Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy Improvement Study of a Double-Skin Façade in Winter Conditions

A numerical study of a natural convection flow coupled with radiation was carried out in a double-skin façade. The solar radiation flux to which the double-skin façade is subjected has been chosen for a cold season month (φ = 66.9 W/m2 ). The double-skin façade is installed on a building whose interior temperature is 293 K given that the temperature at the inlet in winter conditions is 255 K. This study focuses on 5 different widths of the double-skin façade (4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 cm). Three-dimensional numerical simulations have been carried out for a steady and turbulent flow. Transport equations of mass, momentum and energy are solved numerically using finite volume method. Velocity and temperature profiles show the differences between all the above mentioned 5 cases in order to highlight the optimal width of the double-skin façade.
Visuo-Haptic Model of Prostate Cancer Based on Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Prostate cancer is one of the main causes of cancer-related deaths among American men. Early detection of prostate cancer is key to increase the chances of a treatment able to preserve the healthy organs, limit side effects, and eventually improve survival rates. This thesis presents a mixed reality application that serves as a non-invasive, accurate, and complete medical tool to improve prostate cancer diagnostic process. The implemented application allows Urology surgeons to explore their patients’ prostate anatomy both visually and haptically. A 3D model of the gland tissue is obtained by a Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE). A volumetric rendering of the color-coded tumor lesions (hard) as well as healthy (soft) tissue are rendered in 3D by the stereoscopic display. In addition, prostate tissues can be virtually palpated with a haptic device to help the surgeon identify location and size of prostate tumors and determine cancer staging. The provided force feedback directly relies on the MRE data and allows the surgeon to feel a distinctive change of resistance of prostate tissues with different degrees of stiffness. Preliminary evaluation of the mixed realty application conducted by a cohort of expert Urologists showed nearly perfect correspondence between visual and haptic cues and confirmed that force feedback is able to enhance and complement visual information for better prostate cancer diagnosis.
Fusion imaging versus ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation of liver cancer: a meta-analysis

Background Ultrasound-guided percutaneous thermal ablation has become an alternative treatment for small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Recent evidence suggests that fusion imaging (FI) may improve the feasibility and efficacy of thermal ablation for HCC, while the clinical evidence remains limited. Purpose To compare FI versus ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for HCC. Material and Methods Relevant cohort or randomized controlled trials were found by searching Medline, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase. The pooling of results was performed using a random-effects model incorporating heterogeneity. Results In this meta-analysis, 15 studies involving 1472 patients (1831 tumors) for FI-guided ablation and 1380 patients (1864 tumors) for ultrasound-guided ablation were included. Pooled results showed that compared to conventional HCC ablation guided by ultrasound, the FI-guided procedure showed a similar technique efficacy rate (risk ratio [RR] = 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.00–1.02, P = 0.25; I2 = 30%). However, FI-guided tumor ablation was associated with a lower incidence of overall complications (RR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.50–0.97, P = 0.03; I2 = 0%). Moreover, patients receiving FI-guided tumor ablation had a lower risk of local tumor progression during follow-up than those with ultrasound-guided ablation (RR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.47–0.78, P < 0.001; I2 = 13%). Subgroup analysis according to FI strategy, imaging techniques in controls, and tumor diameter showed consistent results (p for subgroup difference all >0.05). Conclusion FI-guided thermal ablation may be more effective and safer than ultrasound-guided ablation for patients with HCC.
Longitudinal Evidence for Attenuated Local-Global Deviance Detection as a Precursor of Working Memory Decline

Abstract From the perspective of predictive coding, normal aging is accompanied by decreased weighting of sensory inputs and increased reliance on predictions, resulting in the attenuation of prediction errors in older age. Recent electroencephalography (EEG) research further revealed that the age-related shift from sensorium to predictions is hierarchy-selective, as older brains show little reduction in lower-level but significant suppression in higher-level prediction errors. Moreover, the disrupted propagation of prediction errors from the lower-level to the higher-level seems to be linked to deficient maintenance of information in working memory. However, it is unclear whether the hierarchical predictive processing continues to decline with advancing age as working memory. Here, we longitudinally followed a sample of 78 participants from three age groups (including seniors, adults, and adolescents) over three years’ time. Seniors exhibited largely preserved local processing [consisting of comparable mismatch negativity (MMN), delayed P3a, and comparable reorienting negativity (RON)] but significantly compromised global processing (consisting of suppressed frontocentral negativity and suppressed P3b) in the auditory local-global paradigm. These electrophysiological responses did not change with the passing of time, unlike working memory which deteriorated with advancing age. Correlation analysis further showed that these electrophysiological responses signaling prediction errors are indicative of concurrent working memory. Moreover, there was a correlation between earlier predictive processing and later working memory but not between earlier working memory and later predictive processing. The temporal asymmetry suggested that the hierarchy-selective attenuation of prediction errors is likely a precursor of working memory decline.
Plasmonic trapping based on nanoring devices at low incident powers

A plasmonic nanoparticle trap based on an array of nanoring structures with a 160 nm inner disk inside a 300 nm nanohole was demonstrated. Based on the extinction coefficient spectrum, 980 nm incident light was selected to trap 500 nm polystyrene particles. The transmitted intensity was collected for the power spectral density calculation to obtain the corner frequency. Compared to a conventional optical tweezers, approximately 20 times lower incident power is needed for this nanoring device to achieve the same trapping strength.
Periodic behavior flow of three-dimensional natural convection in a titled obstructed cubical enclosure

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine numerically the three natural convection of air induced by temperature difference between a cold outer cubic enclosure and a hot inner cylinder. Simulations have been carried out for Rayleigh numbers ranging from 103 to 107 and titled angle of the enclosure from 0° to 90°. The developed mathematical model is governed by the coupled equations of continuity, momentum and energy, and is solved by finite volume method. The effects of cylinder inclination and Rayleigh number on fluid flow and heat transfer are presented. The distribution of isocontours of temperature and isosurfaces of velocity eventually reaches a steady state in the range of Rayleigh numbers between 103 and 107 for titled inclination of 90°; however, for the remaining inclinations, Rayleigh number must be in the range 103-106 to avoid unsteady state, which is manifested by the division of the area containing the maximum local heat transfer rate into three parts for a Rayleigh number equal to 107 and an inclination of 90°. We mention that instability study is not included in the present paper, which is solely devoted to three-dimensional calculations. Results also indicate that optimal average heat transfer rate is obtained for both high Rayleigh number of 106 and high inclination of 90° for the two cases of the inner cylinder and cubical enclosure. Design/methodology/approach The manuscript deals with prediction of the three-dimensional natural convection phenomena in a cubical cavity induced by an isothermal cylinder at the center with different inclinations by simulating the flow using highly numerical methods such as finite volume method. Findings It is found that the local Nusselt number through active walls for titled inclination set at 90°, the symmetry of the flow is conserved and the area containing the maximum heat transfer is divided into three smaller areas situated near the upper portion of the wall, taking the maximum value. That may be due to the preparation of local occurrence of instabilities and bifurcation phenomena that appear for Ra > 107, which is not included in the present paper to save journal space. It was found also that an optimal heat transfer appears when the cylinder orientation becomes vertical (a = 90°). For this inclination, buoyancy forces act upward, corresponding to an aiding situation. In addition, heat transfer rate is increasing with Rayleigh numbers, so correlations of average Nusselt through the cubical cavity and the cylinder are established as function of two parameters (Ra, a). Comparisons of the numerical results with those obtained from all correlations show good agreements. Originality/value To the author’s knowledge, studies have thus far adressed three-dimensional cuboids enclosures induced by an inner shape which the location is changed. However, no study has examined three-dimensional natural convection between the inner isothermal cylinder and outer cooled cubical enclosure when the outer enclosure is tilted.
Perceived Workplace Health Support and Severe Psychological Distress Among Japanese Workers

Low intensity of employees’ perceived workplace health support increased the incidence of severe psychological distress in a one-year follow-up study. Reinforcing workplace health-focused support, such as healthy and productive management, may have a positive impact on employee mental health. Objective This study aimed to assess the extent to which the intensity of perceived workplace health support (PWHS) affected the incidence of psychological distress. Methods At the baseline, data from 4540 eligible participants throughout Japan were obtained using an Internet survey. Among them, 2362 participants who could be followed up 1 year after the initial study were included in the analysis. The intensity of PWHS was determined using an original questionnaire. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Results Participants with high PWHS were less likely to experience severe psychological distress than those with low PWHS even after adjusting for confounding factors including work-related factors. The incidence of severe psychological distress decreased as the intensity of PWHS increased. Conclusions Enhanced PWHS reduced psychological distress and positively affected workers’ mental health.
The associations of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors as add‐on to metformin with fracture risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

To investigate whether sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitor use as compared to dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibitor use as add‐on to metformin is associated with the risk of any fracture or major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs).
Long-term outcomes after tuberculosis for people with HIV in eastern Europe

Background: Eastern Europe has a high burden of tuberculosis (TB)/HIV coinfection with high mortality shortly after TB diagnosis. This study assesses TB recurrence, mortality rates and causes of death among TB/HIV patients from Eastern Europe up to 11 years after TB diagnosis. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study of TB/HIV patients enrolled between 2011 and 2013 (at TB diagnosis) and followed-up until end of 2021. A competing risk regression was employed to assess rates of TB recurrence, with death as competing event. Kaplan–Meier estimates and a multivariable Cox-regression were used to assess long-term mortality and corresponding risk factors. The Coding Causes of Death in HIV (CoDe) methodology was used for adjudication of causes of death. Results: Three hundred and seventy-five TB/HIV patients were included. Fifty-three (14.1%) were later diagnosed with recurrent TB [incidence rate 3.1/100 person-years of follow-up (PYFU), 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4–4.0] during a total follow-up time of 1713 PYFU. Twenty-three of 33 patients with data on drug-resistance (69.7%) had multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB. More than half with recurrent TB (n = 30/53, 56.6%) died. Overall, 215 (57.3%) died during the follow-up period, corresponding to a mortality rate of 11.4/100 PYFU (95% CI 10.0–13.1). Almost half of those (48.8%) died of TB. The proportion of all TB-related deaths was highest in the first 6 (n = 49/71; 69%; P < 0.0001) and 6–24 (n = 33/58; 56.9%; P < 0.0001) months of follow-up, compared deaths beyond 24 months (n = 23/85; 26.7%). Conclusion: TB recurrence and TB-related mortality rates in PWH in Eastern Europe are still concerningly high and continue to be a clinical and public health challenge.
Gene expression analyses reveal potential mechanism of inorganic arsenic‐induced apoptosis in zebrafish

Our previous study showed that sodium arsenite (200 mg/L) affected the nervous system and induced motor neuron development via the Sonic hedgehog pathway in zebrafish larvae. To gain more insight into the effects of arsenite on other signaling pathways, including apoptosis, we have performed quantitative polymerase chain reaction array‐based gene expression analyses. The 96‐well array plates contained primers for 84 genes representing 10 signaling pathways that regulate several biological functions, including apoptosis. We exposed eggs at 5 h postfertilization until the 72 h postfertilization larval stage to 200 mg/L sodium arsenite. In the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, nuclear factor κ‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells, and Wingless/Int‐1 signaling pathways, the expression of only one gene in each pathway was significantly altered. The expression of multiple genes was altered in the p53 and oxidative stress pathways. Sodium arsenite induced excessive apoptosis in the larvae. This compelled us to analyze specific genes in the p53 pathway, including cdkn1a, gadd45aa, and gadd45ba. Our data suggest that the p53 pathway is likely responsible for sodium arsenite‐induced apoptosis. In addition, sodium arsenite significantly reduced global DNA methylation in the zebrafish larvae, which may indicate that epigenetic factors could be dysregulated after arsenic exposure. Together, these data elucidate potential mechanisms of arsenic toxicity that could improve understanding of arsenic's effects on human health.
Temperature and humidity dependence of ionic electroactive polymer actuators

The ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators with carbonaceous electrodes and ionic liquid electrolytes are distinguished by their ability for operation in open air. Nevertheless, their behavior is influenced by at least two parameters of the ambient environment – temperature and humidity. Both parameters affect many factors of the IEAP materials: viscosity and ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, specific capacitance of the electrodes, stiffness of the polymer, etc. This circumstance makes it difficult to comprehend the actual physical and electrochemical processes occurring in the IEAP materials as well as hinders the control of the actuators in the possible applications. This work is focused on characterizing the temperature and humidity-dependence of the electromechanical and electrochemical response of IEAP actuators. An extensive experiment was performed with several types of IEAP actuators in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment. The characterization of electrical and electromechanical response measurements were carried out at temperatures ranging from 0°C to +60°C and relative humidity ranging from 0% to 90%. The result showing that impact of both parameters on IEAP actuators is easily recognizable.
Theoretical and experimental study of magnetic proximity effect

Magnetic proximity effect in a heterostructure, which consists of a semiconductor thin film or a 2D material sheet and a ferromagnetic insulator film, has a great potential in spintronics applications. However, a complete study of magnetic proximity effect has been highly challenging. We theoretically and experimentally investigate the proximityinduced exchange splitting in a semiconductor thin film or a 2D material sheet adjacent to a ferromagnetic insulator layer. Theoretical calculations indicate that proximity-induced exchange splitting can largely enhance the performance of spintronic applications. Photoluminescence experiment shows that the spin splitting in the semiconductor thin film induced by the proximity effect can be directly controlled by the magnetization of the ferromagnetic insulator layers. Such a sandwich structure not only serves as a platform to clarify the magnetic proximity effect at ferromagnetic insulator/semiconductor interfaces but also provides insights into designing spin-filter superlattices which can generate fully spin-polarized currents. The unit cell of the ferromagnetic superlattice is a ferromagnetic insulator/semiconductor bilayer. These ferromagnetic insulator layers create periodically arranged spin-dependent barriers, with semiconductor layers as quantum wells. In Chapter 2, we will cover the band structure of the ferromagnetic superlattice, and we will use standard approaches to study the electron transport together with spin transport in this superlattice. We will show that the translational symmetry along the superlattice growth direction ensures the wavevector a good quantum number, and the weak coupling between adjacent quantum wells leads to the formation of minibands (meV), which is far narrower than the bandwidth of conventional semiconductors (eV). The thickness of the bilayer unit cell determines the widths of minibands, and the spin dependent barriers lead to spin splitting minibands. In our study, we find that by carefully choosing the thickness of ferromagnetic insulator layers and semiconductor layers, the lowest spin degenerate miniband can split into two spinresolved minibands. This half-metallic band structure makes possible the current through this superlattice 100% spin-polarized. We will prove that in the so-called miniband conduction regime, the current in a superlattice with high crystal quality is indeed perfectly polarized under a small voltage bias. Because of the spin-dependent barriers in the superlattice, the induced half-metallic miniband paves a way to create a perfectly polarized spin current without an exponential increase of the device resistance, which can hardly be realized using a single spin-filter barrier. 2-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates to realize next generation devices for spintronic applications with low-power consumption and quantum operation capability. Magnetic proximity effect can induce an interface exchange field into 2D materials
Role of nonneoplastic PVT in the natural history of patients with cirrhosis and first diagnosis of HCC

Background and Aims: HCC can increase the risk of nonneoplastic PVT in cirrhosis. However, the natural history of PVT and its prognostic role in HCC patients are unknown. Approach and Results: Consecutive HCC patients with cirrhosis undergoing laparoscopic ablation were retrospectively evaluated and followed up to 36 months. HCC and PVT characteristics and evolution were reviewed. PVT was categorized according to lumen occupancy (≤50%, >50% <100%, and = 100%) and extension to other veins. The evolution of thrombosis was considered at 1 year from diagnosis. Variables associated with the presence of PVT and evolution patterns were analyzed, as well as their impact on survival. In all, 750 patients were included, 88 of whom had PVT. On multivariate analysis, the occurrence of PVT at HCC diagnosis was associated with pretreatment total tumor volume (p < 0.001) and clinically significant portal hypertension (p = 0.005). During the follow-up, 46 de novo PVT occurred, 27/46 (58.7%) in the presence of a viable tumor. Among 115 PVT diagnosed in the presence of HCC, 83 had available radiological follow-up, and 22 were anticoagulated. The “complete/progressive” evolution pattern was associated with nonresponse to HCC treatment in non-anticoagulated patients. The presence of PVT was independently associated with lower overall survival, particularly when progressive or occlusive (p < 0.001). A higher competing risk of death emerged for “complete and progressive” PVT, both for HCC-related (p < 0.001) and non-HCC–related (p = 0.002) death. Conclusions: HCC represents an independent risk factor for the occurrence and progression of PVT in cirrhosis. Since progressive and occlusive PVT seems to be an independent factor associated with mortality, screening and prompt treatment of this complication should be considered.
Ultrastructure of Synaptic Connectivity within Subregions of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus Revealed by a Genetically Encoded Tag and Serial Blockface Electron Microscopy

Abstract The hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is the central circadian pacemaker in vertebrates. The SCN receives photic information exclusively through melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells (mRGCs) to synchronize circadian rhythms with the environmental light cycles. The SCN is composed of two major peptidergic neuron types in the core and shell regions of the SCN. Determining how mRGCs interact with the network of synaptic connections onto and between SCN neurons is key to understand how light regulates the circadian clock and to elucidate the relevant local circuits within the SCN. To map these connections, we used a newly developed Cre-dependent electron microscopy (EM) reporter, APEX2, to label the mitochondria of mRGC axons. Serial blockface scanning electron microscopy was then used to resolve the fine 3D structure of mRGC axons and synaptic boutons in the SCN of a male mouse. The resulting maps reveal patterns of connectomic organization in the core and shell of the SCN. We show that these regions are composed of different neuronal subtypes and differ with regard to the pattern of mRGC input, as the shell receives denser mRGC synaptic input compared with the core. This finding challenges the present view that photic information coming directly from the retina is received primarily by the core region of the SCN.