Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Conservative sharp interface methods for incompressible multi-phase flow

This thesis is devoted to the modeling and simulation of incompressible multi-phase flow with Conservative sharp interface methods. Employing a weakly compressible framework, the viscosity jump at the material interface is directly imposed by an interface-flux term, and the pressure jump due to surface tension is imposed consistently after solving the constrained Riemann problem. For simulating multi-phase flow involving moving contact line, a curvature boundary condition is imposed directly at the wall surface. To accelerate simulation of multi-scale flow, we proposed an efficient implementation of the scale-separation approach.
Quantum mechanics for engineers.

This first chapter reviews the theory of special relativity. It can be skipped if desired. Special relativity is not needed to understand the discussion of quantum mechanics in the remainder of this book. However, some parts of this chapter might provide a deeper understanding and justification for some of the issues that will come up in quantum mechanics. The main reason for this chapter is that the book can be used as a review and expansion of typical courses on “Modern Physics. ” Such classes always cover relativity. While relativity is nowhere as important as basic quantum mechanics, it does have that “Einstein mystique” that is great at parties. The chapter starts with an overview of the key ideas of relativity. This is material that is typically covered in modern physics classes. Subsequent sections provide more advanced explanations of the various ideas of special relativity. 1.1 Overview of Relativity 1.1.1 A note on the history of the theory Special relativity is commonly attributed to Albert Einstein’s 1905 papers. That is certainly justifiable. However, Einstein swiped the big ideas of relativity from Henri Poincaré, (who developed and named the principle of relativity in 1895 and a mass-energy relation in 1900), without giving him any credit or even mentioning his name. He may also have swiped the underlying mathematics he used from Lorentz, (who is mentioned, but not in connection with the Lorentz transformation.)
Neuroradiologische Aktivierungsstudien zur zerebralen Organisation sprachlicher Leistungen

ZusammenfasslUlng. Modelle zur zerebralen Organisation der Sprachverarbeitung haben sich bislang vor allem auf läsionsstudien gestützt. Allerdings dürfte auf dieser Grundlage weder ein umfassendes noch ein hinreichend differenziertes Bild der zentrainervösen Kontrolle sprachlich~r KO'11munikation zu gewinnen sein. Neuroradiologische Aktivierungsverfahren mittels Positronenemissionstomographie oder funktioneller Magnetresonanztomographie könnten in dieser Hinsicht weiterführende Möglichkeiten bieten.
Hemmung der metabolischen und zirkulatorischen (kardiovaskulären) Diazoxid-Wirkung durch alpha- und beta-Rezeptorenblockade

Bei klinischen Studien konnten unter Diazoxidgaben metabolische und zirkulatorische Wirkungen beobachtet werden, wie sie weitgehend durch adrenerge Substanzen auslösbar sind. Dazu gehören Abfall des Seruminsulins, verminderte Glucosetoleranz, Anstieg der freien Fettsäuren und Tachykardie_ Die metabolischen und zirkulatorischen Veränderungen durch Diazoxid konnten bei den klinischen Untersuchungen durch Gaben von alphaund beta-Rezeptorenblockern weitgehend aufgehoben werden. Diese Untersuchungsergebnisse weisen darauf hin, daß der Wirkungsmechanismus von Diazoxid in einer Beeinflussung des adrenergen Systems liegt.
Dérivation d'algorithmes sans verrou à partir d'une spécification atomique

Pour gerer les acces de plusieurs processus a des donnees partagees, on utilise souvent un verrou global. Ici nous nous interessons aux algorithmes sans verrou qui permettent un acces simultane en lecture et ecriture. Malgre une litterature recente abondante, il y a peu de preuves de ces algorithmes. Nous proposons une methode modulaire qui permettra de deriver des algorithmes sans verrou a partir d'une specification atomique qui decrit la fonctionnalite des operations elementaires sur une structure de donnees. Cette methode peut etre utilisee dans un style "~a la B~" (approche top-down), mais elle permet aussi d'ajouter des points de linearisation aux algorithmes, en adaptant le style de la methode "~assume-guarantee~". Dans le present article, on donne une formalisation de la methode, et on explique son utilisation sur des exemples simplifies. Nous comparons cette methode a des methodes plus classiques telles que B et TLA+.
Prevalence of Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Rajavithi hospital workers, Bangkok, Thailand

Background: The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been reported to range from 5% to 12% in different parts of the world. However, the prevalence of CRS in Thailand has not been investigated. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of CRS among hospital workers and identify any potential problems encountered during the survey. Methods: Adult workers (>18 years) of Rajavithi Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, were recruited. This cross-sectional survey was conducted from September 2021 to September 2022. The participants were given a link to online questionnaires asking if they had nasal obstruction, discharge, decreased smell sensation, or facial pain and their respective duration. Phone numbers and email were asked for contact when needed. The participants who fulfilled the symptom and duration according to the European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyp 2020 were counted as symptom-based CRS patients. These patients were then contacted for nasal endoscopy. The endoscopic-based diagnosis of CRS was made after positive endoscopy findings. Result: A total of 1,025 participants (mean age of 33.7 years) were recruited. Of total, there were 34 (3.3%) and 6 (0.58%) participants fulfilled symptom- and endoscopy-based diagnoses, respectively. Fourteen participants did not respond to calls or emails. Five patients refused to visit the clinic due to inconveniences. One patient refused nasal endoscopy because of the expenses. Conclusion: The overall prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in workers of Rajavithi Hospital, was 3.3% and 0.58% by symptom- and endoscopy-based criteria, respectively. Difficulty reaching the participants for nasal endoscopy was the leading survey problem.
The influence of waves on tidal stream turbine arrays

The University of Manchester Alexander Olczak The Influence of Waves on Tidal Stream Turbine Arrays September 2015 The aim of this research was to quantify the influence of waves on arrays of tidal turbines. Experiments measured the wake of a turbine operating in combined wave-current flows, these were found to reduce velocity deficit as opposed to current only flow. The vertical region of the wake affected was dependant on the wave depth parameter, kd. RANS-BEM and Actuator Line methods were implemented within a commercial CFD code to provide computationally efficient methodologies for the simulation of both large turbine arrays and a turbine subjected to unsteady flow. For scaled experiments thrust coefficient was within 7% and 1% of the flume experiments for the RANS-BEM and Actuator Line methods respectively. The methods were found to give good prediction of a single turbine wake at distances greater than four diameters downstream, provided values of inlet turbulence intensity and length scale were equal to those measured experimentally. An unsteady Actuator Line method was used to quantify rotor loads and wake generation for a turbine operating within combined wave-current flow. The use of a streamwise pulsatile flow was found to give similar rotor and blade loads to simulations using a wave in a two phase volume of fluid simulation. The control strategy adopted by the turbine was found to greatly influence the computed rotor loads and blade bending moments. The wake generated by an Actuator Line method showed a reduction in velocity, however this was smaller than that measured experimentally for equivalent wave conditions. The accuracy with which the RANS-BEM method computed turbine loads and wakes was quantified for a number of one, two and three row arrays. The square of the disk averaged velocity encountered by turbines downstream of a single row of five turbines was found to be predicted to within 5% and 28% for an aligned and staggered arrangement respectively. For the two row arrays, the thrust of individual turbines was within 31% of the experimental measurements. The merged wake downstream of the multiple turbines was well predicted. Measurements of the wake of five porous disks showed combined wave-current flow did not alter the wake in the same manner as a single isolated disk. Measurement of wave energy over the wake showed the downstream current field altered wave propagation, causing a reduction in wave energy over the wake but an increase over the bypass flow. The accuracy of the wave model SWAN was assessed for the calculation of this change in wave characteristics. The model gave good prediction of the lateral variation of wave height over the far wake, however discrepancies in the near wake and upstream of the disk occurred.
Two-layered blood-lipid phantom and method to determine absorption and oxygenation employing changes in moments of DTOFs

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is an established technique for measuring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2), which is of high clinical value. For tissues that have layered structures, it is challenging but clinically relevant to obtain StO2 of the different layers, e.g. brain and scalp. For this aim, we present a new method of data analysis for time-domain NIRS (TD-NIRS) and a new two-layered blood-lipid phantom. The new analysis method enables accurate determination of even large changes of the absorption coefficient (Δµa) in multiple layers. By adding Δµa to the baseline µa, this method provides absolute µa and hence StO2 in multiple layers. The method utilizes (i) changes in statistical moments of the distributions of times of flight of photons (DTOFs), (ii) an analytical solution of the diffusion equation for an N-layered medium, (iii) and the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm (LMA) to determine Δµa in multiple layers from the changes in moments. The method is suitable for NIRS tissue oximetry (relying on µa) as well as functional NIRS (fNIRS) applications (relying on Δµa). Experiments were conducted on a new phantom, which enabled us to simulate dynamic StO2 changes in two layers for the first time. Two separate compartments, which mimic superficial and deep layers, hold blood-lipid mixtures that can be deoxygenated (using yeast) and oxygenated (by bubbling oxygen) independently. Simultaneous NIRS measurements can be performed on the two-layered medium (variable superficial layer thickness, L), the deep (homogeneous), and/or the superficial (homogeneous). In two experiments involving ink, we increased the nominal µa in one of two compartments from 0.05 to 0.25 cm−1, L set to 14.5 mm. In three experiments involving blood (L set to 12, 15, or 17 mm), we used a protocol consisting of six deoxygenation cycles. A state-of-the-art multi-wavelength TD-NIRS system measured simultaneously on the two-layered medium, as well as on the deep compartment for a reference. The new method accurately determined µa (and hence StO2) in both compartments. The method is a significant progress in overcoming the contamination from the superficial layer, which is beneficial for NIRS and fNIRS applications, and may improve the determination of StO2 in the brain from measurements on the head. The advanced phantom may assist in the ongoing effort towards more realistic standardized performance tests in NIRS tissue oximetry. Data and MATLAB codes used in this study were made publicly available.
In the mind of the beholder: The effects of familiarisation on the perception of atypical infant facial configurations

Infant facial attractiveness is an important facilitator for adult-infant caregiving behaviour. Disruption to typical infant facial configurations can, however, attenuate their perceived attractiveness, as rated by adult observers. Previous research has either focused on how ratings are affected by observer characteristics (e.g., male/female), or alterations to infant faces, either experimentally, or naturalistically induced, such as the presence of a cleft lip. Little research has however been conducted on the effects of observer experience on adult ratings of infant facial attractiveness. Such effects could inform clinical work and policies aimed at promoting positive perception of facial malformations. The present study thus explored the effects of familiarisation on how typical and atypical infant facial configurations are evaluated by adults. We recruited two groups of female participants and compared their subjective attractiveness ratings of infant faces (24 typical and 24 cleft-affected), at baseline, and at one-week post-test. Between the two assessments, one group (n = 41) underwent a week-long training phase, where they were familiarised with cleft lip/palate-related visual and informational stimuli, while the control group (n = 44) received no training. Significantly higher ratings were provided for faces of typically developing versus cleft-affected infants by both groups of participants at baseline. At post-test, this pattern of ratings was repeated in participants belonging to the control group, while familiarised participants showed an increase, compared to baseline, in their ratings of cleft-affected faces and no difference between their evaluation of the latter and that of typically developing faces. These findings extend our understanding of the observer’s experience in the evaluation of infant faces, beyond the effects of the structural characteristics of the observed faces. Results also highlight familiarity as a potentially protective influence against the negative consequences of alterations to typical facial configurations, suggesting avenues for intervention in supporting adult caregivers in the context of neonatal facial malformations.
Similar object shape representation encoded in the inferolateral occipitotemporal cortex of sighted and early blind people

We can sense an object’s shape by vision or touch. Previous studies suggested that the inferolateral occipitotemporal cortex (ILOTC) implements supramodal shape representations as it responds more to seeing or touching objects than shapeless textures. However, such activation in the anterior portion of the ventral visual pathway could be due to the conceptual representation of an object or visual imagery triggered by touching an object. We addressed these possibilities by directly comparing shape and conceptual representations of objects in early blind (who lack visual experience/imagery) and sighted participants. We found that bilateral ILOTC in both groups showed stronger activation during a shape verification task than during a conceptual verification task made on the names of the same manmade objects. Moreover, the distributed activity in the ILOTC encoded shape similarity but not conceptual association among objects. Besides the ILOTC, we also found shape representation in both groups’ bilateral ventral premotor cortices and intraparietal sulcus (IPS), a frontoparietal circuit relating to object grasping and haptic processing. In contrast, the conceptual verification task activated both groups’ left perisylvian brain network relating to language processing and, interestingly, the cuneus in early blind participants only. The ILOTC had stronger functional connectivity to the frontoparietal circuit than to the left perisylvian network, forming a modular structure specialized in shape representation. Our results conclusively support that the ILOTC selectively implements shape representation independently of visual experience, and this unique functionality likely comes from its privileged connection to the frontoparietal haptic circuit.
Dissipation in adaptive wavelet discretizations

Adaptive wavelet schemes for solving partial differential equations offer an attractive possibility to introduce locally refined grids, which dynamically track the evolution of the solution in scale and space. Automatic error control of the adaptive discretization, with respect to a uniform grid solution, is an advantageous feature. For a review in the context of computational fluid dynamics we refer to [4]. In this work we focus on dynamical Galerkin schemes, where the projection operator changes over time. When selecting a subset of basis functions, the projection operator is non-differentiable and an integral formulation has to be used. We will analyze the projected equations with respect to existence and uniqueness of the solution and prove that non-smooth projection operators introduce dissipation, a result which is crucial for adaptive discretizations of PDEs. For the Burgers equation we will illustrate numerically that thresholding the wavelet coefficients, and thus changing the projection space, will indeed introduce dissipation of energy [3]. We discuss consequences for the so-called “pseudo-adaptive” simulations, where time evolution and dealising are done in Fourier space whilst thresholding is carried out in wavelet space. Applications will deal with the inviscid Burgers equation using a simple small-scale periodic filtering scheme as well as CVS filtering [2], the latter has been applied for three-dimensional turbulence in [1].
The What and the How: A pilot study of feedback from service providers and consumers about service development in new urban mental health hub

Objective An inner-city hospital purchased a local hotel to provide support, digital engagement, skill development groups and referrals to partner agencies. Being aware of the hotel’s importance to the local community, we sought feedback on a model of care relevant to perceived gaps and needs in support for mental health. Methods Four online focus groups included healthcare professionals, nominated opinion leaders from local Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), consumers and carers to reflect a range of views. Focus group data were qualitatively analysed. Results Participants made useful suggestions about WHAT educational, preventative and therapeutic services were needed. They emphasised the importance of HOW people engage with the service, the balance between accessibility and security. Other themes included targeting people with limited health literacy, integration with existing services, building on site heritage and ongoing evaluation of objectives and needs. Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated clear support for providing safe and welcoming access to services, with resources and access to services to improve their health and wellbeing built on principles of social justice and inclusion. Participants had constructive ideas of what was needed, and ongoing patient and public research is anticipated.
Comparing PVP and Polymeric Micellar Formulations of a PEGylated Photosensitizing Phthalocyanine by NMR and Optical Techniques

Phthalocyanines are ideal candidates as photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer due to their favorable chemical and photophysical properties. However, their tendency to form aggregates in water reduces PDT efficacy and poses challenges in obtaining efficient forms of phthalocyanines for therapeutic applications. In the current work, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and micellar formulations were compared for encapsulating and monomerizing a water-soluble zinc phthalocyanine bearing four non-peripheral triethylene glycol chains (Pc1). 1H NMR spectroscopy combined with UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that Pc1 exists as a mixture of regioisomers in monomeric form in dimethyl sulfoxide but forms dimers in an aqueous buffer. PVP, polyethylene glycol castor oil (Kolliphor RH40), and three different triblock copolymers with varying proportions of polyethylene and polypropylene glycol units (termed P188, P84, and F127) were tested as micellar carriers for Pc1. 1H NMR chemical shift analysis, diffusion-ordered spectroscopy, and 2D nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy was applied to monitor the encapsulation and localization of Pc1 at the polymer interface. Kolliphor RH40 and F127 micelles exhibited the highest affinity for encapsulating Pc1 in the micellar core and resulted in intense Pc1 fluorescence emission as well as efficient singlet oxygen formation along with PVP. Among the triblock copolymers, efficiency in binding and dimer dissolution decreased in the order F127 > P84 > P188. PVP was a strong binder for Pc1. However, Pc1 molecules are rather surface-attached and exist as monomer and dimer mixtures. The results demonstrate that NMR combined with optical spectroscopy offer powerful tools to assess parameters like drug binding, localization sites, and dynamic properties that play key roles in achieving high host–guest compatibility. With the corresponding adjustments, polymeric micelles can offer simple and easily accessible drug delivery systems optimizing phthalocyanines’ properties as efficient photosensitizers.
Rare functional variants in the CRP and G6PC genes modify the relationship between obesity and serum C‐reactive protein in white British population

C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a sensitive biomarker of inflammation with moderate heritability. The role of rare functional genetic variants in relation to serum CRP is understudied. We aimed to examine gene mutation burden of protein‐altering (PA) and loss‐of‐function (LOF) variants in association with serum CRP, and to further explore the clinical relevance.
Male infertility and urological tumors: Pathogenesis and therapeutical implications

Most genitourinary tract cancers have a negative impact on male fertility. Although testicular cancers have the worst impact, other tumors such as prostate, bladder, and penis are diagnosed early and treated in relatively younger patients in which couple fertility can be an important concern. The purpose of this review is to highlight both the pathogenetic mechanisms of damage to male fertility in the context of the main urological cancers and the methods of preserving male fertility in an oncological setting, in light of the most recent scientific evidence. A systematic review of available literature was carried out on the main scientific search engines, such as PubMed, Clinicaltrials.Gov, and Google scholar. Three hundred twenty-five relevant articles on this subject were identified, 98 of which were selected being the most relevant to the purpose of this review. There is a strong evidence in literature that all of the genitourinary oncological therapies have a deep negative impact on male fertility: orchiectomy, partial orchiectomy, retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy (RPLND), radical cystectomy, prostatectomy, penectomy, as well as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal androgen suppression. Preservation of fertility is possible and includes cryopreservation, hormonal manipulation with GnRH analogs before chemotherapy, androgen replacement. Germ cell auto transplantation is an intriguing strategy with future perspectives. Careful evaluation of male fertility must be a key point before treating genitourinary tumors, taking into account patients’ age and couples’ perspectives. Informed consent should provide adequate information to the patient about the current state of his fertility and about the balance between risks and benefits in oncological terms. Standard approaches to genitourinary tumors should include a multidisciplinary team with urologists, oncologists, radiotherapists, psycho-sexologists, andrologists, gynecologists, and reproductive endocrinologists.