Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes: a Mendelian randomization study

Introduction Observational studies support the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) level and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with diabetes. The research question regarding whether the relationship between serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level and DN is causal lacks experimental evidence. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the causality between hsCRP and DN based on Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Research design and methods A total of 2332 participants with type 2 diabetes from the Taiwan Biobank database was analyzed. Genetic risk scores (GRSs), which comprise four validated CRP loci as two instrumental variables, were calculated as unweighted and weighted scores to evaluate the causal relationship of hsCRP with DN risk. The two-stage regression model was used to estimate OR and 95% CI. Results The analyses of the observational study showed that the hsCRP level was significantly associated with DN after multivariate adjustment (adjusted OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.32). Unweighted/weighted GRSs for log-transformed hsCRP satisfied MR assumptions 1 and 3, respectively; that is, a significant association with hsCRP was observed but that with DN was absent (adjusted OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09; 1.00, 0.72 to 1.39, respectively). The MR analyses demonstrated that a 1-unit increase in the log-transformed genetically predicted hsCRP by unweighted and weighted GRSs was associated with DN, demonstrating ORs of 1.80 (95% CI 1.51 to 2.14) and 1.67 (95% CI 1.40 to 1.98), respectively. Conclusions The current study provided experimental evidence that hsCRP level was causally related to DN. These findings suggest that the elevated hsCRP may be a causal risk factor for DN in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Macroscopic Gamma Oscillation With Bursting Neuron Model Under Stochastic Fluctuation

Abstract Gamma oscillations are thought to play a role in information processing in the brain. Bursting neurons, which exhibit periodic clusters of spiking activity, are a type of neuron that are thought to contribute largely to gamma oscillations. However, little is known about how the properties of bursting neurons affect the emergence of gamma oscillation, its waveforms, and its synchronized characteristics, especially when subjected to stochastic fluctuations. In this study, we proposed a bursting neuron model that can analyze the bursting ratio and the phase response function. Then we theoretically analyzed the neuronal population dynamics composed of bursting excitatory neurons, mixed with inhibitory neurons. The bifurcation analysis of the equivalent Fokker-Planck equation exhibits three types of gamma oscillations of unimodal firing, bimodal firing in the inhibitory population, and bimodal firing in the excitatory population under different interaction strengths. The analyses of the macroscopic phase response function by the adjoint method of the Fokker-Planck equation revealed that the inhibitory doublet facilitates synchronization of the high-frequency oscillations. When we keep the strength of interactions constant, decreasing the bursting ratio of the individual neurons increases the relative high-gamma component of the populational phase-coupling functions. This also improves the ability of the neuronal population model to synchronize with faster oscillatory input. The analytical frameworks in this study provide insight into nontrivial dynamics of the population of bursting neurons, which further suggest that bursting neurons have an important role in rhythmic activities.
Error spectrum shaping in 2-D discrete systems based on the Fornasini-Marchesini second model

Based on the Fornasini-Marchesini second model, error spectrum shaping is considered in 2-D state-space digital filters. An N-order diagonal error feedback, which consists of a FIR digital filter with integer coefficients, is used to reduce the output quantization noise. The suboptimal integer error-feedback coefficients are found by applying a least squares discrete space optimization procedure. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the utility of the proposed technique.
A numerical approach to the testing of the fission hypothesis.

A finite-size particle scheme for the numerical solution of two- and three-dimensional gas dynamical problems of astronomical interest is described and tested. The scheme is then applied to the fission problem for optically thick protostars. Results are given, showing the evolution of one such protostar from an initial state as a single, rotating star to a final state as a triple system whose components contain 60% of the original mass. The decisiveness of this numerical test of the fission hypothesis and its relevance to observed binaries are briefly discussed.
GPS/STORM—GPS Sensing of Atmospheric Water Vapor for Meteorology

Abstract Atmospheric water vapor was measured with six Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers for 1 month at sites in Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. During the time of the experiment from 7 May to 2 June 1993, the area experienced severe weather. The experiment, called “GPS/STORM,” used GPS signals to sense water vapor and tested the accuracy of the method for meteorological applications. Zenith wet delay and precipitable water (PW) were estimated, relative to Platteville, Colorado, every 30 min at five sites. At three of these five sites the authors compared GPS estimates of PW to water vapor radiometer (WVR) measurements. GPS and WVR estimates agree to 1–2 mm rms. For GPS/STORM site spacing of 500–900 km, high-accuracy GPS satellite orbits are required to estimate 1–2-mm-level PW. Broadcast orbits do not have sufficient accuracy. It is possible, however, to estimate orbit improvements simultaneously with PW. Therefore, it is feasible that future meteorological GPS networks provide near-real-time hig.
Micromechanical sensors for chemical and physical measurements

The advent of inexpensive, mass‐produced microcantilevers promises to bring about a revolution in the field of chemical and physical sensor design. In this paper, a novel class of highly sensitive sensors are discussed that are based on commercially available microcantilevers, such as those used in atomic force microscopy. When coated with a sensitizing overlayer, these microcantilevers show significant changes in two independent analyte‐induced signals, resonance frequency and static bending, as the result of exposure to various chemical and physical phenomena. Resonance frequency shift has the particular advantage of being relatively insensitive to interference from external factors such as thermal drift. Examples of micromechanical sensors based on this approach that are capable of detecting mercury vapor (with a sensitivity of 1.25 Hz/pg and linear correlation of 0.998), relative humidity (55 Hz/%R.H., correlation=0.999), or optical irradiation (10 Hz/nJ response) are discussed in detail, along with t.
On the design and development of foamed GO-hydrogel nanocomposite surfaces by ultra-short laser processing

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide have outstanding qualities that could be exploited as reinforcement and antibacterial agents in a plethora of biomedical applications. In this contribution, it is reported the deployment of a polyacrylamide GO-hydrogel composite (GO@pAAm) which was photo-converted and structured by ultra-short laser irradiation using a direct laser writing (DLW) approach. The materials were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. The laser structure generates a multi-photo-induced effect: surface foaming and patterning, microdomains with enhanced selective water-swelling and effective GO photo-reduction. A first laser scan seems likely to induce the photo-reduction of GO and subsequent laser pulses trigger the structure/foaming. The photo-reduction of GO is evidenced by Raman spectroscopy by the relatively changing intensities of the D to G signals. Macroscopically by an increase in conductivity (decrease in sheet resistance from R S-GO@pAAm = 304 ± 20 kΩ sq−1 to R S-rGO@pAAm-DLW = 27 ± 8 kΩ sq−1) suggesting a reduction of the material measured by 4-Point-Probe.
High-Power and Low-Noise Photodetector for Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors

We have developed a photodetector for interferometric gravitational wave detectors which can detect high power light with low intrinsic noise. The detector is designed to detect a laser power of more than 100 mW at 1.064 µm with a single InGaAs photodiode. Using a resonant circuit, low intrinsic noise is achieved; the noise-equivalent photocurrent is 132 µA. By using a photocurrent limiter used in the circuit, we confirmed that even with high power (2 W) incident on the diode, the diode was undamaged.
Structure Function Analysis of High Radio Frequency Variability in the Metsaehovi Monitoring Sample of Active Galactic Nuclei

We analyze the time variability of compact radio sources at 22 and 37 GHz by using a structure function analysis. Our monitoring program in Metsahovi, Finland, includes a complete sample of bright, flat-spectrum extragalactic compact radio sources. For the structure function analysis we have selected 42 best-observed sources from this sample. In this subsample we have 14 BL Lac objects, 13 high-polarization quasars, 12 low-polarization quasars, two galaxies, and one empty field source. The structure function analysis exhibits very similar slopes for all sources, which is consistent with there being one basic physical mechanism of millimeter variability for all compact radio sources
An Improved Defect Detection Algorithm for Industrial Products via Lightweight Convolutional Neural Network

Aiming at the problem that the existing computer vision detection algorithm based on deep learning consumes a lot of memory and computing resources, this paper improves the structure of convolutional neural network and proposes a lightweight algorithm for defect detection of industrial products by network pruning. The proposed algorithm uses the residual network to divide VGG-16 into different residual modules, introduces the sparse constraint of penalty factor and the attenuation constraint of weight matrix to measure the importance of each residual module, and cuts the residual modules with low importance, so as to greatly reduce the number of parameter learning in the deep residual network. Experiments show that this method can retain the accuracy, precision, recall and F1 score of the original network, and greatly improve the speed of network training to meet the real-time needs of product appearance defect detection.
Improving the Rao-Nam secret key cryptosystem using regular EDF-QC-LDPC codes

This paper proposes an efficient joint secret key encryption-channel coding cryptosystem, based on regular Extended Difference Family Quasi-Cyclic Low-Density Parity-Check codes. The key length of the proposed cryptosystem decreases up to 85 percent using a new efficient compression algorithm. Cryptanalytic methods show that the improved cryptosystem has a significant security advantage over Rao-Nam cryptosystem against chosen plaintext attacks, benefiting from an improvement on the structure of the Rao-Nam cryptosystem and proper choices of code parameters. Moreover, the proposed cryptosystem benefits from the highest code rate and a proper error performance.
Calculation of Helium Dissociation Energies for Vanadium, Niobium and Molybdenum by a Computer Simulation Method

Atomistic calculations of activation energies of helium dissociation from helium-vacancy clusters in vanadium, niobium and molybdenum have been performed by a computer simulation method. In the process, formation energies of vacancy clusters, interstitial helium and helium-vacancy clusters have been also calculated as well as migration energies of vacancy and helium. Potentials of metal-metal and helium-metal for vanadium and molybdenum were after Johnson and Wilson, whereas other potentials were constructed in a similar manner. Calculated dissociation energies in vanadium and niobium are around 3.0 eV and smaller than those in molybdenum (4.0 eV to 5.0 eV). Large helium dissociation energies from small clusters suggest stable agglomeration states of helium in these bcc metals.
A Comparative Study of the Formulations and Benchmark Problems for the Topology Optimization of Compliant Mechanisms

The topology optimization problem for the synthesis of compliant mechanisms has been formulated in many different ways in the past 15 years, but there is not yet a definitive formulation that is universally accepted. Furthermore, there are two unresolved issues in this problem. In this paper, we present a comparative study of five distinctly different formulations that are reported in the literature. Three benchmark examples are solved with these formulations using the same input and output specifications and the same numerical optimization algorithm. A total of 35 different synthesis examples are implemented. The examples are limited to desired instantaneous output direction for prescribed input force direction. Hence, this study is limited to linear elastic modeling with small deformations. Two design parametrizations, namely the frame element-based ground structure and the density approach using continuum elements, are used. The obtained designs are evaluated with all other objective functions and are compared with each other. The checkerboard patterns, point flexures, and the ability to converge from an unbiased uniform initial guess are analyzed. Some observations and recommendations are noted based on the extensive implementation done in this study. Complete details of the benchmark problems and the results are included. The computer codes related to this study are made available on the internet for ready access.
Two-Stage Starbursts in the Large Magellanic Cloud: N11 as a Once and Future 30 Doradus

A recent, detailed study of the stellar content in the LMC giant shell H II region N11 has revealed a distinct, dual structural morphology, which is remarkably analogous to that emerging from current IR imaging of 30 Doradus. In both regions, the energetic stellar activity from an initial, massive, centrally condensed starburst has apparently triggered a secondary burst around its periphery about 2 × 10 6 years later, but in N11 the entire process is more advanced than in 30 Dor by 2 × 10 6 years. That is, N11 appears to be an evolved 30 Dor
Fusion cross-section measurements with deuterons of low energy

A knowledge of the energy dependence of the cross-section for collisions between two deutrons leading to a triton and a proton, is of interest both to nuclear theory and to calculations of the rate of thermonuclear reactions. Until now reliable values were only available down to about 13 keV and thus the contributions by the large number of slower particles in a distribution could not be assessed. The purpose of the work was to extend this range to lower energies which involves the measurement of very small cross-sections. The method of measuring the fusion cross-sections made use of an intense ion beam and of th e observation of the fast protons from the reaction norm al to the beam over an angle 2π. The beam intensity was raised by avoiding an ion focusing system and using a simple extraction electrode with equal gas pressure in the ion source and gas target. Observation over a large angle was achieved by depositing a scintillation detector on a light guide which surrounded the target chamber. From calorimetric measurements of the beam current and measurements of the counting rate, relative cross-sections were obtained for deuteron energies up to 15 keV where absolute cross-sections are well known. In this w ay absolute values of the cross-section were found from 15 keV down to 4 keV, where a value of 9 x 10-33 cm2 was measured. Although the results are consistent with Gamow’s relation, the cross-section in the lower energy range is slightly larger than expected.
Chemogenetic activation of corticotropin-releasing factor-expressing neurons in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces effortful motivation behaviors

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (aBNST) is associated with chronic stress and avoidance behavior. However, CRF+ BNST neurons project to reward- and motivation-related brain regions, suggesting a potential role in motivated behavior. We used chemogenetics to selectively activate CRF+ aBNST neurons in male and female CRF-ires-Cre mice during an effort-related choice task and a concurrent choice task. In both tasks, mice were given the option either to exert effort for high value rewards or to choose freely available low value rewards. Acute chemogenetic activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons reduced barrier climbing for a high value reward in the effort-related choice task in both males and females. Furthermore, acute activation of CRF+ aBNST neurons also reduced effortful lever pressing in high-performing males in the concurrent choice task. These data suggest a novel role for CRF+ aBNST neurons in effort-based decision and motivated behavior.
H∞ control of switched linear discrete‐time systems with polytopic uncertainties

In this paper, the problem of designing H∞ state‐feedback controllers for switched linear discrete‐time systems with polytopic uncertainties is investigated. Two approaches on designing robust and parameter‐dependent H∞ controllers are proposed and the existence conditions of the desired controllers are derived and formulated in terms of a set of linear matrix inequalities. By solving the corresponding convex optimization problem, the desired controllers are obtained, respectively, and different optimal H∞ noise‐attenuation level bounds of corresponding closed‐loop systems are given as well. The designed controllers have their own advantages and disadvantages regarding the conservatism and realization complexity. An illustrative example emerging in networked control systems (NCS) and numerical simulations are presented to show the applicability and effectiveness of the obtained theoretic results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Spatial transcriptomics maps molecular and cellular requirements for CD4+ T cell-dependent immunity to malaria

CD4+ T cells orchestrate adaptive immunity to circulating malaria parasites; yet cellular interactions and molecular mechanisms controlling Th1 and Tfh differentiation in the spleen remain to be fully defined in vivo. Here, using a murine model of CD4-dependent immunity, we tested if Slide-seqV2, a spatial transcriptomic method with near single-cell resolution, could determine the locations of multiple CD4+ T cell subsets and potentially interacting cellular partners in the spleen during infection. Firstly, Slide-seqV2 readily mapped splenic cellular structure and microanatomical change during infection. Next, computational integration with scRNA-seq reference datasets of splenocytes, stromal cells, and specifically of polyclonal CD4+ T cells and B cells, mapped the relative locations of multiple cell-types within this dense tissue. scRNA-seq of B cells over time mapped emergence of germinal centre B cells, red pulp-located plasmablasts and atypical B cells, and uncovered a prolonged CD4+ T-cell-independent, follicular bystander B cell response marked by Sca-1 and Ly6C upregulation. scRNA-seq of activated, polyclonal CD4+ T cells revealed their similarity to our previous TCR transgenic models. Importantly, spatial analysis revealed polyclonal Th1 cells co-localised with CXCL9/10-producing monocytes in the red pulp, while polyclonal Tfh-like cells were located close to CXCL13-expressing B cell follicles, consistent with our previous CXCR3/CXCR5 competition model of Th1/Tfh bifurcation. CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of either or both CXCR3 and CXCR5 in naïve Plasmodium-specific CD4+ T cells had unexpectedly minor effects on Th1 differentiation in vivo. Instead, CXCR5 was essential for maximising clonal expansion, suggesting a role for splenic CXCL13+ cells in supporting CD4+ T cell proliferation in malaria. Thus, spatial transcriptomics at near single-cell resolution was feasible in densely packed secondary lymphoid tissue, providing multiple insights into mechanisms controlling splenic polyclonal CD4+ T cell and B cell differentiation during infection. Highlights Slide-seqV2 maps splenic microanatomy, including stromal and immune cell location. Bystander activation of all follicular B cells occurs in malaria, marked by Sca-1/Ly6C upregulation. Single naïve polyclonal CD4+ T cells differentiate mostly into Th1 and Tfh cells in malaria. Cell-cell colocalization analysis positions Th1 cells with monocytes in red pulp, and Tfh cells with Cxcl13+ B cell follicles. CXCR5, but not CXCR3, supports parasite-specific CD4+ T cell clonal expansion.
A moment matching market implied calibration

Abstract This paper provides a new market implied calibration based on a moment matching methodology where the moments of the risk-neutral density function are inferred from at-the-money and out-the-money European vanilla option quotes. In particular, we derive a model-independent risk-neutral formula for the moments of the asset log-return distribution function by expanding power returns as a weighted sum of vanilla option payoffs (based on results of Breeden and Litzenberger and Carr and Madan). For the numerical study, we develop different popular exponential Lévy models, namely the VG, NIG and Meixner models. The new calibration methodology rests on closed-form formulae only: it is shown that the moment matching system can be transformed into a system of algebraic equations that computes directly the optimal value of the model parameters in terms of the second to the th market standardized moments under the different Lévy models under investigation. Hence, the proposed calibration can be performed almost instantaneously. Furthermore, for the models considered in this paper, the method does not require any search algorithm and hence any starting value for the model parameters and avoids the problem of becoming stuck in local minima.
Dynamics of perturbations around inhomogeneous backgrounds in the HMF model

We investigate the dynamics of perturbations around inhomogeneous stationary states of the Vlasov equation corresponding to the Hamiltonian mean-field model. The inhomogeneous background induces a separatrix in the one-particle Hamiltonian system, and branch cuts generically appear in the analytic continuation of the dispersion relation in the complex frequency plane. We test the theory by direct comparisons with N-body simulations, using two families of distributions: inhomogeneous water-bags, and inhomogeneous thermal equilibria. In the water-bag case, which is not generic, no branch cut appears in the dispersion relation, whereas in the thermal equilibrium case, when looking for the root of the dispersion relation closest to the real axis, we have to consider several Riemann sheets. In both cases, we show that the roots of the continued dispersion relation give information that is useful for understanding the dynamics of a perturbation, although it is not complete.