Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Replace-approximation method for ambiguous solutions in factor analysis of ultrasonic hepatic perfusion

Factor analysis is an efficient technique to the analysis of dynamic structures in medical image sequences and recently has been used in contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of hepatic perfusion. Time-intensity curves (TICs) extracted by factor analysis can provide much more diagnostic information for radiologists and improve the diagnostic rate of focal liver lesions (FLLs). However, one of the major drawbacks of factor analysis of dynamic structures (FADS) is nonuniqueness of the result when only the non-negativity criterion is used. In this paper, we propose a new method of replace-approximation based on apex-seeking for ambiguous FADS solutions. Due to a partial overlap of different structures, factor curves are assumed to be approximately replaced by the curves existing in medical image sequences. Therefore, how to find optimal curves is the key point of the technique. No matter how many structures are assumed, our method always starts to seek apexes from one-dimensional space where the original high-dimensional data is mapped. By finding two stable apexes from one dimensional space, the method can ascertain the third one. The process can be continued until all structures are found. This technique were tested on two phantoms of blood perfusion and compared to the two variants of apex-seeking method. The results showed that the technique outperformed two variants in comparison of region of interest measurements from phantom data. It can be applied to the estimation of TICs derived from CEUS images and separation of different physiological regions in hepatic perfusion.
Planar plasmonic metamaterial on a thin film with nearly zero thickness

We propose a planar plasmonic metamaterial on thin corrugated metal films in microwave and terahertz frequencies. From theoretical simulation and experiment, we show that spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can propagate along a thin metal film by corrugating its edge with periodic array of grooves. We demonstrate that such a planar plasmonic metamaterial can sustain highly localized SPPs along two orthogonal directions. We have designed and simulated a planar ring resonator in the terahertz frequency, and made experiment in the microwave frequency, both of which exhibit excellent performance. The proposed planar plasmonic metamaterials can play important roles in integrated plasmonic circuits and systems.
Novel information about the bioactive compound profile, antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of Parkinsonia praecox (Fabaceae) Nueva información del perfil de compuestos bioactivos

: Background and Aims: Parkinsonia praecox ,“palo brea”, is a medicinal plant distributed in the Mexican Sonoran Desert. However, there is little information about the chemical composition and biological potential of this plant. As a consequence, the objective of the present study was to determine the chemical composition, as well as the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity, of P. praecox . Methods: Methanolic extracts of stems (PPS), berries (PPB) and flowers (PPF) were performed. Chemical composition was determined by phytochemical screening, Folin Ciocalteu and UPLC-DAD methods. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH, ABTS, ORAC and FRAP methods. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated by MTT against A549 (non-small-cell lung cancer cells), MDA-MB-231 (triple negative breast cancer), PC-3 (adenocarcinoma prostate cancer grade IV), HeLa (human cervical cancer) and L929 (non-cancerous subcutaneous connective tissue) cell lines. Results: Phytochemical screening showed the presence of terpenes, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tannins and sugars in the extracts. PPS showed the highest (p<0.05) concentration of phenolic compounds (65.5 mg GAE/g), identifying and quantifying quercetin (218.86 µg/g). Additionally, PPS exhibited the highest capacity (p<0.05) to stabilize the DPPH (IC 50 : 137 µg/ml), ABTS (39.56 µM TE/g), hydroxyl radicals (ORAC: 1777.78 µM TE/g), and to reduce metals (FRAP: 935.6 µM Fe(II)/g). Similar behavior was observed in antiproliferative activity, since PPS presented the highest cytotoxicity (p<0.05): A549 (IC 50 : 341.3 µg/ml), MDA-MB-231 (IC 50 : 147.3 µg/ml), PC-3 (IC 50 : 78.8 µg/ml), HeLa (IC 50 : 121.6 µg/ml) and L929 (IC 50 : 93.29 µg/ml). C onc lusion: This is the first research where the bioactive compound profile and the biological potential of P. praecox are reported. The results show the strong association between the antioxidant and the antiproliferative activities with the presence of phenolic compounds. This represents a potential support for the development of pharmacological therapies.
Sword ferns from the Seward Park die-off site can induce wilting and obstruct water uptake in healthy ferns

The regional decline of sword ferns ( Polystichum munitum ) in the Puget Sound lowlands remains unexplained. However, anecdotal observations and some preliminary evidence from a pilot study suggest that a transmissible pathogen may be driving the phenomenon. We used sword fern fronds as a bioassay in a paired-sample greenhouse experiment to determine if symptoms could be transmitted from symptomatic fronds to healthy fronds with water as a shared medium. After 5 days, fronds in the infected treatment group were significantly more desiccated and had significantly lower foliar moisture content than fronds in the control group which were grown in water with apparently healthy fronds. We were not able to identify whether the causal agent was transmitted through physical contact, an aboveground vector or through the water. Nonetheless, our results suggest that a vascular pathogen is present in the foliage of sword ferns located at the edge of an active die-off site in Seward Park
Advanced optical modulation formats identification and signal-to-noise-ratio estimation based on VGG16

In this paper, we adopt VGG-16 deep learning model and signal constellation diagrams to identify five different types of advanced optical modulation formats: BPSK, 4QAM, QPSK, 8QAM, 8PSK. 100% identification accuracy and no confusion are achieved for signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) higher than 8dB. Compared with the methods have been reported, the proposed method has the advantages of not requiring manual feature extraction, having the ability to identify the modulation format with high accuracy and to estimate the SNR.
Customer satisfaction and value creation through supply chain management in organized vis-à-vis unorganized retail for fruits and vegetables in South Gujarat

: Customer satisfaction is widely recognized as a key factor in the formation of consumers' future purchase intentions. Satisfied customers are also likely to tell others of their favorable experiences and thus engage in positive word of mouth advertising. The present study was carried out to investigate customer satisfaction and value creation through supply chain management in organized Vs unorganized retail for fruit and vegetables in South Gujarat region of Gujarat.Structured interview questionnaire was used to collect information on customers and the data was analyzed using appropriatestatistical tools. The findings revealed that there are differences found in the customers’ satisfaction and value creation towards organized and unorganized fruits and vegetables retailers.
Change in heart rate variability during two firefighting work cycles

This study aimed to determine whether the change in heart rate variability from pre to post firefighting is modulated by different work cycles. Thirteen male firefighters underwent two firefighting simulations that comprised two identical 25-min work bouts intercalated by a passive recovery period of either 20 min (T20) or 5 min (T5). The square root of the mean squared differences of successive R–R intervals (RMSSD) and aural temperature were measured at rest before (PRE) and after (POST) firefighting simulations. The decrease in RMSSD was different between firefighting simulations (T20: −10 ± 21.2 ms, T5: −19.9 ± 20.9 ms, interaction, p = 0.02). Post-firefighting aural temperature was greater (p = 0.05) in T5 (37.18 ± 0.53 °C) than in T20 (36.88 ± 0.49 °C). In conclusion, a shorter recovery period of 5 min between firefighting work bouts decreases post-firefighting heart rate variability, possibly attributed to a lower parasympathetic reactivation and a higher absolute value of body temperature.
Thermophoretic forces acting on a spheroid

The thermal creep velocity and the thermophoretic force acting on prolate and oblate spheroids have been obtained. The results, which are of considerable interest in calculating the deposition rate of aerosols on cold surfaces, show that deviation from sphericity can have significant effects on thermophoretic behaviour and should be included in any quantitative study.
Experiencing Mental Health when Treating Others : Experiences of Mental Health Workers in Relation to Mental Health Problems: Stigma, Perception, and Employment

Introduction: Mental health problems are among the leading causes of disability, with one in four adults in the UK experiencing a mental health disorder. Even with the increasing knowledge concerning mental health disorders, two-thirds of those experiencing concerns are reluctant to disclose their condition and seek professional help. This perceived stigma has a strongly negative correlation with help-seeking behavior, and disproportionately affects healthcare professionals; 26% of mental health professionals in England are reported to be resigning due to a reduction of well-being. Aims: This paper seeks to compare the effects of stigma perceived by mental health and non-mental health professionals, the barriers perceived, and the impact of specific disorders on this stigma. Methods: Using a mixed-methods approach, a survey was conducted to determine the stigma levels and perceived barriers of 108 people; 50% of these participants were professionals working within mental health services. Two focus groups were conducted, one for mental health professionals and one for non-mental health professionals, with four participants in each group. Results: The survey reported that mental health professionals had a lower level of stigma for specific disorders, although male mental health professionals working for less than five years reported a higher level of stigma and perceived barriers than did females with the same experience – with these then reducing after five years. The overarching focus group theme was “changes needed for disclosure”, with each group having four subthemes. Conclusions: Disclosure stigma remains an issue, with further research needing to be conducted to adapt to a minimally stigmatizing service for mental health professionals.
Sleuthing the Dynamo. II. Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph Observations of Solar-Type Dwarfs in Young Galactic Clusters

Far-ultraviolet (1150-1670 Å) spectra of three solar-type dwarfs in the young galactic clusters α Persei and the Pleiades were obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph (G140L mode). Time series of Si IV λ1393 show erratic variability on timescales of tens of minutes. An X-ray/C IV flux-flux diagram displays a power-law slope of ~2, up to the level of the most active cluster stars. These fall systematically below the extrapolation owing to X-ray "saturation. " In rotation-activity diagrams, the X-rays plateau above ~15 km s-1 (P ~ 3 days), while C IV continues to rise until ~35-50 km s-1 (P ~ 1-1.5 days). Such behavior is significant for understanding the magnetic "dynamo" at high rotational velocities and is relevant for predicting the ionizing environment bathing newly formed planets around low-mass main-sequence stars.
Ferrite-ferroelectric hybrid wave phase shifters

A dual, electric and magnetic field tunable microwave phase shifter based on the propagation of hybrid spin-electromagnetic waves in a ferrite-ferroelectric bilayer is discussed. The bilayer consists of a single-crystal yttrium iron garnet film and a ceramic barium strontium titanate slab. The electrical tunability of the differential phase shift Δφ is achieved through the application of a voltage across barium strontium titanate. An insertion loss of 20dB and a continuously variable Δφ as high as 650° in the frequency range of 4.5–8GHz are measured.
How Cultural Intelligence Develop Students’ Social Entrepreneurship in Indonesia?

AbstractThis study aims to identify the ability of cultural intelligence, intellectual capital, and risk perception of students in the formation and development of social entrepreneurship. Students are expected to be able to help solve social problems following the goals of social entrepreneurship. This study uses a deductive approach and quantitative data processing using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The sample consists of 612 respondents who are students from 11 universities in Indonesia who have taken entrepreneurship courses. The results show that cultural intelligence and intellectual capital had a positive effect on social entrepreneurship, while risk perception did not have a positive effect. This is because students prioritize the formation and development of social entrepreneurship rather than think about the shareable risks. Furthermore, this research contributes to universities and the government in developing social entrepreneurship in the community. Keywords: Cultural Intelligence, Intellectual Capital, Risk Perception, Social Entrepreneurship Bagaimana Kecerdasan Budaya Mengembangkan Kewirausahaan Sosial Mahasiswa di Indonesia? AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi kemampuan kecerdasan budaya, modal intelektual, dan persepsi risiko mahasiswa dalam pembentukan dan pengembangan kewirausahaan sosial. Mahasiswa diharapkan dapat membantu memecahkan masalah sosial sesuai dengan tujuan kewirausahaan sosial. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan deduktif dan pengolahan data kuantitatif menggunakan Structural Equation Model (SEM). Sampel terdiri dari 612 responden yang merupakan mahasiswa dari 11 perguruan tinggi di Indonesia yang telah mengambil mata kuliah kewirausahaan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kecerdasan budaya dan modal intelektual berpengaruh positif terhadap kewirausahaan sosial, sedangkan persepsi risiko tidak berpengaruh positif. Hal ini dikarenakan mahasiswa lebih mengutamakan pembentukan dan pengembangan social entrepreneurship daripada memikirkan resiko yang dapat ditanggung bersama. Lebih lanjut, penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi bagi perguruan tinggi dan pemerintah dalam mengembangkan kewirausahaan sosial di masyarakat. Kata kunci: Kecerdasan Budaya, Modal Intelektual, Persepsi Risiko, Kewirausahaan Sosial
Engineered Sandwich‐Structured Composite Wound Dressings with Unidirectional Drainage and Anti‐Adhesion Supporting Accelerated Wound Healing

Proper management of exudate is of great clinical value for reducing wound infection and promoting wound healing, thus various dressings have been studied to address this widespread medical challenge. Herein, a novel sandwich‐structured composite wound dressing (SCWD), integrating of a superlyophobic (SLO) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) layer, a superlyophilic gauze layer, and a lyophobic PDMS layer is presented, with particular unidirectional droplet drainage and stable anti‐adhesion capabilities, which realizes effective management of wound exudate and provides a favorable environment for wound healing. Thanks to the stable SLO property on the PDMS surface with hierarchical micro/nanostructures, the continuously accumulated wound exudate at the interface between dressing and wound surface is gradually deformed, eventually passing through SLO PDMS layer through milli‐scale channels and being absorbed by gauze layer. Experimental results show that the application of SCWD can significantly reduce the occurrence of wound infection, avoid the tearing of wound tissues when replacing dressings, and accelerate wound healing by ≈20%. The combination of SCWD and lyophilized powders of stem cells supernatant (LPSCS) is verified to better accelerate the healing process. The proposed method offers great potential in clinical applications, particularly for acute trauma wound treatments.
The influence of social media marketing activities on customer loyalty: A study of e-commerce industry

Web 2.0, focusing on user involvement and cooperation, is vital for online marketing. To succeed in such a cutthroat industry, every online business must place a premium on earning and retaining clients' trust and loyalty in the digital realm. The study's objective is to ascertain whether or not electronic consumer loyalty and online trust are enhanced by social media marketing. The results of the poll, which included 596 individuals, showed that social media marketing tools had a significant effect on consumers' faith in and commitment to businesses through digital channels. The results of this study will hopefully add to what has been applied to social media marketing for online businesses.
Computing Interesting Topological Features

Many questions about homotopy are provably hard or even unsolvable in general. However, in specific settings, it is possible to efficiently test homotopy-equivalence or compute shortest cycles with prescribed homotopy. We focus on computing such "interesting" topological features in three settings. The first two results are about cycles on surfaces; the third is about classes of homotopies in R2 minus a set of obstacles; and the final result is about paths and cycles in Rips complexes. First, we examine two problems in the combinatorial surface model. Combinatorial surfaces combine properties of graphs and manifolds, making a rich set of techniques available for analysis and algorithm design. We give algorithms to find the shortest noncontractible and nonseparating cycles in a combinatorial surface in O(g3n log n) time. Our main tool is a data structure that kinetically maintains the shortest path tree as the root of the tree moves around the vertices of a single face. The total running time is O(g2n log n). By maintaining the data structure persistently, we can answer shortest path queries in O(log n) time. Next we consider finding the shortest splitting cycle in a combinatorial surface, or simple cycle which is both separating and noncontractible; such cycles divide the topology of the surface as well as the underlying graph. We prove that finding the shortest splitting cycle is NP-Hard. We then give an algorithm that runs gO(g) n log n time, which is polynomial if the surface is fixed. We then examine a very different setting, namely similarity between curves in some underlying metric space. If we imagine a homotopy between the curves as a way to morph one curve into the other, we can optimize the morphing so that the maximum distance any point must travel is minimized This is a generalization of the more well known Frechet distance, with the additional requirement that the leash to move continuously in the ambient space. We call this distance the homotopic Frechet distance. We give a polynomial time algorithm to compute the homotopic Frechet distance between two curves in the plane minus a set of polygonal obstacles. We also extend our characterization of optimal morphings to surfaces of nonpositive curvature. Finally, we examine a more fundamental homotopy problem in a different setting. A Rips complex is a simplicial complex defined by a set of points from some metric space where every pair of points within distance 1 is connected by an edge, and every (k + 1)-clique in that graph forms a k-simplex. We prove that the projection map which takes each k-simplex in the Rips complex to the convex hull of the original points in the plane induces an isomorphism between the fundamental groups of both spaces. Since the union of these convex hulls is a polygonal region in the plane, possibly with holes, our result implies that the fundamental group of a planar Rips complex is a free group, allowing us to design efficient algorithms to answer homotopy questions in planar Rips complexes.
Widely tunable THz-wave emitter with linear polarization characteristics based on antenna-integrated UTC-PD

A photomixer-based THz-wave emitter having linear polarization characteristics was developed by integrating a unitraveling- carrier photodiode (UTC-PD) and a self-complementary reflection-symmetry antenna. The fabricated module was operated at frequencies from 120 GHz to 2.6 THz, and the typical level of output power was 2.8 μW at 1 THz for a photocurrent of 9 mA at a bias voltage of -0.4 V. It also exhibited stable principal polarization axis angles within ±1° at frequencies from 200 GHz to 2 THz, and the generated signals were linearly polarized with extinction ratios below 5% at frequencies from 200 to 800 GHz. The fabricated module was successfully applied to sub-THz-wave ellipsometry without using an external polarizer.
Fluctuation of estimates in an EM procedure for categorical data

Estimates from an EM algorithm are somewhat sensitive to the initial values for the estimates, and this sensitivity is likely to increase when the model becomes larger and more complicated. In this paper, we examined how the estimates fluctuate during an EM procedure for a recursive model of categorical variables. It is found that the fluctuation takes place mostly during the initial stage of the procedure and that it can be reduced by applying a Bayes method of estimation. Both real and simulated data are used for illustration.
The discovery of a new, very strong, and widespread interstellar methanol maser line

The first detection of very strong maser emission in the 6.6 GHz 5 1 → 6 0 A + transition of methanol toward a large number of star-forming regions is reported. Essentially all 6.6 GHz maser sources found are associated with interstellar OH masers. Toward a number of sources, the 6.6 GHz emission has flux densities of several thousand Jy, exceeding that of any known OH maser. Since all known masers in the 12 GHz 2 0 → 3 −1 E transition observationally accessible to us have been found to have 6.6 GHz counterparts, the latter line is undoubtedly a Class II methanol maser transition. In all cases the 6.6 GHz luminosity exceeds the 12 GHz luminosity, often by large factors
Stellar Rotation in Kepler: Forward Modeling of the Kepler Period Distribution

The Kepler mission has made it possible to detect the signatures of surface rotation in tens of thousands of stars across many different spectral types, ages, and evolutionary states. While it is tempting to use these rotation rates as a means to determine the ages of field stars in Kepler via the gyrochronology relationships, we show that 1) only a fraction of these stars should be viable targets for the existing period-age relationships due to “contamination” from hot stars and subgiants, and 2) that apparent age trends in the rotation distributions can be explained with an activity-based detection bias. We have performed a forward modeling exercise in an effort to reproduce the observed distribution of rotation periods.