Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
APODIZED PUPIL LYOT CORONAGRAPHS FOR ARBITRARY APERTURES. III. QUASI-ACHROMATIC SOLUTIONS

Direct imaging and spectroscopy of young giant planets from the ground requires broadband starlight suppression with coronagraphy. It is important to minimize the coronagraph chromatic sensitivity to help remove residual speckles through post-processing of images at multiple wavelengths. The coronagraph must also be able to mitigate the effects of ground-based telescopes with central obstruction. We present new properties of the Apodized Pupil Lyot Coronagraph (APLC) that enable quasi-achromatic starlight suppression over a broad bandpass (20%) and with central obstructions. We discuss the existence of these quasi-achromatic solutions using the properties of the generalized prolate spheroidal functions, which are used to define the apodizer profile. We discuss a broadband optimization method and illustrate its parameter space in terms of inner working angle and contrast. These new APLC solutions are implemented in the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI), a new facility instrument to detect and characterize young giant planets and disks, which will be commissioned in 2011. The coronagraph design delivers a contrast better than 10−7 beyond a separation of 0.2 arcsec in the presence of Gemini's central obstruction over a 20% bandpass. The science camera is an integral field spectrograph observing in one of the Y, J, or H, or in about two-thirds of the K bandpass, at a single time. Similar solutions have also been used for the Palomar 1640 coronagraphic integral field spectrograph.
Using visualization techniques to assess the accumulation of nanoplastics with varying surface modifications

Over the years, an increase in mass plastic production has caused growing concerns about the adverse effects that plastic nanoparticles (NPs) in the environment may have on human health. There are many knowledge gaps regarding the effects that NPs have on human health. Accurate studies prove challenging due to the hurdles in obtaining reliable model particles, performing accurate in vitro toxicology assessments, and visualizing results accurately. Numerous studies published in peer-reviewed literature have used commercially available NPs to represent environmental nanoplastic pollution. The commercial NPs with fluorescent tags were often used since they are easy to be monitored in cellular and organismal studies. However, the legitimacy of these commercial NP products has been questioned due to concerns about surface modifications altering interactions at the nano-bio interfaces, and the possibility that surface-bound fluorophores may detach and result in optical artifacts. Additionally, polystyrene is not the only polymer that should be investigated. We synthesized an orange, fluorescent organic dye and incorporated the dye into PMMA NPs to investigate skin cell uptake and in vivo biodistribution in a fish embryo model. We also compare the uptake results with that of the commonly used polystyrene particles and discuss possible mechanisms of uptake. Results revealed that 1) PMMA NPs can pass into embryos and potentially accumulate in larval bodies, and 2) commercially available sulfate-modified NPs and PMMA NPs accumulate similarly in fluorescently labeled fibroblast cells, however, PMMA NPs accumulate more localized intracellularly.
The Successive Next Network as Augmented Regularization for Deformable Brain MR Image Registration

Deep-learning-based registration methods can not only save time but also automatically extract deep features from images. In order to obtain better registration performance, many scholars use cascade networks to realize a coarse-to-fine registration progress. However, such cascade networks will increase network parameters by an n-times multiplication factor and entail long training and testing stages. In this paper, we only use a cascade network in the training stage. Unlike others, the role of the second network is to improve the registration performance of the first network and function as an augmented regularization term in the whole process. In the training stage, the mean squared error loss function between the dense deformation field (DDF) with which the second network has been trained and the zero field is added to constrain the learned DDF such that it tends to 0 at each position and to compel the first network to conceive of a better deformation field and improve the network’s registration performance. In the testing stage, only the first network is used to estimate a better DDF; the second network is not used again. The advantages of this kind of design are reflected in two aspects: (1) it retains the good registration performance of the cascade network; (2) it retains the time efficiency of the single network in the testing stage. The experimental results show that the proposed method effectively improves the network’s registration performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods.
Recording and Analysis of Dolphin Echolocation Signals

A new technique for recording dolphin echolocation signals during target‐discrimination tests is described. The technique utilizes sensors attached to the animal. A brief description of the sensors is provided. A short color film of dolphin echolocation tests performed using the attached sensors is shown. Problems in recording the transient‐like dolphin echolocation signals are discussed. A short summary of analyses of echolocation signals of two dolphins—an Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, Montagu, and an Amazon river dolphin, Inia geoffrensis—is presented. [This work was performed under contract with NURDC, San Diego, California. ]
A Leaking-Proof Theranostic Nanoplatform for Tumor-Targeted and Dual-Modality Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Therapy

Objective: A protein-based leaking-proof theranostic nanoplatform for dual-modality imaging-guided tumor photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been designed. Impact Statement: A site-specific conjugation of chlorin e6 (Ce6) to ferrimagnetic ferritin (MFtn-Ce6) has been constructed to address the challenge of unexpected leakage that often occurs during small-molecule drug delivery. Introduction: PDT is one of the most promising approaches for tumor treatment, while a delivery system is typically required for hydrophobic photosensitizers. However, the nonspecific distribution and leakage of photosensitizers could lead to insufficient drug accumulation in tumor sites. Methods: An engineered ferritin was generated for site-specific conjugation of Ce6 to obtain a leaking-proof delivery system, and a ferrimagnetic core was biomineralized in the cavity of ferritin, resulting in a fluorescent ferrimagnetic ferritin nanoplatform (MFtn-Ce6). The distribution and tumor targeting of MFtn-Ce6 can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fluorescence imaging (FLI). Results: MFtn-Ce6 showed effective dual-modality MRI and FLI. A prolonged in vivo circulation and increased tumor accumulation and retention of photosensitizer was observed. The time-dependent distribution of MFtn-Ce6 can be precisely tracked in real time to find the optimal time window for PDT treatment. The colocalization of ferritin and the iron oxide core confirms the high stability of the nanoplatform in vivo. The results showed that mice treated with MFtn-Ce6 exhibited marked tumor-suppressive activity after laser irradiation. Conclusion: The ferritin-based leaking-proof nanoplatform can be used for the efficient delivery of the photosensitizer to achieve an enhanced therapeutic effect. This method established a general approach for the dual-modality imaging-guided tumor delivery of PDT agents.
Landing aircraft tracking using fusion of FLIR and laser range finder

An algorithm is presented for tracking a landing aircraft using two different passive sensors, a laser range finder and an infrared camera. The main feature of this algorithm is that it is able to identify and compensate for abrupt disturbances. The algorithm is based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF) and the filtering confidence function (FCF) which introduces a learning approach to the tracking problem. The results of simulation using this learning tracking algorithm and the extended Kalman filter alone are presented and compared.
Kinetics factors of the lower limb joints decelerating running velocity in the last phase of 100 m race

The purpose of the present study was to clarify the factors involved in deceleration in the last phase of a 100 m sprint by comparing the kinetics of the lower limb joints between the maximal running velocity phase (Max) and the deceleration phase (Dec). Five male collegiate sprinters, running 60 m and 100 m at maximal effort, were videotaped with high-speed cameras (250 fps) and the ground reaction force (1000 Hz) was measured at the 50-m and 85-m points. The kinematics and kinetics of the lower limb joints were then calculated. The results were as follows: 1) The deceleration of running velocity was due to a decrease of stride frequency. 2) In the Dec, braking impulse increased, but propulsion impulse decreased significantly. 3) Significant decreases were found in joint torque and negative power exerted by ankle plantar flexors. 4) Hip negative work exerted by hip joint torque in the late support phase tended to decrease, and it is thought that this decrease affected the delay of hip-flex movement during the early recovery phase. These results reveal that the function of the ankle has a direct influence on deceleration, and suggest that the negative work exerted by hip joint torque during the support phase may help to maintain hip-flex movement during the early recovery phase in the final phase of the 100-m sprint.
Low-loss sputter coated aluminum nitride waveguides

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) have experienced an exponential growth in a number of applications, including telecom/datacom, LiDAR, optical sensing/metrology and quantum technology. Most materials and platforms commonly used in integrated photonics, such as silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon nitride (Si3N4) and indium phosphide (InP) do not show transmission below ~400 nm, hindering the development of PICs operating in the ultraviolet wavelength range. Furthermore, devices in this wavelength range also require fast modulation and switching in order to enable complex emerging applications. Aluminum nitride (AlN) is a material with a band gap of 6.2 eV, exhibiting a wide transparency window, from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. AlN has the capacity to achieve high electro-optic[1], non-linear[2] and piezo-electric[3,4] coefficients, which makes AlN an interesting material for PICs with operation down to the ultraviolet wavelength range. However, high losses have prevented PICs from benefiting from its excellent optical properties. In this work, we present our work on the sputter deposition of low-loss AlN slab waveguides. The optical performance of AlN sputtered slab waveguides after annealing at different temperatures and their relation with the film morphology will be discussed. Preliminary slab propagation losses as low as 1.5 dB/cm at 633 nm of wavelength have been demonstrated.
Co-Design, Development, and Evaluation of a Health Monitoring Tool Using Smartwatch Data: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Computational analysis and integration of smartwatch data with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) present potential uses in preventing, diagnosing, and managing chronic diseases. One of the key requirements for the successful clinical application of smartwatch data is understanding healthcare professional (HCP) perspectives on whether these devices can play a role in preventive care. Gaining insights from the vast amount of smartwatch data is a challenge for HCPs, thus tools are needed to support HCPs when integrating personalized health monitoring devices with EMR. This study aimed to develop and evaluate an application prototype, co-designed with HCPs and employing design science research methodology and diffusion of innovation frameworks to identify the potential for clinical integration. A machine learning algorithm was developed to detect possible health anomalies in smartwatch data, and these were presented visually to HCPs in a web-based platform. HCPs completed a usability questionnaire to evaluate the prototype, and over 60% of HCPs scored positively on usability. This preliminary study tested the proposed research to solve the practical challenges of HCP in interpreting smartwatch data before fully integrating smartwatches into the EMR. The findings provide design directions for future applications that use smartwatch data to improve clinical decision-making and reduce HCP workloads.
Effects of Dendrimer-microRNA Nanoformulations against Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Glioblastoma is a rapidly progressing tumor quite resistant to conventional treatment. These features are currently assigned to a self-sustaining population of glioblastoma stem cells. Anti-tumor stem cell therapy calls for a new means of treatment. In particular, microRNA-based treatment is a solution, which in turn requires specific carriers for intracellular delivery of functional oligonucleotides. Herein, we report a preclinical in vitro validation of antitumor activity of nanoformulations containing antitumor microRNA miR-34a and microRNA-21 synthetic inhibitor and polycationic phosphorus and carbosilane dendrimers. The testing was carried out in a panel of glioblastoma and glioma cell lines, glioblastoma stem-like cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. We have shown dendrimer-microRNA nanoformulations to induce cell death in a controllable manner, with cytotoxic effects being more pronounced in tumor cells than in non-tumor stem cells. Furthermore, nanoformulations affected the expression of proteins responsible for interactions between the tumor and its immune microenvironment: surface markers (PD-L1, TIM3, CD47) and IL-10. Our findings evidence the potential of dendrimer-based therapeutic constructions for the anti-tumor stem cell therapy worth further investigation.
Extended Mode-Dependent Persistent Dwell-Time Switching With Multi-Stage Dependent Modification or Averaging for Discrete-Time Switched Systems

In this brief, extended mode-dependent persistent dwell-time (EMDPDT) switching with the slow- and fast-switching areas of the mode-dependent feature is presented for a class of discrete-time switched systems (DTSSs). Further, to loosen the dwell-time restriction on slow-switching areas in the original MDPDT regularity, two novel principles of multi-stage dependent modification (MSDM) and multi-stage dependent averaging (MSDA) are launched. By means of MSDM (or MSDA), stability criteria are supplied for DTSSs under the EMDPDT switching, where smaller MDPDT lower bounds can be achieved for non-first stages (or partially random stages) in divided units formed by multiple stages. Meanwhile, at the cost of computation consumption, MSDM allows a lower total dwell-time restriction than MSDA. Finally, the efficiency and flexibility of EMDPDT with MSDM/MSDA are illustrated by an inverter example.
Convergence of the Galerkin approximation of a degenerate evolution problem in electrocardiology

In this work we consider the reaction‐diffusion system of FitzHugh‐Nagumo type describing the behavior of the electrical conduction in an anisotropic cardiac muscle. The analysis of the Galerkin semidiscrete space approximation to this system is approached by means of a suitable variational formulation in the framework of abstract degenerate evolution equations.
Catégorie homotopique stable d’un site suspendu avec intervalle

Cet article presente la construction de la categorie homotopique stable d'un site suspendu avec intervalle arbitraire. La fonctorialite de cette construction est etudiee, avec des applications a la theorie homotopique des schemas introduite par F. Morel et V. Voevodsky.
Soft Mini Fuse Valve for Resilient Fluidically-Actuated Robots

Lately, soft fluidic actuation has gained widespread interest in all fields where compliance and adaptability are the main keywords. Despite their well-known advantages, soft fluidic actuators frequently present problems related to the elastomeric chambers' durability, affecting the overall system robustness and safety. Indeed, if a robot relies on the parallel pressurisation of multiple actuators, the burst of a single chamber leads to the failure of the entire fluidic circuit, with consequent potentially hazardous leaks. Here, we present the development of a Soft Mini-Fuse (SMIF) valve able to secure and maintain the system functionality even in case of burst failure of single components without affecting their overall bulkiness. By modelling the valve through both analytical and finite element tools, we defined the correlation between main geometrical features, material properties and a selected range of blocking pressures (0.1–1.0 bar). Finally, after validating the modelling tools, we characterised the device behaviour in a range of commonly employed actuation flows (0–15 l/min). The compact dimensions, the ease of integration and the demonstrated performances underline that the SMIF valve represents a novel valuable ally that guarantees stable actuation, limits human intervention and paves the way towards more resilient and autonomous soft fluidic robotic systems.
Physico-Mechanical Evaluation of Geopolymer Concrete Activated by Sodium Hydroxide and Silica Fume-Synthesised Sodium Silicate Solution

Commercial sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (SS) have remained two of the leading alkaline activators widely used in producing geopolymer concrete, despite some identified negatives regarding their availability and additional CO2 emissions relating to the overall manufacturing process. This study reports the viability of developing geopolymer concrete using a laboratory-synthesised silica fume (SF)-derived SS solution in combination with NaOH at a molarity of 10M as an alternative binary alkali-alkaline activator to Ground Granulated Blast Furnace slag (GGBS). The use of SF in the development of geoolymer activators will pave the way for the quality usage of other high-silica content by-products from nature, industry, and agriculture. In the currently reported proof of concept, four geopolymer concrete batches were produced using different alkaline activator/precursor-A/P ratios (0.5 and 0.9) and SS to NaOH-SS/SH volume ratios (0.8/1.2 and 1.2/0.8), to establish the impact on the engineering performance. Two controls were adopted for ordinary and geopolymer concrete mixes. The engineering performance was assessed using slump and compaction index (CI) tests, while the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) and tensile splitting (TS) tests were measured at different curing ages in accordance with their appropriate standards. The results indicated a reduction in slump values as the A/P ratio decreased, while the CI values showed a reversal of the identified trend in slump. Consequently, mix GC2 attained the highest UCS strength gain (62.6 MPa), displaying the superiority of the alkali activation and polymerisation process over the CSH gel. Furthermore, the impact of A/P variation on the UCS was more pronounced than SS/SH due to its vital contribution to the overall geopolymerisation process.
Optimal stress testing for dynamic functional mitral regurgitation in patients with acute decompensated heart failure

Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) in ischaemic or non-ischaemic heart disease results from an imbalance between increased tethering forces (mitral annular dilation and papillary muscle displacement) and decreased closing forces [reduced left ventricular (LV) contractility with structurally normal mitral valve]. 1 Functional MR has a
Variations of extreme precipitation events with sub-daily data: a case study in the Ganjiang River basin

Abstract. Climate warming increases the intensity of extreme precipitation. Studying extreme precipitation patterns and changes is vital to reducing risk. This paper investigates thresholds, changes and timescales for extreme precipitation using sub-daily records from meteorological stations in the Ganjiang River basin. We use the gamma distribution and select the L-moment method to estimate the parameters α and β. Results show that (1) continuous precipitation events of 36 h contributed the most precipitation to the total but with lower frequency, which would be key events for flood monitoring; (2) the intensity and the occasional probability of extreme precipitation will increase in spring in the future in stations like Yifeng, Zhangshu and Ningdu, which will in turn increase the risk of storm floods; and (3) spatial distribution of extreme precipitation risk shows that the risk increases as elevation increases in the northern lowland and the Jitai Basin in the midstream region, while the risk in the southern mountainous region decreases as elevation increases. These findings will facilitate emergency preparedness, including risk management and disaster assistance, in the study areas.
A New Gene SCY3 Homologous to Scygonadin Showing Antibacterial Activity and a Potential Role in the Sperm Acrosome Reaction of Scylla paramamosain

In the study, a new gene homologous to the known antimicrobial peptide Scygonadin was identified in mud crab Scylla paramamosain and named SCY3. The full-length sequences of cDNA and genomic DNA were determined. Similar to Scygonadin, SCY3 was dominantly expressed in the ejaculatory ducts of male crab and the spermatheca of post-mating females at mating. The mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated after stimulation by Vibrio alginolyticus, but not by Staphylococcus aureus. The recombinant protein rSCY3 had a killing effect on Micrococcus luteus and could improve the survival rate of mud crabs infected with V. alginolyticus. Further analysis showed that rSCY3 interacted with rSCY1 or rSCY2 using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR, a technology for detecting interactions between biomolecules using biosensor chips) and Mammalian Two-Hybrid (M2H, a way of detecting interactions between proteins in vivo). Moreover, the rSCY3 could significantly improve the sperm acrosome reaction (AR) of S. paramamosain and the results demonstrated that the binding of rSCY3, rSCY4, and rSCY5 to progesterone was a potential factor affecting the sperm AR by SCYs on. This study lays the foundation for further investigation on the molecular mechanism of SCYs involved in both immunity and physiological effects of S. paramamosain.
Generalization of Skill for a Working Memory Recognition Procedure in Children: The Benefit of Starting with Easy Materials

When children practice a new task, they need to learn both the task procedure and the materials tested. It is often unclear if improvements with practice reflect learning of the task procedure or familiarity with the materials. We sought to examine learning of the task procedure by switching from one set of materials to another in a working memory recognition task. We recruited 70 children (34 female, M = 11.27 years, SD = 0.62, ranging from 10.08 to 12.39) in the United States who were to remember sequences of orientations and of shapes for recognition immediately following the list. Half of the children began with orientation, an easier task, and the other half began with difficult-to-name shapes, a harder task. When children began with the easier task, the acquisition of the recognition task skill in the easy condition transferred to the more difficult task, optimizing the mean performance across tasks. Transfer was less potent when children began with the more difficult task. The results showed that sufficient practice is crucial to avoid poor initial performance, which might be important for the student’s rate of progress and task engagement.