivers affecting the variation of PM2.5 concentrations over the underlying surface of dense “water networks”. The warming and humidification effects of such underlying surfaces contribute positively and negatively to the “purification” of air pollution, respectively. The relative contributions of thermal factors and water vapor–related factors are 52.48% and 43.91% for CBLs and 65.96% and 27.31% for DSLs, respectively. The “purification” effect of the underlying surface with a dense “water network” in the THB on regional air pollution highlights the importance of environmental protection of inland rivers and lakes in regional environmental governance. In further studies on the atmospheric environment, long-term studies are necessary, including fine measurements in terms of meteorology and the environment and more comprehensive simulations under different scenarios.
Scattering of a Plane Longitudinal Wave by a Spherical Obstacle in an Isotropically Elastic Solid

Scattering by a spherical obstacle of a plane longitudinal wave propagating in an isotropically elastic solid is computed. Expressions for the scattered wave and the total scattered energy are given. Three special types of obstacle—an isotropically elastic sphere, a spherical cavity, and a rigid sphere—are discussed in detail, especially for Rayleigh scattering. The result for the isotropically elastic sphere is compared with the well‐known result of scattering of a plane wave propagating in an ideal fluid by a sphere of another ideal fluid.
Application analysis of automatic extraction of open-pit stope variation information based on GF-1 in mine development

The traditional mine remote sensing change monitoring requires human-computer interaction interpretation, and the timeliness cannot meet the demand. This paper studies the application of deep learning in remote sensing stope change monitoring in open pit mines, and analyzes the accuracy and applicability of automatic extraction results. Combined with information such as roads, mining rights, and urban zoning, the target area for open stope changes is provided. It provides a new technical idea for mine remote sensing monitoring.
Bayesian dose finding by jointly modelling toxicity and efficacy as time‐to‐event outcomes

Summary. In traditional phase I and II clinical trial designs, toxicity and efficacy are often modelled as binary outcomes. Such methods ignore information on when the outcome event occurs, such as experiencing toxicity or achieving cure or remission. They also have difficulty accommodating a high accrual rate under which toxicity and efficacy outcomes cannot be observed in a timely manner, and thus delay treatment assignment. To address these issues, we propose a Bayesian adaptive phase I–II design that jointly models toxicity and efficacy as time‐to‐event outcomes. At each decision‐making time, patients who have not experienced toxicity or efficacy are naturally censored. We apply the marginal cure rate model to account explicitly for those patients who are insusceptible to efficacy owing to drug resistance. The correlation between the bivariate time‐to‐toxicity and time‐to‐efficacy outcomes is properly adjusted through the Clayton model. After screening out the excessively toxic or futile doses, we adaptively assign each new patient to the most appropriate dose on the basis of the ratio of the areas under the predicted survival curves corresponding to toxicity and efficacy. We conducted extensive simulation studies to examine the operating characteristics of the method proposed, and we illustrate the application of the method in a clinical trial in prostate cancer. Our design selects the target dose with a high probability, treats most patients at the desirable dose and potentially shortens the duration of a trial.
CMA-Based Quadruple-Cluster Leaf-Shaped Metasurface-Based Wideband Circularly-Polarized Stacked-Patch Antenna Array for Sub-6 GHz 5G Applications

This research proposes a quadruple-cluster leaf-shaped metasurface (MTS)-based circularly-polarized (CP) stacked-patch antenna array with hybrid coupler feed network for sub-6 GHz 5G applications. In the study, the leaf-shaped MTS-based CP stacked-patch antenna is characterized by characteristic mode analysis (CMA). In the antenna design, one cluster of the quadruple-cluster leaf-shaped MTS-based antenna array consists of $4\times4$ leaf-shaped MTS elements; and the hybrid coupler feed network is used to enhance impedance bandwidth (IBW), axial ratio bandwidth (ARBW), and antenna gain. Simulations are carried out and an antenna prototype is fabricated and experiments undertaken. The measured IBW, ARBW, and maximum gain at the center frequency (4 GHz) are 62.5% (3.4– 5.9 GHz), 21% (3.8– 4.54 GHz), and 9.04 dBic at 3.9 GHz. The novelty of this research lies in the use of: (i) the CMA concept to design and develop the leaf-shaped wideband MTS-based stacked-patch antenna with CP radiation pattern; and (ii) a low-complexity hybrid coupler feed network to enhance the IBW, ARBW and gain.
Optical wireless communications with low voltage self-powered sensor motes

Optical wireless channels that use modulated retro-reflectors can provide low-data rate communications to self-powered 'smart-dust' motes. The retro-reflectors are illuminated using a base station that incorporates diffractive beamsteering to direct radiation onto the motes, and these return the radiation to an imaging receiver within the base station. The motes consist of a photodiode to provide power, a novel logarithmic receiver to receive data from the base station, and a modulating retro-reflector to send information from the mote to the base station. Several of the components elements of this system have been implemented and tested. In this paper we report a logarithmic receiver that can be self powered by the source communicating with it, and a retro-reflecting LC modulator component that operates at 30b/s when driven at 0.7V. In addition an overall system model, together with the challenges for future work are presented.
Role of Oxidative Stress in Male Infertility: An Updated Review

Current evidence links oxidative stress (OS) to male infertility, reduced sperm motility, sperm DNA damage and increased risk of recurrent abortions and genetic diseases. A review of PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane review databases of published articles from years 2000–2018 was performed focusing on physiological and pathological consequences of reactive oxygen species (ROS), sperm DNA damage, OS tests, and the association between OS and male infertility, pregnancy and assisted reproductive techniques outcomes. Generation of ROS is essential for reproductive function, but OS is detrimental to fertility, pregnancy, and genetic status of the newborns. Further, there is a lack of consensus on selecting OS test, type, and duration of antioxidants treatment as well as on the target patients group. Developing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options for OS is essential to improve fertility potential and limit genetic diseases transmitted to offspring.
Tudca Ameliorates Liver Injury Via Activation of SIRT1-FXR Signaling in a Rat Hemorrhagic Shock Model.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the changes of bile acids in the liver during hemorrhagic shock (HS) and their potential to attenuate liver injury via activation of SIRT1 (sirtuin 1)-FXR (farnesoid X receptor) signaling. METHODS A Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat HS model was established, while HepG2 cells were hypoxically cultured to simulate HS in vitro. Liver bile acids (BA) were profiled with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). FXR expression was detected by western blot and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of SIRT1 and FXR were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Protein expression of SIRT1, FoxM1, NF-κB, acetyl-NF-κB, p53, and acetyl-p53 was analyzed by western blot. Hepatocyte apoptosis and proliferation were measured by TUNEL assay and Ki-67 staining, respectively. Serum and supernatant cytokines were analyzed using ELISA assays. Liver injury was also assessed. To investigate the possible mechanisms, SIRT1 agonist (SRT1720), SIRT1 inhibitor (EX527), and FXR inhibitor (Z-guggulsterone) were used. RESULTS Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) in the liver decreased significantly after HS. SIRT1 and FXR expression was time-dependently downregulated by HS or hypoxia condition. TUDCA upregulated SIRT1-FXR activity, which inhibited expression and acetylation of NF-κB and p53 and increased FoxM1 expression, leading to decreased inflammatory response and apoptosis and increased proliferative capacity in hepatocytes, and attenuation of liver injury. EX527 pretreatment reversed the protective effect of TUDCA. Moreover, Z-guggulsterone supplementation decreased the protective effect of TUDCA in vitro. CONCLUSION TUDCA in the liver decreased during HS. TUDCA supplementation might attenuate HS-induced liver injury by upregulating SIRT1-FXR signaling.
Advances of and by phase-field modelling in condensed-matter physics

Phase-field modelling is still a young discipline in condensed-matter physics, which established itself for the class of systems that can be characterised by domains of different phases separated by a distinct interface. Driven out of equilibrium, their dynamics result in the evolution of those interfaces which might develop into well defined-structures with characteristic length scales at the nano-, micro- or meso-scale. Since the material properties of such systems are to a large extent determined by those small-scale structures, acquiring a precise understanding of the mechanisms that drive the interfacial dynamics is a great challenge for scientists in this field. Phase-field modelling is an approach that allows this challenge to be tackled in a simulation-based manner. This review provides a critical overview of the conceptual background of the phase-field method, the most relevant fields of condensed-matter physics that have been approached using phase-field modelling, as well as the respective model formulations and the insight gained so far via their simulation and analysis. Moreover, we discuss directions of further development and the quality of the scientific contributions to be expected from those.
In silico analysis of the V66M variant of human BDNF in psychiatric disorders: An approach to precision medicine

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neurogenesis and synapse formation. The V66M is the most prevalent BDNF mutation in humans and impairs the function and distribution of BDNF. This mutation is related to several psychiatric disorders. The pro-region of BDNF, particularly position 66 and its adjacent residues, are determinant for the intracellular sorting and activity-dependent secretion of BDNF. However, it has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study aims to analyze the effects of the V66M mutation on BDNF structure and function. Here, we applied nine algorithms, including SIFT and PolyPhen-2, for functional and stability prediction of the V66M mutation. The complete theoretical model of BNDF was generated by Rosetta and validated by PROCHECK, RAMPAGE, ProSa, QMEAN and Verify-3D algorithms. Structural alignment was performed using TM-align. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the ConSurf server. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed and analyzed using the GROMACS 2018.2 package. The V66M mutation was predicted as deleterious by PolyPhen-2 and SIFT in addition to being predicted as destabilizing by I-Mutant. According to SNPeffect, the V66M mutation does not affect protein aggregation, amyloid propensity, and chaperone binding. The complete theoretical structure of BDNF proved to be a reliable model. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the V66M mutation of BDNF occurs at a non-conserved position of the protein. MD analyses indicated that the V66M mutation does not affect the BDNF flexibility and surface-to-volume ratio, but affects the BDNF essential motions, hydrogen-bonding and secondary structure particularly at its pre and pro-domain, which are crucial for its activity and distribution. Thus, considering that these parameters are determinant for protein interactions and, consequently, protein function; the alterations observed throughout the MD analyses may be related to the functional impairment of BDNF upon V66M mutation, as well as its involvement in psychiatric disorders.
Numerical model of the selectivity effect and the ΔV/L criterion

Numerical solutions of Maxwell equations for a model earth with a reasonably conducting channel indicate that the electric field values are intensified within a certain region only (i.e., above the end of the channel), thus explaining the observed selectivity effect. In this region, the electric field may reach detectable values (5–10mV/km), while the magnetic field still remains low (10−2nT). The results are compatible with those obtained recently by analytical solutions (Varotsos et al. [1998]). Both the numerical and the analytical solutions lead to a natural explanation of the ΔV/L≈const criterion. This criterion, however, should not be applied over an area with strongly inhomogeneous electrical structure.
Environmental factors which can affect the burden of pneumococcal disease and the immune response to pneumococcal vaccines: the need for more precisely delineated vaccine recommendations

ABSTRACT Introduction: Precision medicine describes the customization of healthcare tailored to the individual patient. Generally, vaccines are considered as public health tools rather than from the individual patient perspective. However, adult vaccination programs in particular should consider many different factors, at the individual level and also from societal, cultural and country-specific perspectives. Currently, most immunization programs, including those for pneumococcal vaccines, have only been adopted on the basis of age or medical risk. Areas covered: Based on a broad literature search, this review addresses possible environmental factors which can affect the burden of pneumococcal disease and the immune response to pneumococcal vaccines. Expert opinion: Factors which influence the incidence of pneumococcal disease and the reaction against pneumococcal vaccination, including personal conditions, geographic/ethnic factors and social risks, are diverse. To maximize the effects of pneumococcal vaccination, not only for public health but also to induce optimal effects at the individual level, vaccines need to be verified under diverse situations and with collaboration among relevant medical societies, governments, and the pharmaceutical industry. Whereas vaccines are generally considered only from the public health perspective, flexible, comprehensive and tailored pneumococcal immunization programs, with appropriate policy support, can generate a greater positive impact on public health.
Thermoplastic nanoimprint lithography of electroactive polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) for micro/nanoscale sensors and actuators

Thermoplastic nanoimprint lithography has been used for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, as a method for transferring nanoscale patterns to electroactive polymer poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene-chlorofluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE-CFE)]. PVDF, its copolymers, and terpolymers cannot be processed using conventional lithography techniques because of their solubility in most organic solvents and photoresist developers. In this work, line-shaped patterns with widths of 60 to 100 nm were formed in the thermoplastic polymer by thermal compression using a previously patterned and treated silicon (Si) stamp. Annealing of the polymer under compression in a nanoimprinter following imprint resulted in a 10-fold improvement in the surface roughness of the polymer relative to spin-coated layers of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE). Patterning of distinct polymer structures on Si substrates (without residual layer) was achieved for micron scale structures. The processes presented here comprise a basis for the integration of P(VDF-TrFE-CFE) as an active material in nanoscale sensors and actuators.
Consensus in symmetric multi-agent networks with sector nonlinear couplings

Abstract We investigate consensus dynamics in multi-agent networked systems with time-varying undirected topology and uncertain scalar-valued nonlinear couplings, satisfying sector inequalities. Using the Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov lemma and techniques of the absolute stability theory, we obtain consensus criteria for the networks of the specified type, analogous to the celebrated circle stability criterion for Lurie systems.
Metabolic Profile Reflects Stages of Fibrosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, with fibrosis stage being the main predictor for clinical outcomes. Here, we present the metabolic profile of NAFLD patients with regards to fibrosis progression. We included all consecutive new referrals for NAFLD services between 2011 and 2019. Demographic, anthropometric and clinical features and noninvasive markers of fibrosis were recorded at baseline and at follow-up. Significant and advanced fibrosis were defined using liver stiffness measurement (LSM) as LSM ≥ 8.1 kPa and LSM ≥ 12.1 kPa, respectively. Cirrhosis was diagnosed either histologically or clinically. Fast progressors of fibrosis were defined as those with delta stiffness ≥ 1.03 kPa/year (25% upper quartile of delta stiffness distribution). Targeted and untargeted metabolic profiles were analysed on fasting serum samples using Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR). A total of 189 patients were included in the study; 111 (58.7%) underwent liver biopsy. Overall, 11.1% patients were diagnosed with cirrhosis, while 23.8% were classified as fast progressors. A combination of metabolites and lipoproteins could identify the fast fibrosis progressors (AUROC 0.788, 95% CI: 0.703–0.874, p < 0.001) and performed better than noninvasive markers. Specific metabolic profiles predict fibrosis progression in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Algorithms combining metabolites and lipids could be integrated in the risk-stratification of these patients.
Byurakan–IRAS Galaxy Pairs as Indicators of Starburst and Galaxy Evolution

The Byurakan–IRAS galaxies (BIG objects; Mickaelian 1995) are the result of a project of optical identifications of IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC; IRAS 1988) in a 1500 square degree high-galactic latitude (|b|>15°) area based on the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS) images and the Digitized First Byurakan Survey (DFBS, or digitized Markarian survey) low-dispersion spectra. As a result, 1278 galaxies have been identified (as well as galactic objects, Byurakan–IRAS Stars [BIS]), including 42 PSC sources identified with 103 galaxies that make up 30 physical pairs and 12 multiples.
Image Reconstruction From Incomplete Projections

We propose a series expansion method for image reconstruction from projections which is equivalent to the Fourier transform method. The reconstruction formula is applicable to incomplete projection data such as limited angle projection data and restricted region scan data. It is also applied not only to pencil beam and fan-beam scanners but also to any different type of CT scanners, for instance, a fan-beam scanner with a linear motion of x-ray source. The reconstruction technique, therefore, provides a direct method to restore any sectional image of a three-dimensional body.
A measurement of absorbed dose to water per unit incident 7 MeV photon fluence

After isolating the effects due to 7 MeV photons, measurements were made of the ratio of the 60Co exposure equivalent charge from a Baldwin-Farmer ion chamber in a water phantom, divided by the on-axis fluence of incident 7 MeV photons. This quantity is the ratio between the conversion factor from fluence to absorbed dose to water and the chamber calibration factor specified by various dosimetry protocols. The measured value is a test of the Monte Carlo codes and dosimetric theory used to derive these two factors. A value of 4.13*10-13 C kg-1 cm2+or-1.6% was measured. In order to assess the ion chamber charge due to scattered 7 MeV photons, a subsidiary experiment measured the dose due to scattered photons originating in a series of iron plates. Agreement was obtained between the measured dose as a function of iron plate thickness and that calculated using the EGS Monte Carlo simulation systems and also between the measured and calculated absorbed dose-depth curves. The results may be viewed as an experimental measurement, with 2-3% uncertainty, of the absorbed dose to water per unit incident 7 MeV photon fluence, or of the ion chamber calibration factor specified by dosimetry protocols.