Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HDV RNA Levels and Progression of Hepatitis Delta Infection: A 14 Year Follow Up Experience in Italy

Background: Identification of outcome predictors is one of the unmet needs in chronic HDV infection. Until recently, no reliable quantitative assays for HDV RNA were available. Aims: To evaluate the impact of baseline viremia on natural history of HDV infection in a cohort of patients whose serum samples were stored at their first visit 15 years ago. Methods: Quantitative HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBV DNA, HDV RNA, genotypes, and liver disease severity were assessed at baseline. Patients who were no longer on active follow-up were recalled and re-evaluated in August 2022. Results: The majority of patients were male (64.9%); the median age was 50.1 years; and all patients were Italian, with only three born in Romania. All were HBeAg negative with HBV genotype D infection. Patients were subdivided three groups: 23 were in active follow-up (Group 1), 21 were recalled due to no longer being in follow-up (Group 2), and 11 died (Group 3). Liver cirrhosis was diagnosed in 28 subjects at the first visit; 39.3% of diagnosed patients were in Group 3, 32.1% were in Group 1 and 28.6% were in Group 2 (p = 0.001). Baseline HBV DNA IU/mL Log10 were 1.6 (1.0–5.9) in Group 1, 1.3 (1.0–4.5) in Group 2, and 4.1 (1.5–4.5) in Group 3; median baseline HDV RNA Log10 levels were 4.1 (0.7–6.7) in Group 1, 3.2 (0.7–6.2) in Group 2, and 5.2 (0.7–6.7) in Group 3, resulting significantly higher rates among patients in Group 3 compared to the other groups (p = 0.038). Eighteen patients in Group 2, as compared to 7 in Group 1, had undetectable HDV RNA at the follow-up evaluation (p = 0.001). Conclusions: HDV chronic infection is a heterogeneous disease. It may not only progress but also improve over time in patients, who eventually become HDV RNA-undetectable. HDV RNA levels may help identify the subgroup of patients with less progressive liver disease.
Prediction of TOC Content in Organic-Rich Shale Using Machine Learning Algorithms: Comparative Study of Random Forest, Support Vector Machine, and XGBoost

The total organic carbon (TOC) content of organic-rich shale is a key parameter in screening for potential source rocks and sweet spots of shale oil/gas. Traditional methods of determining the TOC content, such as the geochemical experiments and the empirical mathematical regression method, are either high cost and low-efficiency, or universally non-applicable and low-accuracy. In this study, we propose three machine learning models of random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and XGBoost to predict the TOC content using well logs, and the performance of each model are compared with the traditional empirical methods. First, the decision tree algorithm is used to identify the optimal set of well logs from a total of 15. Then, 816 data points of well logs and the TOC content data collected from five different shale formations are used to train and test these three models. Finally, the accuracy of three models is validated by predicting the unknown TOC content data from a shale oil well. The results show that the RF model provides the best prediction for the TOC content, with R2 = 0.915, MSE = 0.108, and MAE = 0.252, followed by the XGBoost, while the SVR gives the lowest predictive accuracy. Nevertheless, all three machine learning models outperform the traditional empirical methods such as Schmoker gamma-ray log method, multiple linear regression method and ΔlgR method. Overall, the proposed machine learning models are powerful tools for predicting the TOC content of shale and improving the oil/gas exploration efficiency in a different formation or a different basin.
On the rate of convergence of the image space reconstruction algorithm

The Image Space Reconstruction Algorithm (ISRA) of Daube–Witherspoon and Muehllehner is a multiplicative algorithm for solving nonnegative least squares problems. Eggermont has proved the global convergence of this algorithm. In this paper, we analyze its rate of convergence. We show that if at the minimum the strict complementarity condition is satisfied and the reduced Hessian matrix is positive definite, then the ISRA algorithm which converges to it does so at a linear rate of convergence. If, however, the ISRA algorithm converges to a minimum which does not satisfy the strict complementarity condition, then the rate of convergence of the algorithm can degenerate to being sublinear. Our results here therefor hold under more general assumptions than in the work of Archer and Titterington who assume that at a minimum point all Lagrange multipliers are zero. We provide numerical examples to illustrate our rate of convergence results and to explain why the ISRA algorithm usually appears to converge slowly. Our work here heuristically justifies why the Lee–Seung algorithm for solving nonnegative matrix factorization problems has a slow rate of convergence. Mathematics subject classification (2000): 65F20, 65Y20, 15A48, 15A23.
Two Nontrivial Differentials in the Adams Spectral Sequence

By means of an estimate of Ext_P~(s,t)(Z_p,Z_p),some Ext groups of the Toda spectrum in some special dimensions and degrees are obtained.Then two new nontrivial differentials are detected by the Adams spectral sequence and the may spectral sequence.Finally,the relationμ(i′j′βi′iΛ(? ))≠0 inπ_*V(1)is given.
Elements and Patterns in the Solar Magnetic Field

and the non thermal processes in th e solar atmosphere indicate the importance of mag netic fields in turbulent cosmical bodies. We are now aware that magnetic processes also occur in other stars, in protostars, in supernova remnants, in gaseous disks of galaxies, in accretion disks around compact stars, and in active nuclei of galaxies. The solar atmosphere, howe ver, is the prime focus for the observational study of astrophy sical magneto hydrodynamics (MHD) and plasma phy sics. This selective review concentrates on observational studies that may reveal the MHD processes in th e solar interior and photosphere th at generate and shape the magnetic field. The intrinsicall y strong magnetic field is contained in seemingly isolated elements, ranging from th e thick bundles of flux tubes in sunspots to th e hypothetical thin flux fi bers (S ection 3). These elements are arranged in the typical patterns observed in active regions and in the magnetic network
Dynamic Magic Sets

Disjunctive Datalog with stable model semantics is a rule–based language for knowledge representation and common sense reasoning that also allows to use queries for checking the presence of specific atoms in stable models. Expressiveness is a strength of the language, which indeed captures the second level of the polynomial hierarchy. However, because of this high expressive power, evaluating Disjunctive Datalog programs and queries is inherently nondeterministic. In fact, Disjunctive Datalog computations are typically characterized by two distinct phases. The first phase, referred to as program instantiation, is deterministic and associates input programs with equivalent ground programs; only deterministic knowledge is inferred in this phase. The second phase, referred to as stable model search, is nondeterministic and computes stable models of instantiated programs. Many query optimization techniques have been proposed in the literature. Among them are Magic Sets, originally introduced for standard Datalog programs. Program instantiation is sufficient for computing the semantics of standard Datalog programs because only deterministic knowledge can be represented in this case. For this reason, the original Magic Set technique is only focused on the optimization of program instantiation. Dynamic Magic Sets are an extension of the technique that takes into account the nondeterministic knowledge encoded into Disjunctive Datalog programs. In fact, in addition to the standard optimization of program instantiation, Dynamic Magic Sets provide further optimization potential to the subsequent stable model search. In this thesis, Dynamic Magic Sets are proved to be sound and complete for stratified and super–coherent programs. To this end, a strong relationship between magic atoms and unfounded sets is highlighted. Dynamic Magic Sets are also used for proving decidability of reasoning for a class of programs with uninterpreted function symbols. In particular, it is shown that the application of Dynamic Magic Sets to finitely recursive queries generates finitely ground programs, for which decidability of reasoning has been established in the literature. Dynamic Magic Sets have been implemented in a prototype extending DLV, a state–of–the–art system for Disjunctive Datalog programs and queries. The effectiveness of Dynamic Magic Sets has been assessed by experimenting with the prototype system. Experimental results confirm that Dynamic Magic Sets can provide significant, possibly exponential, performance gains.
THE APPLICATION IN FAULT DIAGNOSIS OF AN INTEGRATED INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM

With the gradual complication of the equipment and function of manufacturing system, it can no longer meet the demand to diagnose fault by solitary means. This paper is trying to combine ANN with CBR technique, to form an integrated intelligence diagnosis system. Taking full advantage of them, it can improve the accuracy and efficiency of system diagnosis.
Genetic Engineering of Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 25955 for Bioconjugate Vaccine Applications

Vaccination is considered the most effective means to fight against the multidrug-resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae. In recent years, a potential protein glycan coupling technology has been extensively used in the production of bioconjugated vaccines. Here, a series of glycoengineering strains derived from K. pneumoniae ATCC 25955 were designed for protein glycan coupling technology. The capsule polysaccharide biosynthesis gene cluster and the O-antigen ligase gene waaL were deleted via the CRISPR/Cas9 system to further weaken the virulence of host stains and block the unwanted endogenous glycan synthesis. Particularly, the SpyCatcher protein in the efficient protein covalent ligation system (SpyTag/SpyCatcher) was selected as the carrier protein to load the bacterial antigenic polysaccharides (O1 serotype), which could covalently bind to SpyTag-functionalized nanoparticles AP205 to form nanovaccines. Furthermore, two genes (wbbY and wbbZ) located in the O-antigen biosynthesis gene cluster were knocked out to change the O1 serotype of the engineered strain into the O2 serotype. Both KPO1-SC and KPO2-SC glycoproteins were successfully obtained as expected using our glycoengineering strains. Our work provides new insights into the design of nontraditional bacterial chassis for bioconjugate nanovaccines against infectious diseases.
THE PERFORMANCE OF A HYBRID BEAMFORMING mmWAVE MIMO SYSTEM WITH NON-IDEAL HARDWARE

With the increasing wireless data traffic and data rate demands, milimeter-wave band corresponding to the frequency range 30-300 GHz has much attention of the researchers. Using multiple antennas at the transmitter and the receiver with beamforming helps overcome high transmission loss. Therefore, millimeter-wave Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (mmWave MIMO) is a key technology for the next generation wireless communication system. However, due to hardware constrains when operating in the high frequency range, the performance of a mmWave MIMO system will decrease. In this paper, we analysis system performance of a hybrid beamforming mmWave MIMO system with non-ideal hardware (phase noise and quantization noise).
Aloe vera Oil-Added Agar Gelatin Edible Films for Kashar Cheese Packaging

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in edible and biodegradable films due to their sustainability, environmental friendliness, and their functionality. In this work, Aloe vera oil-added agar–gelatin films were prepared and characterized in terms of water content, degree of swelling, water solubility, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial activity. The possibility of using these edible films for Kashar cheese packaging during cold storage was investigated. Physical, chemical, and microbiological properties of the packaged cheese samples were examined for 20 days of cold storage at 4 °C. A. vera oil-added films were found to have antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus and antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. A. vera oil-added films showed high antioxidant activities, increasing with the increasing A. vera oil percentage in the formulation. The current study showed that at the end of 20 days of storage period, bacterial growth in A. vera oil-incorporated film-covered samples was 2.30 log CFU/g lower than the control samples, and the amount of yeast and mold in A. vera oil-added film-covered samples was 3.37 log CFU/g lower than control samples. This shows the efficiency of A. vera oil-incorporated agar–gelatin films during the refrigerated storage period. Our data evidenced the positive effect of A. vera oil-added agar–gelatin films on Kashar cheese packaging as an innovative and sustainable technique to maintain cheese quality and prevent food loss during storage.
Hybrid Exoscopic and Robotic Transoral Removal of a Bilateral Hilar Submandibular Stone: Technical Note and Review of the Literature

Submandibular gland sialolithiasis can be addressed by gland removal or by stone removal. Intraoral stone removal has now become the go-to technique to minimize aesthetic and functional sequelae (e.g., marginalis mandibulae injury, visible surgery scar) and, although traditional techniques were first experimented with (intraoral ducotomy), newer techniques drew the interest of the scientific community: sialoendoscopy, TORS-S (TransOral Robotic Surgery Assisted–Sialolithotomy) and VITOM-guided sialolithotomy. In this article, we compare the two newest transoral techniques for transoral sialolithotomy, TORS-S and 3D-4K VITOM-guided sialolithotomy, used to treat bilateral hilar submandibular gland sialolithiasis in the same patient, one technique for each side. Using these techniques, a faster recovery is achievable with almost no anatomical and/or functional sequelae, since they both allow better visualization and manipulation of soft tissues and noble structures (e.g., lingual nerve and Wharton’s duct) and make surgery easier and safer. Moreover, OR staff can better perceive surgical steps and be involved in the procedure, thus showing the high educational and training potential of these technologies.
Application of a Limited-Area Short-Range Ensemble Forecast System to a Case of Heavy Rainfall in the Mediterranean Region

Abstract Severe weather risk assessment is becoming an increasing component of the daily operational activity at advanced meteorological forecasting centers. To improve its forecast capabilities and develop a severe weather warning system, the Sardinian Regional Meteorological Service (SAR) and the Centre for Advanced Studies, Research and Development in Sardinia (CRS4) have been testing a Limited-area Ensemble Prediction System (SAR-LEPS). The SAR-LEPS system is described and preliminary results of its use to predict the intense and localized flooding event of 12–13 November 1999 are discussed. Results for this specific case study indicate that SAR-LEPS provided valuable, additional information to the ECMWF ensemble system. This suggests that the operational use of SAR-LEPS could prove to be an important component in the decision making process in issuing threat warnings for severe weather conditions.
Modeling and Experimental Investigations of Synthetic Jet in Cross-ow

The ow eld of a round synthetic jet issuing into a cross-ow is investigated. The velocity eld is characterized using cross hot-wire anemometry. The measured velocity eld is used to develop a model for the ow. The model applies conservation laws to a nite control volume in order to identify the invariants of the ow. The jet ow eld is divided into three regions; namely (i) a synthetic region, (ii) a near-eld region, and (iii) a far-eld region. Assuming that the synthetic jet is self-similar far away from the orice, the jet in the cross-ow is modeled with a similarity analysis similar to that of a continuous transverse jet. Preliminary experimental data are provided to show the validity of the proposed analysis and to compare the characteristics of synthetic jets with those of continuous transverse jets and free synthetic jets.
Eigenvalue equations of N-parallel graded-index waveguides: WKB analysis

The eigenvalue equations of N-parallel graded-index waveguides are derived in a recursive form for the first time by using the WKB method and the transfer matrix method. For the derivation, trial solutions are defined which not only converge at turning points but also approximate the conventional WKB solutions. It is confirmed through the computer simulation that the results of the derived WKB eigenvalue equations are in good agreement with those of the finite-difference method in the well-guided regions.
Turbulent flow and heat transfer in eccentric annulus

A detailed statistical analysis of turbulent flow and heat transfer in eccentric annular duct was performed via direct numerical simulations (DNS) with particular emphasis on the needs of turbulence closure models. A large number of flow characteristics such as components of the Reynolds stress tensor, temperature–velocity correlations and some others were obtained for the first time for such kind of a flow. The results of the paper will serve as a benchmark test case for turbulence modelling, specifically for models intended to be used for flows with partly turbulent regimes.
Study on Improved CHI for feature selection in Chinese text categorization

This paper analyzes the factors which influence the CHI categorization accuracy and removes the negative correlation between the items and the category.The improved approach is applied to weight adjustment,obviously improving categorization quality.Furthermore,concentration information,distribution information and frequency information are introduced into the improved approach,which increases the categorization accuracy on the corpus of category uneven distribution.The experimental results verify the efficiency and probability of the improved CHI approach.
Effect of Attentional Bias on the 3D Rotated Objects Recognition Ability of Dogs

Simple Summary The visual recognition of objects with different spatial orientations has been observed in the animal kingdom. This ability allows animals to adapt efficiently to a changing environment. A recent study indicated that dogs might be capable of recognizing rotated 2D objects, although differences between individuals were observed. To investigate dogs’ abilities to recognize rotated objects further, we trained six dogs to discriminate between 3D objects and their rotated versions (45° and 180°), which were presented on a computer screen. Our results revealed that dogs recognized three-dimensional objects and their rotated versions, and performed better when the target stimuli were presented in the left side of their attentional visual field, indicating the possible role of cerebral lateralization in mental rotation tasks. Abstract The ability to recognize rotated objects has been widely reported in the animal kingdom. Studies on animal and human spatial cognition highlighted the importance of visuo-spatial cognitive capability for surviving in a dynamic world. Although domestic animals are frequently involved in activities requiring a high level of visuo-spatial ability, currently, little is known about their visuo-spatial skills. To investigate this issue, we trained six dogs to discriminate between 3D objects (using a modified version of the Shepard–Metzler task) that were then reproduced digitally on a computer. We found that the dogs recognized three-dimensional objects and their rotated versions (45° and 180°) more easily when presented on the left side of the screen, suggesting right hemisphere superiority in the control of visuo-spatial functions. Moreover, we report inter-individual variability in their performance in the visuo-spatial task. Our preliminary results suggest that dogs could use a rotational invariance process for the discrimination of 3D rotated shapes that deserves further investigation.
Efficacy of Some Botanical Pesticides Against Mustard Aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) In Brassica napus

Field experiment on canola type variety of gobhi sarson, GSC 7 was conducted on 20 locations in district SAS Nagar during rabi 2021 and 2022 to evaluate botanical pesticides against mustard aphis Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.). Seven treatments viz., mixing of non-recommended insecticides (Farmer’s practice), spray thiamethoxam 25WG @ 100 g/ ha, spray homemade neem extract @ 2.5 l, 3.75 l and 5 l/ ha, spray azadirachtin 0.15 EC (1500 ppm) @ 1.25 l/ ha and untreated control were included and evaluated at farmer’s field. Highest crop yield (20.14 q/ ha) was obtained with thiamethoxam followed by azadirachtin spray (19.64 q/ ha) which was on par with homemade neem extract treatment @ 5 l/ ha. Similarly, B:C ratio was found maximum (3.45) in thiamethoxam treatment. The efficacy of all treatments was found maximum on third day after spray which later decreased with time.
Kukri snakes Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 of the Western Palearctic with the resurrection of Contia transcaspica Nikolsky, 1902 (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)

The kukri snakes of the genus Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826 reach the westernmost limits of their distribution in Middle and Southwest Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan), and the Palearctic portions of Pakistan. In this article, we review the systematics and distribution of the two species native to this region, Oligodon arnensis (Shaw, 1802) and Oligodon taeniolatus (Jerdon, 1853) based on an integrative approach combining morphological, molecular, and species distribution modeling (SDM) data. Phylogenetic analyses recover O. taeniolatus populations from Iran and Turkmenistan in a clade with the O. arnensis species complex, rendering the former species paraphyletic relative to O. taeniolatus sensu stricto on the Indian subcontinent. To correct this, we resurrect the name Contia transcaspica Nikolsky, 1902 from the synonymy of O. taeniolatus and assign it to populations in Middle–Southwest Asia. So far, Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. is known only from the Köpet–Dag Mountain Range of northeast Iran and southern Turkmenistan, but SDM mapping suggests it may have a wider range. Genetic samples of O. “arnensis” from northern Pakistan are nested in a clade sister to the recently described Oligodon churahensis Mirza, Bhardwaj & Patel, 2021, and are phylogenetically separate from O. arnensis sensu stricto in south India and Sri Lanka. Based on morphological similarity, the Afghanistan and Pakistan populations are assigned to Oligodon russelius (Daudin, 1803) and we synonymize O. churahensis with this species. Our investigation leads us to remove O. taeniolatus from the snake fauna of Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan, with the consequence that only Oligodon transcaspicus comb. et stat. nov. and O. russelius are present in these countries. Additional studies are needed to resolve the taxonomy of the O. taeniolatus and O. arnensis species complexes on the Indian subcontinent, and an updated key for both groups is provided.