Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Temperature and ionization balance dependence of O VII line ratios. [in solar corona]

The intensity ratio of n = 2 . -->. 1 triplet lines to the resonance line of O VII can provide information on x-ray radiative-transfer effects and departures from ionization equilibrium in the solar corona. This ratio, commonly designated G, is calculated theoretically with detailed attention to all important atomic processes. For a steady-state plasma G = 0.8 +- 0.1 over a 0.6 to x 10/sup 6/K range of temperature. On the other hand, strong variations of G are found for plasmas which are out of ionization equilibrium. Collisional and recombination population rates are tabulated for the 2 /sup 1/P and 2 /sup 3/S + 2 /sup 3/P levels of O VII. 1 figure, 2 tables.
Enhanced Multimodal Biometric Recognition Based upon Intrinsic Hand Biometrics

In the proposed study, we examined a multimodal biometric system having the utmost capability against spoof attacks. An enhanced anti-spoof capability is successfully demonstrated by choosing hand-related intrinsic modalities. In the proposed system, pulse response, hand geometry, and finger–vein biometrics are the three modalities of focus. The three modalities are combined using a fuzzy rule-based system that provides an accuracy of 92% on near-infrared (NIR) images. Besides that, we propose a new NIR hand images dataset containing a total of 111,000 images. In this research, hand geometry is treated as an intrinsic biometric modality by employing near-infrared imaging for human hands to locate the interphalangeal joints of human fingers. The L2 norm is calculated using the centroid of four pixel clusters obtained from the finger joint locations. This method produced an accuracy of 86% on the new NIR image dataset. We also propose finger–vein biometric identification using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The CNN provided 90% accuracy on the new NIR image dataset. Moreover, we propose a robust system known as the pulse response biometric against spoof attacks involving fake or artificial human hands. The pulse response system identifies a live human body by applying a specific frequency pulse on the human hand. About 99% of the frequency response samples obtained from the human and non-human subjects were correctly classified by the pulse response biometric. Finally, we propose to combine all three modalities using the fuzzy inference system on the confidence score level, yielding 92% accuracy on the new near-infrared hand images dataset.
A Stacked Denoising Sparse Autoencoder Based Fault Early Warning Method for Feedwater Heater Performance Degradation

Power grid operation faces severe challenges with the increasing integration of intermittent renewable energies. Hence the steam turbine, which mainly undertakes the task of frequency regulation and peak shaving, always operates under off-design conditions to meet the accommodation demand. This would affect the operation economy and exacerbate the ullage of equipment. The feedwater heater (FWH) plays an important role in unit, whose timely fault early warning is significant in improving the operational reliability of unit. Therefore, this paper proposes a stacked denoising sparse autoencoder (SDSAE) based fault early warning method for FWH. Firstly, the concept of a frequent pattern model is proposed as an indicator of FWH performance evaluation. Then, an SDSAE- back-propagation (BP) based method is introduced to achieve self-adaptive feature reduction and depict nonlinear properties of frequent pattern modeling. By experimenting with actual data, the feasibility and validity of the proposed method are verified. Its detection accuracy reaches 99.58% and 100% for normal and fault data, respectively. Finally, competitive experiments prove the necessity of feature reduction and the superiority of SDSAE based feature reduction compared with traditional methods. This paper puts forward a precise and effective method to serve for FWH fault early warning and refines the key issues to inspire later researchers.
Minds and Brains, Sleep and Psychiatry

Objective This article offers a philosophical thesis for psychiatric disorders that rests upon some simple truths about the mind and brain. Specifically, it asks whether the dual aspect monism—that emerges from sleep research and theoretical neurobiology—can be applied to pathophysiology and psychopathology in psychiatry. Methods Our starting point is that the mind and brain are emergent aspects of the same (neuronal) dynamics; namely, the brain–mind. Our endpoint is that synaptic dysconnection syndromes inherit the same dual aspect; namely, aberrant inference or belief updating on the one hand, and a failure of neuromodulatory synaptic gain control on the other. We start with some basic considerations from sleep research that integrate the phenomenology of dreaming with the neurophysiology of sleep. Results We then leverage this treatment by treating the brain as an organ of inference. Our particular focus is on the role of precision (i.e., the representation of uncertainty) in belief updating and the accompanying synaptic mechanisms. Conclusions Finally, we suggest a dual aspect approach—based upon belief updating (i.e., mind processes) and its neurophysiological implementation (i.e., brain processes)—has a wide explanatory compass for psychiatry and various movement disorders. This approach identifies the kind of pathophysiology that underwrites psychopathology—and points to certain psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological targets, which may stand in mechanistic relation to each other.
Untargeted Proteomics-Based Approach to Investigate Unintended Changes in Genetically Modified Maize Used for Food and Feed Purposes

Profiling technologies, such as proteomics, allow the simultaneous measurement and comparison of thousands of plant components without prior knowledge of their identity. The combination of these non-targeted methods facilitates a more comprehensive approach than targeted methods and thus provides additional opportunities to identify genotypic changes resulting from genetic modification, including new allergens or toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate unintended changes in GM Bt maize grown in South Africa. In the present study, we used bi-dimensional gel electrophoresis based on fluorescence staining, coupled with mass spectrometry in order to compare the proteome of the field-grown transgenic hybrid (MON810) and its near-isogenic counterpart. Proteomic data showed that energy metabolism and redox homeostasis were unequally modulated in GM Bt and non-GM maize variety samples. In addition, a potential allergenic protein – pathogenesis related protein -1 has been identified in our sample set. These finding highlight the suitability of unbiased profiling approaches to complement current GMO risk assessment practices worldwide.
Properties of Acid Ureases from Lactobacillus and Streptococcus Strains

The acid ureases from 37 strains belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Streptococcus were partially purified and characterized. The 37 acid ureases were classified into 6 different types according to their electrophoretic mobilities. The 6 different types of acid ureases, from 6 representative strains (4 species of Lactobacillus and 2 species of Streptococcus), were further characterized. The molecular sizes of the enzymes ranged from 140,000 for Streptococcus salivarius to 350,000 for Lactobacillus animalis. The isoelectric points were found to be 4.6 (Streptococcus mitior), 4.7 (Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus ruminis and Streptococcus salivarius) and 4.8 (Lactobacillus animalis and Lactobacillus fermentum). The optimum pHs ranged from 2.0 for Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus reuteri to 5.0 for Lactobacillus ruminis. The optimum temperatures ranged from 55°C for Lactobacillus animalis and Lactobacillus ruminis to 65°C for Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus reuteri and Streptococcus.
Functional Polymer Hybrid Nanocomposites Based on Polyolefins: A Review

For the last twenty years, polymer hybrid nanocomposites have enjoyed unflagging interest from numerous scientific groups and R&D departments, as they provide notable enhancement of properties, even at low nanofillers’ content. Their performance results from many factors, the most important of which is the uniform distribution in the entire volume of the matrix, that still is very challenging, but is the right choice of two types of nanoparticles that can lead to an increase of dispersion stability and even more uniform distribution of fillers. The incorporation of two types of nanofillers, especially when they differ in aspect ratio or chemical nature, allows to additively reduce the price of the final composite by replacing the more expensive filler with the cheaper one, or even synergistically improving the properties, e.g., mechanical, thermal, and barrier, etc., that can extend their usage in the industry. Despite numerous review papers on nanocomposites, there is no review on how the introduction of a hybrid system of nanofillers affects the properties of polyolefins, which are the most commonly used engineering plastics. This review deeply focuses on the structure–properties relationship of polyolefins-based hybrid nanocomposites, especially based on two types of polyethylenes (low-density polyethylenes (LDPE) and high-density polyethylenes (HDPE)) and polypropylene.
Prostaglandins and congeners. 20. Synthesis of prostaglandins via conjugate addition of lithium trans-1-alkenyltrialkylalanate reagents. A novel reagent for conjugate 1,4-additions

General Procedure for the Ozonolysis-Reduction of 8,9,11, 13, and 16. The procedure employed was exactly as previously described.13 In all cases the alcohols isolated were identical with the known compounds by TLC. 'H NMR, and 13C NMR data, which are included here for those compounds where they are not in the literature. 1:3 6a: 13C NMR (CDC13) 6 24.42, 24.97, 25.99, 26.07 (4CH3), 62.16 (Cs), 68.38, 70.71, 70.85, 71.56 (Cz-Cj), 96.36 (Ci ) , 108.70, 109.50 (2C(CH3)z).
Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis in Kazakhstan: First Case Series from Central Asia and Current Clinical Management

The diagnoses of ulcerative colitis have increased in pediatric patients in the last two decades. Whereas there are several reports from most areas of the world, no clinical studies describing the clinical management of pediatric ulcerative colitis are currently available from Central Asia. In this article, we first describe a case series of pediatric patients affected with ulcerative colitis in Kazakhstan. This is a retrospective study including 25 consecutive pediatric patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in a tertiary pediatric hospital. The available demographic, clinical, hematological and inflammatory parameters at diagnosis and at the first one-year follow-up have been provided and analyzed. Most pediatric patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis were older than 12 years, with prevalence of male gender. The analysis of clinical, laboratory, endoscopic parameters at the diagnosis suggested a significant diagnostic delay compared to developed countries; however, most of them showed clinical, laboratory and endoscopic improvements at the one-year follow-up. Even though the therapeutic approach and outcomes resulted to be consistent with other clinical studies from developed countries, several aspects of the medical follow-up should be improved, especially in pediatric patients with extensive disease.
Two-Stage Active and Reactive Power Coordinated Optimal Dispatch for Active Distribution Network Considering Load Flexibility

A high proportion of renewable energy connected to the power grid has caused power quality problems. Voltage-sensitive loads are extremely susceptible to voltage fluctuations, causing power system safety issues and economic losses. Considering the uncertainty factor and the time-varying characteristic, a linearized random ZIP model (constant impedance (Z), constant current (I), and constant power (P)) with time-varying characteristics was proposed. In order to improve the voltage quality of the voltage-sensitive loads in the day-here stage in an active distribution network (ADN), a linearized two-stage active and reactive power coordinated stochastic optimization model was established. The day-ahead active and reactive power coordination optimization was to smooth the large voltage fluctuation and develop a reserve plan to eliminate the unbalanced power caused by the prediction error in the day-here optimization. In the day-here real-time redispatch, the voltage was further improved by the continuous reactive power compensation device. Finally, the simulation results on the IEEE-33 bus system showed that the control strategy could better eliminate the unbalanced power caused by the prediction error and obviously improve the voltage of sensitive loads in the real-time stage on the premise of maintaining economic optimality.
The role of bile acids in cholestatic liver injury

Clinical disorders that impair bile flow result in retention of bile acids and cholestatic liver injury, characterized by parenchymal cell death, bile duct proliferation, liver inflammation and fibrosis. However, the pathogenic role of bile acids in the development of cholestatic liver injury remains incompletely understood. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of this process focusing on the experimental and clinical evidence for direct effects of bile acids on each major cellular component of the liver: hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells and immune cells. During cholestasis bile acids accumulated in the liver, causing oxidative stress and mitochondrial injury in hepatocytes. The stressed hepatocytes respond by releasing inflammatory cytokines through activation of specific signaling pathways and transcription factors. The recruited neutrophils and other immune cells then cause parenchymal cell death. In addition, bile acids also stimulate the proliferation of cholangiocytes and stellate cells that are responsible for bile duct proliferation and liver fibrosis. This review explores the evidence for bile acid involvement in these phenomena. The role of bile acid receptors, TGR5, FXR and the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 and the inflammasome are also examined. We hope that better understanding of these pathologic effects will facilitate new strategies for treating cholestatic liver injury.
Children’s Engagement with Brands: From Social Media Consumption to Brand Preference and Loyalty

Digital content consumption provides a new scenario for children’s relationships with brands. The objective of this research is to study the process by which children interact with social media networks and the effect on brand preference and loyalty generated by this interaction. Specifically, the objectives of this research are focused on empirically verifying the process of consumption, contribution, and creation of children in social networks, and confirm the effect they can have on the relationship between children and brands. A great amount of research has focused on adult consumers and has projected the methodology onto children. This paper will take into account the particularities of children who are one of the most important groups in the purchase decision process of many categories (travel, food, toys, technology, fashion, etc.). For this reason, a theoretical model was built and validated with a sample of boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14. The results show that the interaction of children with digital media (social networks) has a very important effect on increasing and generating brand preferences and loyalty. Although the effect is general and is not dependent on the age of the child, a more intense effect was observed in children between the ages of 12 and 14.
Predictive value of preoperative lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio on survival outcomes in bladder cancer patients after radical cystectomy

Purpose: To determine the prognostic significance of the pre-operative lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR) in patients with bladder cancer (BCa) who underwent radical cystectomy (RC), and to assess its prognostic benefit compared to models relying solely on clinicopathological factors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the 342 BCa patients undergoing RC at our institution from 2004 to 2017 was conducted to assess LMR prognostic significance. Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models identified risk factors for survival outcomes. Two new models were developed based on basal models to predict OS and CSS at 1, 3, and 5 years after RC. The accuracy of the new models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves as well as the concordance index. We also conducted decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess their net benefit. Results: An association between excellent long-term patient survival outcomes and higher LMR levels was observed. The median OS and CSS for higher LMR level in patients was 98.8 months and >120 months, respectively. Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that pre-operative LMR, as a continuous variable, was an independent survival outcome predictor (p<0.001). The utilization of LMR in the standard model resulted in significant discriminatory improvement in OS (5.6%, p<0.001) and CSS (4.9%, p=0.001) prediction. Moreover, as shown in DCA, utilization of the new model, including LMR, resulted in a net benefit compared to base models for predicting OS and CSS at 1, 3, and 5 years. Conclusions: An independent association was observed between higher pre-operative LMR in BCa patients undergoing RC and significantly better OS and CSS. In addition, a significant improvement in predictive accuracy was observed with LMR inclusion in multiparametric prediction tools. Therefore, LMR may be utilized in pre-operative patient risk stratification to assist in patient counseling and clinical decision making.
Advances in DC/RF Performance of AlGaN/GaN MIS-HEMT by Incorporating Dual Metal Gate Architecture

This study presents a modified version of MIS-HEMT via incorporation of dielectric pocket with a dual metal enabled gate (DP-DMG) architecture to achieve an enhancement in the electrical performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMT. A noteworthy improvement in DC/RF characteristics is observed with DP-DMG HEMT in comparison to conventionally used single metal gated Schottky (SMG) HEMT including gate leakage. Moreover, DP-DMG is further studied with different dielectrics to tune its electrical performance along with the depth of the dielectric pocket. The maximum rise in drain current and transconductance achieved with different dielectric DP-DMG HEMT is 13% and 13.5%, respectively. Apart from this, a significant positive shift of ∼0.6 V is recorded with HfO2 with a dielectric thickness of 5 nm. RF simulations showed significant improvement (∼2×) in the cut-off frequency of DP-DMG HEMT in comparison to SMG HEMT.
The Chemistry of Silica: Solubility, Polymerization, Colloid and Surface Properties and Biochemistry of Silica

Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena Milton J. Rosen Bridging the gap between purely theoretical aspects of surface chemistry and the purely empirical experience of the industrial technologist, this book applies theoretical surface chemistry to understanding the action of surfactants in modifying interfacial phenomena. It surveys the structural types of commercially available surfactants and discusses interfacial phenomena, the physicochemical principles underlying the action of surfactants in each phenomenon, and the effect of structural changes in the surfactants and environmental changes on their action. Tables of data on various interfacial properties of surfactants, compiled and calculated from the latest scientific literature, are included. 1978 304 pp. An Introduction to Clay Colloid Chemistry, 2nd Ed. H. van Olphen This book provides valuable guidance in research and design efforts by giving a clear understanding of principles and concepts of colloid chemistry as applied to clay systems. Updated and enlarged, this edition includes new information on surface characterization and adsorption mechanisms; recent results in the area of clay-organic interaction-the intercalation and intersalation of kaolinite minerals; and increased attention to the possible role of clays in biological evolution. 1977 318 pp. Physicochemical Processes for Water Quality Control Walter J. Weber, Jr. Focusing on physicochemical rather than biological processes, this book presents a comprehensive treatise on the treatment of municipal and industrial water and wastewater. All of the physicochemical processes important to municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment-coagulation, filtration, membrane processes, chemical oxidation, and others-are included and each is covered thoroughly from principle through application. To maintain a high level of expertise, contributions have been incorporated from specialists actively involved in research or engineering applications in ea
Identifying Meaningful Indicators of Parent Engagement in Early Learning for Low-Income, Urban Families

The purpose of this study was to identify indicators of parent engagement in early learning that would be relevant for children’s academic success; equitable for all families regardless of social, educational, or economic backgrounds; and actionable for urban school districts seeking to promote parent engagement with limited resources. Using a Delphi technique, a panel of parents, school staff, and researchers rated 106 parent engagement indicators extracted from stakeholder interviews. After multiple Delphi rounds and panel discussion, 30 indicators were retained. Retained indicators focused on home-based activities and home-school relationships/communication; no school-based activities met criteria for relevance, feasibility, and actionability.
Resilience in Critical Infrastructures: The Role of Modelling and Simulation

Resilience and risk are fundamental concepts for critical infrastructure protection, but it is complex to assess them. Modelling critical infrastructure interdependency helps in evaluating the resilience and risk metrics. We propose the MHR approach as a road-map to model infrastructures and it is implemented using CISIApro 2.0. MHR suggests considering three different layers in each infrastructure: holistic, service and reductionist agents. In this chapter, this framework has been tested in a scenario made of a modern telecommunication network, a hospital ward and a smart factory. The scenario takes into account cyber attacks and their consequences on the components, services and holistic nodes. The proposed framework is under validation within the EU H2020 RESISTO project with good results and in various test-beds.
Simultaneous determination of experimental elastic and thermal strains in thin films

A methodology is presented that allows the separation and quantification of temperature-dependent phenomena influencing the mechanical behaviour of thin films. The approach is based on high-temperature X-ray diffraction and supposes a structural characterization of the thin film and the substrate during temperature cycling. The diffraction data are used to determine simultaneously elastic strains and in-plane thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) in the thin film as well as in-plane TECs of the substrate. The dependency of the experimental elastic strains on the virtual thermal strains provides an opportunity to identify the elastic behaviour as well as to resolve temperature-dependent phenomena influencing the residual stress state in the film. The approach is demonstrated on three model structures: Al/Si(001), AlN/Al2O3(0001) and Mg-implanted GaN/Al2O3(0001).