Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical Study of Particle-Fluid Flow Under AC Electrokinetics in Electrode-Multilayered Microfluidic Device

A particle-fluid flow under alternating current (ac) electrokinetics was numerically simulated to investigate the three-dimensional (3-D) particle motion in a complex electric field of a high conductivity medium generated by an electrode-multilayered microfluidic device. The simulation model coupling thermal–fluid–electrical and dispersed particle problems incorporates three ac electrokinetics (ACEK) phenomena, namely, the ac electrothermal effect (ACET), thermal buoyancy (TB), and dielectrophoresis (DEP). The electrode-multilayered microfluidic device was fabricated with 40 electrodes exposed at the flow channel sidewalls in five cross sections. The governing equations of the simulation model are solved by the Eulerian–Lagrangian method with finite volume discretization. Fluid flow simulations in three cases with or without consideration of ACET and TB are performed to clarify the contributions of these phenomena. The fluid flow is found to be composed of short-range vortices due to ACET and long-range circulation due to TB based on the features of the electrode-multilayered microfluidic device. The 3-D particle trajectory influenced by the fluid flow is compared with four values of the real part of the Clausius–Mossotti (CM) factor to evaluate the DEP phenomenon. The simulation model is validated by experiments using a cell suspension. The pattern of cell trajectories in the upper part of the flow channel measured by particle tracking velocimetry agrees with the simulated pattern. By comparison of the simulation and experiment, it is found that the cells moving straight away from the electrode on the focal plane are decelerated within the region of 60 μm from the electrode by positive-DEP with ${\text{Re[K}}(\omega)] = {\text{0.08}}\hbox{--}{\text{0.11}}$. Furthermore, the 3-D DEP-effective region and the ACET and TB dominant regions for the cells are predicted by evaluating the particle-fluid relative velocity due to DEP force with ${\text{Re[K}}(\omega)] = {\text{0.10}}$. Consequently, the flow mechanism and dominant region of each ACEK phenomenon in the device are clarified from the 3-D simulation validated by the experiments.
Effects of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty of Superficial Femoral Artery on Photoplethysmographic Pulse Transit Times

We analyze the changes in upper and lower limb pulse transit times (PTT) caused by peripheral artery disease (PAD) and its treatment with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the superficial femoral artery. PTTs were extracted from the photoplethysmograms (PPG) recorded from an index finger and 2nd toes. PTTs were defined between the R-peaks of the ECG and different reference points of the PPG: foot and peak points, maxima of 1st and 2nd derivative, and by means of intersecting tangents method. Also the PTTs between the toe and finger pulses were analyzed. Our sample consists of 24 subjects examined before and after the PTA and in 1-month follow-up visit. Also 28 older than 65 years controls having normal ankle-to-brachial pressure index (ABI) and no history in cardiovascular diseases as well as 21 younger subjects were examined. The differences between the groups and pre- and post-treatment phases were analyzed by means of non-parametric statistical tests. The changes in the PTTs of upper limb and non-treated lower limb were negligible. The agreement with the reference values, ABI and toe pressures, was studied by kappa-analysis, resulting in kappa-values of 0.33–0.91. Differences in PTTs were found between pre-treatment state of the treated limb, post-treatment state and the follow-up visit, as well as between the pre-treatment state and controls. If patients’ age and systolic blood pressure were taken into consideration, the method of lower limb PTT calculation from the peak point turns out feasible in finding the markers of PAD and monitoring post-treatment vascular remodellation.
Atom: A Grammar for Unit Visualizations

Unit visualizations are a family of visualizations where every data item is represented by a unique visual mark—a visual unit—during visual encoding. For certain datasets and tasks, unit visualizations can provide more information, better match the user's mental model, and enable novel interactions compared to traditional aggregated visualizations. Current visualization grammars cannot fully describe the unit visualization family. In this paper, we characterize the design space of unit visualizations to derive a grammar that can express them. The resulting grammar is called Atom, and is based on passing data through a series of layout operations that divide the output of previous operations recursively until the size and position of every data point can be determined. We evaluate the expressive power of the grammar by both using it to describe existing unit visualizations, as well as to suggest new unit visualizations.
Pulsed-Laser Deposited 35 Bi(Mg1/2Ti1/2)O3-65 PbTiO3 Thin Films—Part II: Influence of A-Site Deficiency and Thickness Scaling on Electric Properties

35 Bi(Mg<sub>1/2</sub>Ti<sub>1/2</sub>)O<sub>3</sub>-65 PbTiO<sub>3</sub> (35 BiMT-65 PT) thin films with varying levels of A-site deficiency were investigated as a potential candidate for high-temperature nonvolatile ferroelectric memories. PbTiO<sub>3</sub> seed layers utilized to nucleate the perovskite phase in A-site deficient films induced a thickness dependence to the ferroelectric hysteresis and dielectric permittivity. Adjusting for this, the dielectric response of the 35 BiMT-65 PT films is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\approx 960$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The maximum dielectric permittivity was 430 °C at 1 MHz for A-site deficient films. The transition temperature is independent of film thickness to 85 nm. Tan(<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\delta$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) remains less than 15% at 1 MHz regardless of film thickness and temperature up to 585 °C. High-temperature polarization–electric field hysteresis measurements show charge injection with increasing temperature, while positive-up-negative-down measurements show little temperature dependence of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$P_{r}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> up to temperatures of 200 °C. Poole–Frenkel emission dominated the high field leakage behavior. The refractive index measured by ellipsometry is 2.58 at 633 nm. All samples show significant retention loss. As the stoichiometry improves, retention improves such that >40% of the initial <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Delta P$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is retained over <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\approx 280$ </tex-math></inline-formula> min.
Role of sodium channel subtype in action potential generation by neocortical pyramidal neurons

Significance Under most conditions cortical pyramidal neurons are strongly biased to initiate action potentials in the distal part of the axon initial segment (AIS) rather than in the dendrites, where the excitatory postsynaptic potential amplitude is largest. This feature is widely attributed to the axonal presence of the low-threshold Na+ channel subtype Nav1.6. Here, using electrical and high-speed Na+ imaging recordings from Nav1.6 null pyramidal neurons, we demonstrate that the presence of this subunit is neither critical for positioning the spike initiation site within the AIS nor for the spike backpropagation to the dendrites. We also find that one of the most important features of axonal Na+ channel kinetics, the lower activation threshold, is not entirely dependent on the Na+ channel subtype. Neocortical pyramidal neurons express several distinct subtypes of voltage-gated Na+ channels. In mature cells, Nav1.6 is the dominant channel subtype in the axon initial segment (AIS) as well as in the nodes of Ranvier. Action potentials (APs) are initiated in the AIS, and it has been proposed that the high excitability of this region is related to the unique characteristics of the Nav1.6 channel. Knockout or loss-of-function mutation of the Scn8a gene is generally lethal early in life because of the importance of this subtype in noncortical regions of the nervous system. Using the Cre/loxP system, we selectively deleted Nav1.6 in excitatory neurons of the forebrain and characterized the excitability of Nav1.6-deficient layer 5 pyramidal neurons by patch-clamp and Na+ and Ca2+ imaging recordings. We now report that, in the absence of Nav1.6 expression, the AIS is occupied by Nav1.2 channels. However, APs are generated in the AIS, and differences in AP propagation to soma and dendrites are minimal. Moreover, the channels that are expressed in the AIS still show a clear hyperpolarizing shift in voltage dependence of activation, compared with somatic channels. The only major difference between Nav1.6-null and wild-type neurons was a strong reduction in persistent sodium current. We propose that the molecular environment of the AIS confers properties on whatever Na channel subtype is present and that some other benefit must be conferred by the selective axonal presence of the Nav1.6 channel.
Pleiotropic effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors?

Purpose of review Current data suggest that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors may affect many metabolic pathways beyond lowering LDL cholesterol. The aim of the present manuscript is to present these so-called pleiotropic effects of PCSK9 inhibitors. Recent findings PCSK9 may affect the activity of other receptors beyond LDL receptors (LDLR), such as cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), very-low-density-lipoprotein (VLDL) receptors, apolipoprotein (Apo) E receptors, LDLR-related protein 1 (LRP-1) and ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter (ABCA1). Thus, a role of PCSK9 in the development of atherosclerosis, in vascular wall inflammation and in platelet function has been suggested. Additionally, PCSK9 inhibitors may affect lipid variables beyond LDL cholesterol, carbohydrate variables, as well as they may affect brain and kidney function. Additionally, a controversial role of PCSK9 in sepsis, hepatitis C infection and Alzheimer's disease has been suggested. Summary These possible pleiotropic effects of PCSK9 inhibitors need further research, as they may affect cardiovascular risk and provide further insights in the development of atherosclerosis and other diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or chronic viral infection and sepsis.
Towards Ultrasound Everywhere: A Portable 3D Digital Back-End Capable of Zone and Compound Imaging

Ultrasound imaging is a ubiquitous diagnostic technique, but does not fit the requirements of the telemedicine approach, because it relies on the real-time manipulation and image recognition skills of a trained expert, called sonographer. Sonographers are only available in hospitals and clinics, negating or at least delaying access to ultrasound scans in many locales—rural areas, developing countries—as well as in medical rescue operations. Telesonography would require an advanced imager that supports three-dimensional (3-D) acquisition; this would allow untrained operators to acquire broad scans and upload them remotely for diagnosis. Such advanced imagers do exist, but do not meet several other requirements for telesonography, such as being portable, inexpensive, and sufficiently low power to enable battery operation. In this work, we present our prototype of the first portable 3-D digital ultrasound back-end system. The prototype is implemented in a single midrange Xilinx field programmable gate array (FPGA), for an estimated power consumption of 5 W. The device supports up to 1024 input channels, which is state of the art and could be scaled further, and supports multiple image reconstruction modes. We evaluate the resource utilization of the FPGA and provide various quality metrics to ascertain the output image quality.
Multiobject Tracking by Submodular Optimization

In this paper, we propose a new multiobject visual tracking algorithm by submodular optimization. The proposed algorithm is composed of two main stages. At the first stage, a new selecting strategy of tracklets is proposed to cope with occlusion problem. We generate low-level tracklets using overlap criteria and min-cost flow, respectively, and then integrate them into a candidate tracklets set. In the second stage, we formulate the multiobject tracking problem as the submodular maximization problem subject to related constraints. The submodular function selects the correct tracklets from the candidate set of tracklets to form the object trajectory. Then, we design a connecting process which connects the corresponding trajectories to overcome the occlusion problem. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our tracking algorithm. <xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1"><sup>1</sup></xref><fn id="fn1"><label><sup>1</sup></label><p>Our source code is available at <uri>https://github.com/shenjianbing/submodulartrack</uri>. </p></fn>
Ensemble Teaching for Hybrid Label Propagation

Label propagation aims to iteratively diffuse the label information from labeled examples to unlabeled examples over a similarity graph. Current label propagation algorithms cannot consistently yield satisfactory performance due to two reasons: one is the instability of single propagation method in dealing with various practical data, and the other one is the improper propagation sequence ignoring the labeling difficulties of different examples. To remedy above defects, this paper proposes a novel propagation algorithm called hybrid diffusion under ensemble teaching (HyDEnT). Specifically, HyDEnT integrates multiple propagation methods as base “learners” to fully exploit their individual wisdom, which helps HyDEnT to be stable and obtain consistent encouraging results. More importantly, HyDEnT conducts propagation under the guidance of an ensemble of “teachers”. That is to say, in every propagation round the simplest curriculum examples are wisely designated by a teaching algorithm, so that their labels can be reliably and accurately decided by the learners. To optimally choose these simplest examples, every teacher in the ensemble should comprehensively consider the examples’ difficulties from its own viewpoint, as well as the common knowledge shared by all the teachers. This is accomplished by a designed optimization problem, which can be efficiently solved via the block coordinate descent method. Thanks to the efforts of the teachers, all the unlabeled examples are logically propagated from simple to difficult, leading to better propagation quality of HyDEnT than the existing methods. Experiments on six popular datasets reveal that HyDEnT achieves the highest classification accuracy when compared with six state-of-the-art propagation methodologies such as harmonic functions, Fick’s law assisted propagation, linear neighborhood propagation, semisupervised ensemble learning, bipartite graph-based consensus maximization, and teaching-to-learn and learning-to-teach.
An early ABA-induced stomatal closure, Na+ sequestration in leaf vein and K+ retention in mesophyll confer salt tissue tolerance in Cucurbita species

Tissue tolerance to salinity in Cucurbita is associated with HKT1-mediated Na+ exclusion from the leaf mesophyll, NHX4/6-mediated Na+ sequestration in the leaf vein, K+ retention in the leaf mesophyll, and early ABA-induced stomatal closure.
Dynamic High-Pressure Microfluidization Treatment of Rice Bran: Effect on Pb(II) Ions Adsorption In Vitro.

Insoluble dietary fiber from rice bran (RBIDF) was treated with dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM). The influence of pressure on the adsorption of Pb(II) capacity of RBIDF was explored in a simulation of the gastrointestinal environment. RBIDF (pH 7.0) displayed the maximal binding capacity (420.74 ± 13.12 μmol/g), at the level of 150 MPa, which was as 1.36 times as the untreated sample. DHPM-treated RBIDF demonstrated a higher ability to adsorb cholesterol and sodium cholate. Meanwhile, the treatment changed the morphology but did not alter the primary structure. The adsorption capacity is linear to the physicochemical properties of the total negative charges. The adsorption kinetics fit the pseudo-second-order model, Pb(II) adsorption mainly occur on the surface of the fiber particulate, this process includes natural physical adsorption and chemical reaction. This study provides a feasible approach for improving the adsorption capacity of RBIDF, especially the adsorption of Pb(II). PRACTICAL APPLICATION Dynamic high-pressure microfluidization can modify biomass adsorption materials effectively as a physically modification. The pretreatment dietary fiber can be used as a low-cost absorbing heavy metal biosorbent, and can be develop the functional food ingredients in the food industry.
Conductivity Anisotropy Influence on Acoustic Sources for Magnetoacoustic Tomography With Magnetic Induction

Objective: As the multi-physics imaging approach, magnetoacoustic tomography with magnetic induction (MAT-MI) attracts more and more attentions, focusing on image reconstruction for conductivity isotropic tissues. Methods: By introducing vector analyses to electromagnetic stimulation and magnetoacoustic excitation for a single-layer cylindrical conductivity anisotropic model, the acoustic source strength (ASS) of MAT-MI is derived in explicit formula and the influence of the anisotropic conductivity tensor is also analyzed. Results: Theoretical and numerical studies demonstrate that the ASS generated at the tissue boundary is composed of an alternating current (AC) fluctuation and a direct current (DC) bias, where the distribution of the AC fluctuation with respect to the spatial angle exhibits a double-period cosine function, and the DC bias remains constant at each angle. The dependences of the AC fluctuation and the DC bias on the anisotropic component ratio (ACR) and the conductivity tensor are proved by numerical results, which are also verified by the special cases of the zero AC fluctuation for the conductivity isotropic medium and the negative DC bias of the low-conductivity medium. Conclusion: With the measurements of the ASS around the model, the anisotropic conductivity tensor can be reconstructed by the amplitudes of the AC fluctuation and the DC bias with the conductivity of the isotropic surrounding medium. Significance: The favorable results provide a new method for anisotropic conductivity measurement, and suggest the application potential of MAT-MI in biomedical imaging and nondestructive testing for conductivity anisotropic tissues.
Adherence to Anticholinergic Therapy and Clean Intermittent Self-Catheterization in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose To evaluate adherence to anticholinergic therapy (AT) and clean intermittent self-catheterization (CISC) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and to identify factors associated with poor adherence. Methods This single-center study prospectively included 49 patients suffering from MS who had been prescribed AT and/or CISC. Adherence was evaluated using a self-report questionnaire. The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Patient Global Impression of Improvement, Mini-Mental State Examination, Urinary Symptom Profile, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) instruments were administered, and the number of daily anticholinergic pills and/or catheterizations was noted. Whether patients were receiving concomitant intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections was assessed, as were barriers to treatment, side effects, number of spontaneous micturitions, reasons for the prescription, satisfaction, and difficulties. Results Only 38% of patients were adherent to AT. Experiencing side effects was related to nonadherence (P=0.02). Only 29% of patients were adherent to CISC. More intense voiding dysfunction (P<0.001), a higher frequency of CISC (P=0.03), and a higher EDSS score (P=0.02) were associated with better adherence. Conversely, the HAD score (P<0.001), depression (P<0.001), the persistence of spontaneous micturition (P<0.001), a blocking sensation during catheterization (P=0.04), and the need to adapt one’s posture or gesture to perform catheterization (P=0.04) were associated with poorer adherence. Conclusions Adherence to AT and CISC was poor in patients with MS suffering from bladder dysfunction. Several factors related to nonadherence were identified in this study, and addressing these factors might help to improve treatment adherence.
Evolutionary Multiobjective Blocking Lot-Streaming Flow Shop Scheduling With Machine Breakdowns

In various flow shop scheduling problems, it is very common that a machine suffers from breakdowns. Under this situation, a robust and stable suboptimal scheduling solution is of more practical interest than a global optimal solution that is sensitive to environmental changes. However, blocking lot-streaming flow shop (BLSFS) scheduling problems with machine breakdowns have not yet been well studied up to date. This paper presents, for the first time, a multiobjective model of the above problem including robustness and stability criteria. Based on this model, an evolutionary multiobjective robust scheduling algorithm is suggested, in which solutions obtained by a variant of single-objective heuristic are incorporated into population initialization and two novel crossover operators are proposed to take advantage of nondominated solutions. In addition, a rescheduling strategy based on the local search is presented to further reduce the negative influence resulted from machine breakdowns.The proposed algorithm is applied to 22 test sets, and compared with the state-of-the-art algorithms without machine breakdowns. Our empirical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively tackle BLSFS scheduling problems in the presence of machine breakdowns by obtaining scheduling strategies that are robust and stable.
An EOG-Based Human–Machine Interface to Control a Smart Home Environment for Patients With Severe Spinal Cord Injuries

Objective: This paper presents an asyn-chronous electrooculography (EOG)-based human–machine interface (HMI) for smart home environmental control with the purpose of providing daily assistance for severe spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Methods: The proposed HMI allows users to interact with a smart home environment through eye blinking. Specifically, several buttons, each corresponding to a control command, randomly flash on a graphical user interface. Each flash of the buttons functions as a visual cue for the user to blink. To issue a control command, the user can blink synchronously with the flashes of the corresponding button. Through detecting blinks based on the recorded EOG signal, the target button and its corresponding control command are determined. Seven SCI patients participated in an online experiment, during which the patients were required to control a smart home environment including household electrical appliances, an intelligent wheelchair, as well as a nursing bed via the proposed HMI. Results: The average false operation ratio in the control state was 4.1%, whereas during the idle state, no false operations occurred. Conclusion: All SCI patients were able to control the smart home environment using the proposed EOG-based HMI with satisfactory performance in terms of the false operation ratio in both the control and the idle states. Significance: The proposed HMI offers a simple and effective approach for patients with severe SCIs to control a smart home environment. Therefore, it is promising to assist severe SCI patients in their daily lives.