Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wearable Devices Combined with Artificial Intelligence—A Future Technology for Atrial Fibrillation Detection?

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the world. The arrhythmia and methods developed to cure it have been studied for several decades. However, professionals worldwide are still working to improve treatment quality. One novel technology that can be useful is a wearable device. The two most used recordings from these devices are photoplethysmogram (PPG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. As the price lowers, these devices will become significant technology to increase sensitivity, for monitoring and for treatment quality support. This is important as AF can be challenging to detect in advance, especially during home monitoring. Modern artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to respond to this challenge. AI has already achieved state of the art results in many applications, including bioengineering. In this perspective, we discuss wearable devices combined with AI for AF detection, an approach that enables a new era of possibilities for the future.
Channelization cascade

The hierarchy of channel networks in landscapes displays features that are characteristic of nonequilibrium complex systems. Here we show that a sequence of increasingly complex ridge and valley networks is produced by a system of nonlinear partial differential equations serving as a minimalist landscape evolution model. This channelization cascade is reminiscent of the subsequent instabilities and vortex cascade in fluid turbulence and is described by a dimensionless number accounting for the relative role of diffusive soil creep, runoff erosion, and tectonic uplift. The regularity of the patterns, generated by geometrically simple boundary conditions, is indicative of the tendency to evolve toward optimal configurations, with anomalies similar to dislocation defects observed in pattern-forming systems. The choice of specific geomorphic transport laws and boundary conditions is shown to strongly influence the channelization cascade, the spatial organization of the topographic patterns, and their hypsometric curves, thus revealing the nonlocal and nonlinear character of the underlying dynamics.
Discovery of a Very Bright and Intrinsically Very Luminous, Strongly Lensed Lyα Emitting Galaxy at z = 2.82 in the BOSS Emission-Line Lens Survey

We report the discovery of a very bright (r = 20.16), highly magnified, and yet intrinsically very luminous Lyα emitter (LAE) at . This system comprises four images in the observer plane with a maximum separation of and it is lensed by a massive early-type galaxy. It was initially identified in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey Emission-Line Lens Survey for GALaxy-Lyα EmitteR sYstems survey, and follow-up imaging and spectroscopic observations using the Gran Telescopio Canarias and William Herschel Telescope confirmed the lensing nature of this system. A lens model using a singular isothermal ellipsoid in an external shear field reproduces the main features of the system quite well, yielding an Einstein radius of 2. ″95 ± 0. ″10, and a total magnification factor for the LAE of 8.8 ± 0.4. This LAE is one of the brightest and most luminous galaxy–galaxy strong lenses known. We present initial imaging and spectroscopy showing the basic physical and morphological properties of this lensed system.
Dental Lesion Segmentation Using an Improved ICNet Network with Attention

Precise segmentation of tooth lesions is critical to creation of an intelligent tooth lesion detection system. As a solution to the problem that tooth lesions are similar to normal tooth tissues and difficult to segment, an improved segmentation method of the image cascade network (ICNet) network is proposed to segment various lesion types, such as calculus, gingivitis, and tartar. First, the ICNet network model is used to achieve real-time segmentation of lesions. Second, the Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is integrated into the ICNet network structure, and large-size convolutions in the spatial attention module are replaced with layered dilated convolutions to enhance the relevant features while suppressing useless features and solve the problem of inaccurate lesion segmentations. Finally, part of the convolution in the network model is replaced with an asymmetric convolution to reduce the calculations added by the attention module. Experimental results show that compared with Fully Convolutional Networks (FCN), U-Net, SegNet, and other segmentation algorithms, our method has a significant improvement in the segmentation effect, and the image processing frequency is higher, which satisfies the real-time requirements of tooth lesion segmentation accuracy.
L-Type Ca2+ Channel Inhibition Rescues the LPS-Induced Neuroinflammatory Response and Impairments in Spatial Memory and Dendritic Spine Formation

Ca2+ signaling is implicated in the transition between microglial surveillance and activation. Several L-type Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) have been shown to ameliorate neuroinflammation by modulating microglial activity. In this study, we examined the effects of the L-type CCB felodipine on LPS-mediated proinflammatory responses. We found that felodipine treatment significantly diminished LPS-evoked proinflammatory cytokine levels in BV2 microglial cells in an L-type Ca2+ channel-dependent manner. In addition, felodipine leads to the inhibition of TLR4/AKT/STAT3 signaling in BV2 microglial cells. We further examined the effects of felodipine on LPS-stimulated neuroinflammation in vivo and found that daily administration (3 or 7 days, i.p.) significantly reduced LPS-mediated gliosis and COX-2 and IL-1β levels in C57BL/6 (wild-type) mice. Moreover, felodipine administration significantly reduced chronic neuroinflammation-induced spatial memory impairment, dendritic spine number, and microgliosis in C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, our results suggest that the L-type CCB felodipine could be repurposed for the treatment of neuroinflammation/cognitive function-associated diseases.
Mapping charge transport effects in thick CCDs with a dithered array of 40,000 stars

We characterize the astrometric distortion at the edges of thick, fully-depleted CCDs in the lab using a bench-top simulation of LSST observing. By illuminating an array of forty thousand pinholes (30μ m diameter) at the object plane of a f/1.2 optical reimager, thousands of PSFs can be imaged over a 4Kx4K pixel CCD. Each high purity silicon pixel, 10μ m square by 100μ m deep, can then be individually characterized through a series of sub-pixel dithers in the X/Y plane. The unique character [response, position, shape] of each pixel as a function of flux, wavelength, back side bias, etc. can be investigated. We measure the magnitude and onset of astrometric error at the edges of the detector as a test of the experimental setup, using a LSST prototype CCD. We show that this astrometric error at the edge is sourced from non-uniformities in the electric field lines that define pixel boundaries. This edge distortion must be corrected in order to optimize the science output of weak gravitational lensing and large scale structure measurements for the LSST.
Income inequality and opinion expression gap in the American public: an analysis of policy priorities

Abstract Past scholarship has documented that the poor are more likely to withhold their policy preferences in public opinion surveys, suggesting income gaps in political engagement. Despite the wealth of scholarly interest in opinion formation, however, previous studies focused almost exclusively on opinion gaps in preferences, leaving income-related gaps in policy prioritisation virtually unexamined. Drawing on 596 public opinion surveys conducted with nearly 700,000 Americans over 55 years, we make a comprehensive attempt to examine income-level differences in “don’t know” responses to the most important problem (MIP) question. Our results show that the less affluent are more likely to say “don’t know” when asked about the MIP facing their country, even after controlling for various factors including educational attainment and political attention. Importantly, we also show that income-related differences in opinionation cross cut other socio-economic differences in policy prioritisation. These results have important implications for the study of public opinion.
Evidence of the side jump mechanism in the anomalous Hall effect in paramagnets

Persistent confusion has existed between the intrinsic (Berry curvature) and the side jump mechanisms of anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in ferromagnets. We provide unambiguous identification of the side jump mechanism, in addition to the skew scattering contribution in epitaxial paramagnetic Ni34Cu66 thin films, in which the intrinsic contribution is by definition excluded. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the AHE further reveals that the side jump mechanism is dominated by the elastic scattering.
Combined intra-arterial and intra-muscular transfer of Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in no-option critical limb ischemia – CIRCULATE N-O CLI Pilot Study

Introduction Despite progress in pharmacologic and revascularization therapies, no-option critical limb ischemia poses a major clinical and societal problem. Prior cell-based strategies involved mainly autologous (limited) cell sources. Aim To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a novel ischemic tissue reparation/regeneration strategy using Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (WJMSCs) as an “unlimited” cell source in N-O CLI (first-in-man study, FIM). Material and methods Enrollment criteria included Rutherford-4 to Rutherford-6 in absence of anatomic/technical feasibility for revascularization and adequate inflow via the common femoral artery with patency of at least one below-the-knee artery. 30 × 106 WJMSCs were administered intra-arterially and intra-muscularly (50%/50%) over 3–6-week intervals (3–6 administrations). Safety, feasibility and potential signals of efficacy were assessed at 12 and 48 months. Results Five patients (age 61–71, 60% male, Rutherford-6 20%, Rutherford-5 60%, Rutherford-4 20%) were enrolled. WJMSCs were administered per protocol in absence of administration technique-related adverse events. Hyperemia, lasting 12–24 h, occurred in 4/5 subjects. Transient edema and pain (reactive to paracetamol) occurred in 3 (60%) patients. Amputation-free survival was 80% after 12 and 48 months. In those who avoided amputation, ischemic ulcerations healed and Rutherford stage improved. 4/5 patients were free of resting pain after 3–6 doses. Conclusions This FIM study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of WJMSCs use in patients with N-O CLI and suggested treatment efficacy with ≥ 3 doses. Our findings provide a basis for a randomized, double-blind clinical trial to assess the efficacy of WJMSC-based therapeutic strategy in N-O CLI patients.
PKS 1502+106: A high-redshift Fermi blazar at extreme angular resolution. Structural dynamics with VLBI imaging up to 86 GHz

Context. Blazars are among the most energetic objects in the Universe. In 2008 August, Fermi/LAT detected the blazar PKS 1502+106 showing a rapid and strong gamma-ray outburst followed by high and variable flux over the next months. This activity at high energies triggered an intensive multi-wavelength campaign covering also the radio, optical, UV, and X-ray bands indicating that the flare was accompanied by a simultaneous outburst at optical/UV/X-rays and a delayed outburst at radio bands. Aims: In the current work we explore the phenomenology and physical conditions within the ultra-relativistic jet of the gamma-ray blazar PKS 1502+106. Additionally, we address the question of the spatial localization of the MeV/GeV-emitting region of the source. Methods: We utilize ultra-high angular resolution mm-VLBI observations at 43 and 86 GHz complemented by VLBI observations at 15 GHz. We also employ single-dish radio data from the F-GAMMA program at frequencies matching the VLBI monitoring. Results: PKS 1502+106 shows a compact core-jet morphology and fast superluminal motion with apparent speeds in the range 5--22 c. Estimation of Doppler factors along the jet yield values between ~7 up to ~50. This Doppler factor gradient implies an accelerating jet. The viewing angle towards the source differs between the inner and outer jet, with the former at ~3 degrees and the latter at ~1 degree, after the jet bends towards the observer beyond 1 mas. The de-projected opening angle of the ultra-fast, magnetically-dominated jet is found to be (3.8 +/- 0.5) degrees. A single jet component can be associated with the pronounced flare both at high-energies and in radio bands. Finally, the gamma-ray emission region is localized at less than 5.9 pc away from the jet base.
Non-zero-sum reinsurance and investment game with non-trivial curved strategy structure under Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process

ABSTRACT This paper investigates a non-zero-sum stochastic differential game between two competitive CARA insurers, where we adopt the different classes of premium principles (including the expected value premium principle, the variance premium principle and the exponential premium principle) and each insurer aims to maximize the expected exponential utility of his terminal wealth relative to that of his competitor. Moreover, both insurers are allowed to purchase reinsurance treaty to mitigate individual claim risks and can invest in a financial market consisting of a risk-free asset, a risky asset where the instantaneous rate of investment return follows an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process which can reflect the changes of bull market and bear market. The optimal reinsurance strategy has a non-trivial structure which is distinguished from the conventional proportional and excess-of-loss reinsurance strategies. Furthermore, we derive the optimal reinsurance and investment strategies under the variance premium principle and expected value principle. In addition, we give another model which considers the correlation between risk model and financial market under the expected value principle. Finally, numerical analyses are provided to analyze the effects of model parameters on the optimal strategies under different cases.
Compliance To Colonoscopy In Patients Visiting The Department Of Gastroenterology At Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar.

Background Colorectal cancer is the largest cause of mortality in patients admitted to any Gastroenterology units. Diagnostic colonoscopy is a valuable tool for the disease's diagnosis and proper treatment but its compliance has been historically low. Our main objective was to find out social, cultural, and psychological barriers among those patients who finally did not show up for their colonoscopy appointment and, make a comparative analysis with those who did. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar from October 2021 to March 2022, selecting 224 patients through consecutive sampling. Results Out of the 224 patients included, males (48.2%) were more likely to show up for the procedure than females (51.8%) (p<0.05). Overall, the most recurring barrier was a lack of knowledge with 116 (51.7%) for both the groups, but especially more for the non-compliant patients (p<0.05). Fear of results, fear of complications of the procedure, and affordability issues stood out as important differences between the compliant and non-compliant patients. Conclusion For the country's healthcare to be able to overcome these problems, and enter an era where screening colonoscopy is a norm, mass education regarding the issue is imperative.
Ionization structure and chemical abundances of the Wolf-Rayet nebula NGC 6888 with integral field spectroscopy

Context. The study of nebulae around Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars gives us clues about the mass-loss history of massive stars, as well as about the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium (ISM). Aims. This work aims to search for the observational footprints of the interactions between the ISM and stellar winds in the WR nebula NGC 6888 in order to understand its ionization structure, chemical composition, and kinematics. Methods. We have collected a set of integral field spectroscopy observations across NGC 6888, obtained with PPAK in the optical range performing both 2D and 1D analyses. Attending to the 2D analysis in the northeast part of NGC 6888, we have generated maps of the extinction structure and electron density. We produced statistical frequency distributions of the radial velocity and diagnostic diagrams. Furthermore, we performed a thorough study of integrated spectra in nine regions over the whole nebula. Results. The 2D study has revealed two main behaviours. We have found that the spectra of a localized region to the southwest of this pointing can be represented well by shock models assuming n = 1000 cm −3 , twice solar abundances, and shock velocities from 250 to 400 km s −1 . With the 1D analysis we derived electron densities ranging from <100 to 360 cm −3 . The electron temperature varies from ∼7700 K to ∼10 200 K. A strong variation of up to a factor 10 between different regions in the nitrogen abundance has been found: N/H appears lower than the solar abundance in those positions observed at the edges and very enhanced in the observed inner parts. Oxygen appears slightly underabundant with respect to solar value, whereas the helium abundance is found to be above it. We propose a scenario for the evolution of NGC 6888 to explain the features observed. This scheme consists of a structure of multiple shells: i) an inner and broken shell with material from the interaction between the supergiant and WR shells, presenting an overabundance in N/H and a slight underabundance in O/H; ii) an outer shell very intense in [OIII]λ5007 A corresponding to the main sequence bubble broken up as a consequence of the collision between supergiant and WR shells. Nitrogen and oxygen do not appear enhanced here, but helium appears enriched; iii) and finally it includes an external and faint shell that surrounds the whole nebula like a thin skin representing the early interaction between the winds from the main sequence star with the ISM for which typical circumstellar abundances are derived.
Two-channel conduction in YbPtBi

We investigated transport, magnetotransport, and broadband optical properties of the half-Heusler compound YbPtBi. Hall measurements evidence two types of charge carriers: highly mobile electrons with a temperature-dependent concentration and low-mobile holes; their concentration stays almost constant within the investigated temperature range from 2.5 to 300 K. The optical spectra (10 meV - 2.7 eV) can be naturally decomposed into contributions from intra- and interband absorption processes, the former manifesting themselves as two Drude bands with very different scattering rates, corresponding to the charges with different mobilities. These results of the optical measurements allow us to separate the contributions from electrons and holes to the total conductivity and to implement a two-channel-conduction model for description of the magnetotransport data. In this approach, the electron and hole mobilities are found to be around 50000 and 10 cm$^{2}$/Vs at the lowest temperatures (2.5 K), respectively.
A Flexible Piezoelectric Device for Frequency Sensing from PVDF/SWCNT Composite Fibers

Polymer piezoelectric devices have been widely studied as sensors, energy harvesters, and generators with flexible and simple processes. Flexible piezoelectric devices are sensitive to external stimuli and are attracting attention because of their potential and usefulness as acoustic sensors. In this regard, the frequency sensing of sound must be studied to use flexible piezoelectric devices as sensors. In this study, a flexible piezoelectric device composed of a polymer and an electrode was successfully fabricated. Polyvinylidene fluoride, the active layer of the piezoelectric device, was prepared by electrospinning, and electrodes were formed by dip−coating in a prepared single−walled carbon nanotube dispersion. The output voltage of the external sound was matched with the input frequency through a fast Fourier transform, and frequency matching was successfully performed, even with mechanical stimulation. In a high−frequency test, the piezoelectric effect and frequency domain peak started to decrease sharply at 300 Hz, and the limit of the piezoelectric effect and sensing was observed from 800 Hz. The results of this study suggest a method for developing flexible piezoelectric-fiber frequency sensors based on piezoelectric devices for acoustic sensor systems.
Three-dimensional pure deflagration models with nucleosynthesis and synthetic observables for type ia supernovae

We investigate whether pure deflagration models of Chandrasekhar-mass carbon-oxygen white dwarf stars can account for one or more subclass of the observed population of Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) explosions. We compute a set of 3D full-star hydrodynamic explosion models, in which the deflagration strength is parametrized using the multispot ignition approach. For each model, we calculate detailed nucleosynthesis yields in a post-processing step with a 384 nuclide nuclear network. We also compute synthetic observables with our 3D Monte Carlo radiative transfer code for comparison with observations. For weak and intermediate deflagration strengths (energy release E-nuc less than or similar to 1.1 x 10(51) erg), we find that the explosion leaves behind a bound remnant enriched with 3 to 10 per cent (by mass) of deflagration ashes. However, we do not obtain the large kick velocities recently reported in the literature. We find that weak deflagrations with E-nuc similar to 0.5 x 10(51) erg fit well both the light curves and spectra of 2002cx-like SNe Ia, and models with even lower explosion energies could explain some of the fainter members of this subclass. By comparing our synthetic observables with the properties of SNe Ia, we can exclude the brightest, most vigorously ignited models as candidates for any observed class of SN Ia: their B - V colours deviate significantly from both normal and 2002cx-like SNe Ia and they are too bright to be candidates for other subclasses.
An Accurate Flux Density Scale from 50 MHz to 50 GHz

The flux-density scale of Perley & Butler is extended downward to ∼50 MHz by utilizing recent observations with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) of 20 sources between 220 MHz and 48.1 GHz, and legacy VLA observations at 73.8 MHz. The derived spectral flux densities are placed on an absolute scale by utilizing the Baars et al. values for Cygnus A (3C405) for frequencies below 2 GHz, and the Mars-based polynomials for 3C286, 3C295, and 3C196 from Perley & Butler above 2 GHz. Polynomial expressions are presented for all 20 sources, with accuracy limited by the primary standards to 3%–5% over the entire frequency range. Corrections to the scales proposed by Perley & Butler, and by Scaife & Heald are given.
Miraging a Majorana

The image of a Majorana mode located on the focus of an elliptical corral of free electrons is studied. The Majorana mode may be taken at the edge of a topological wire superimposed on the two-dimensional electron gas. At low energies the states of the wire are ignored except for the Majorana mode. Usual tunneling to a fermionic mode is compared. In the favorable cases, tunneling to a Majorana mode leads to an enhanced mirage effect and a spectral weight mainly confined around the foci, in comparison to the tunneling to a fermionic mode. The Majorana character of the image is shown computing the self-conjugacy.