Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shared Steering Control With Predictive Risk Field Enabled by Digital Twin

A core issue of safe human-machine cooperative driving lies in dynamic assessment of the rapidly evolving driving risks. Given that, this paper proposes a shared controller for safe and human-friendly cooperative driving based on predictive risk assessment enabled by Digital Twin technologies. In the digital world, we create a fine-grained digital replica of the driving scene comprising historical motions of vehicles, as well as roadway geometries and topologies. On the basis of that, spatial-temporal interactive features are obtained with a deep learning-based model and subsequently decoded to predict future trajectories of each target vehicle in the neighborhood of the ego-vehicle. In the physical world, the predicted trajectories of neighboring vehicles are integrated into the risk distribution to construct predictive risk fields. A novel shared controller in the framework of multi-objective MPC is designed to minimize the driving risk while matching driver's commands, so that safe cooperative driving is achieved in a smooth and minimal-intervention manner. The results of driver-in-the-loop simulation experiments demonstrate the enabling role of the Digital Twin in improving the assessment of risk in highly dynamic scenes through taking the motion trends of dynamic agents into account. The results also show the superiority of the Digital Twin-based shared controller in terms of implementing cooperation in time while honoring the driver's commands whenever possible.
Novel material with narrow-band transparency window in the bulk

This paper presents the theoretical design of an artificial dielectric exhibiting narrowband frequency selective properties in the bulk without relying on periodic placement of elements. In this manner, it initiates a novel approach that bypasses the drawbacks of the traditional frequency selective surfaces (FSS), namely, unwanted passbands, dependence on excitation angle and polarization, and difficulties in conversion from planar to curved geometries. The key design elements are the concentric geometry of the inclusions and the use of Lorentzian resonant media. A discussion of physical resonant materials is presented, substantiating the credibility of the theoretical design. To illustrate the approach, a novel complex medium is synthesized as an ensemble of spherical particles composed of a lossy core coated with a highly resonant dielectric layer and embedded into a dielectric host. The resulting structure is an amorphous substance, lossy over its entire spectrum except for two narrow-band transparency windows, where it may become as lossless as desired. The parameter space of the system is thoroughly analyzed which determines the type of constitutive materials and geometries for tailor-designing the windows according to specifications (shape, positioning and overall normalization). In this sense, the lossy concentric structure forms an ideal candidate for thin absorbing films (TAFs) with extensive applications in antenna systems, RF absorbers, and anechoic chambers.
Semi-automated algorithm using directional filter for the precise quantification of non-perfusion area on widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiograms

Background The clinical application of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has been well documented in literature with its promising potential in dye-less evaluation of various retinal vascular pathologies. Recent advances in OCTA help us gather wider field of view with 12 mm × 12 mm and montage compared to the standard dye-based scans, which has a higher accuracy and sensitivity in detection of peripheral pathologies. The aim of this study is to build a semi-automated algorithm to precisely quantify the non-perfusion areas (NPAs) on widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA). Methods All subjects underwent imaging on 100 kHz SS-OCTA device acquiring 12 mm × 12 mm angiograms centered on fovea and optic disc. After a comprehensive literature review, a novel algorithm using FIJI (ImageJ) was designed to calculate the NPAs (mm2) after excluding the threshold and segmentation artifact areas from the total field of view. Segmentation and threshold artifacts were first removed from enface structure images using the spatial variance and mean filter respectively. Vessel enhancement was achieved by using ‘Subtract Background’ followed by directional filter. The cut off for Huang’s fuzzy black and white thresholding was defined from the pixel values based of the foveal avascular zone. Then, the NPAs were calculated using the ‘Analyze Particles’ command with a minimum size of ~0.15 mm2. Finally, the artifact area was subtracted from to give the corrected NPAs. Results Our cohort had 44 eyes of 30 control patients and 107 eyes of 73 patients with diabetes mellitus (both median age 55 years, P=0.89). Of 107 eyes, 21 eyes had no evidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR), 50 eyes had non-proliferative DR and 36 eyes had proliferative DR. The median NPA was 0.20 (0.07–0.40) in controls, 0.28 (0.12–0.72) in no DR, 5.54 (3.12–9.10) in non-proliferative DR and 13.38 (8.73–26.32) in proliferative DR eyes. Using mixed effects-multiple linear regression analysis adjusting for age, there was significant progressive increase in NPA with increasing DR severity. Conclusions This is one of the first study to use the directional filter for WFSS-OCTA image processing which is known to be superior to other Hessian based multiscale, linear, and non-linear filters especially for vascular analysis. Our method could greatly refine and streamline the calculation of signal void area proportion, while being much quicker and accurate than manual delineation of NPAs and subsequent estimation. This combined with the wide field of view can have a great prognostic and diagnostic clinical impact for future applications in DR and other ischemic retinal pathologies.
Analysis of wide-angle radar imaging

In wideband radar imaging, it is necessary to increase the target observation angle, that is, the imaging time to obtain high azimuth resolution. For wide-angle targets, however, migration through resolution cell will occur and the Doppler information of the scatterers will be time varying, which can lead to image defocusing in both the range and azimuth domain if the range–Doppler (RD) method is applied. Aimed at this problem, this study builds up the imaging model for steadily moving targets with a constant rotation axis. Then it compares the RD algorithm, the Keystone algorithm and the polar format algorithm with theoretical analysis and deduces the maximum observation angles that fit for these methods, respectively. Additionally, this study proposes a new algorithm for imaging of targets with large observation angles based on the complex inverse Radon transform. Instead of applying the Taylor's series approximation, this method strictly follows the signal model for scatterers with a wide observation angle and utilises curvilinear integral with phase information for image formation. Therefore it is valid in wide-angle scenarios. Finally, imaging results for both the simulated and measured data are given to analyse the performance of the available algorithms and to prove the validity of the proposed algorithm.
Distinct Emotional and Cardiac Responses to Audio Erotica between Genders

Emotional and cardiac responses to audio erotica and their gender differences are relatively unclear in the study of the human sexual response. The current study was designed to investigate gender differences regarding positive and negative emotional responses to erotica, as well as its association with cardiac response. A total of 40 healthy participants (20 women) were exposed to erotic, neutral, and happy audio segments during which emotions and heart rate changes were evaluated. Our data showed distinct emotional responses to erotica between genders, in which women reported a higher level of shame than men and rated erotic audios as less pleasant than happy audios. Meanwhile, men reported erotic and happy audios as equally pleasant. These results were independent of cardiac changes, as both sexes demonstrated comparable heart rate deceleration when exposed to erotica relative to neutral and happy stimuli. Our results highlight the role of sociocultural modulation in the emotional response to erotica.
The general problem of pole assignment

Abstract Let G be a strictly proper, rational m × l matrix, with controllability indices λ1≥λ2≥…≥λ l and observability indices μ1≥μ2≥…≥μm. Also let ϕ1 ϕ2…, ϕ l be monic polynomials, where ϕi divides ϕi−1, i = 2, 3,…,l. Does there exist a proper rational feedback matrix K which makes the invariant polynomials of the resulting closed-loop system equal to the ϕi ? What conditions will ensure that there always exists a suitable K ? These questions define the general problem of pole assignment. A number of results are proved in relation to this problem. In particular it is shown that a suitable K always exists if the degrees of the ϕ i satisfy where equality holds when k = l. This contains earlier results of Wonham, Rosenbrock, Brasch and Pearson, and others. A dual result is available in which the roles of the λ i and μ i are interchanged.
Some results on characteristics of bistatic high-range resolution profiles for target classification

This study focuses on the bistatic high-range resolution profiles (HRRPs) of high-speed and manoeuvring targets and considers how to utilise the length of the bistatic HRRP for target classification. The bistatic HRRP of a high-speed and manoeuvring target is obtained via stretch processing and motion compensation, and its distortion caused by target translation is analysed quantitatively. It is demonstrated that the distortion of bistatic HRRPs is quite different from the monostatic case. The conventional length of the bistatic HRRP cannot reflect the target length, as in the monostatic case, so a new length is defined – the bistatic bisector HRRP length – which corresponds to the length of the target's projection on the bisector of the bistatic angle. Additionally, the sensitivity of the bistatic HRRP to the target aspect and location is discussed and the bistatic bisector HRRP length is proved to be applicable for target classification through computer simulation and electromagnetic calculation.
Normalized Cut and Image Segmentation

In this project, we propose a novel approach for solving the perceptual grouping problem in vision. Rather than focusing on local features and their consistencies in the image data, our approach aims at extracting the global impression of an image. We treat image segmentation as a graph partitioning problem and propose a novel global criterion, the normalized cut, for segmenting the graph. The normalized cut criterion measures both the total dissimilarity between the different groups as well as the total similarity within the groups. We show that an efficient computational technique based on a generalized eigenvalue problem can be used to optimize this criterion. We have applied this approach to segmenting static images as well as motion sequences and found that it gives very good results.
Beyeria lateralis (Euphorbiaceae), a previously overlooked new species from Western Australia’s Mallee region

Members of the genus Beyeria Miq. (Euphorbiaceae: Ricinocarpeae: Ricinocarpinae) are shrubs with mostly small, greenish and inconspicuous, unisexual flowers. In many species all parts of the plants, including the flowers, are thickly coated in resin. The combination of being easily overlooked in the field and having flowers that are difficult to interpret in the dried condition may partly explain why almost half of the currently recognised Western Australian taxa were only described in a recent revision of the genus (Halford & Henderson 2008). Other contributory factors are likely to be an apparently high level of short-range endemism in the genus and the fact that Western Australia has never had a local taxonomist specialising in Euphorbiaceae. The only additions to the western Beyeria in the twentieth century were made by the distinguished English botanist, Herbert Airy Shaw (1971).
The Potential Mechanism of Cannabidiol (CBD) Treatment of Epilepsy in Pentetrazol (PTZ) Kindling Mice Uncovered by Multi-Omics Analysis

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the main active ingredient in the cannabis plant used for treating epilepsy and related diseases. However, how CBD ameliorates epilepsy and its effect on the hippocampus remains unknown. Herein, we evaluated how CBD ameliorates seizure degree in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced epilepsy mice after being exposed to CBD (10 mg/kg p.o). In addition, transcriptome and metabolomic analysis were performed on the hippocampus. Our results suggested that CBD could alleviate PTZ-induced seizure, of which the NPTX2, Gprc5c, Lipg, and Stc2 genes were significantly down-regulated in mice after being exposed to PTZ. Transcriptome analysis showed 97 differently expressed genes (CBD) and the PTZ groups. Metabonomic analysis revealed that compared with the PTZ group, 41 up-regulated and 67 down-regulated metabolites were identified in the hippocampus of epileptic mice exposed to CBD. The correlation analysis for transcriptome and metabolome showed that (±) 15-HETE and carnitine C6:0 were at the core of the network and were involved in the positive or negative regulation of the related genes after being treated with CBD. In conclusion, CBD ameliorates epilepsy by acting on the metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, and tuberculosis pathways in the hippocampus. Our study provided a practical basis for the therapeutic potential of treating epilepsy using CBD.
Chaos in semiconductor lasers with optical feedback: theory and experiment

The authors present a detailed theoretical and experimental investigation of the nonlinear dynamics of a semiconductor laser with optical feedback. The results show that the coherence collapsed state is a chaotic attractor and that chaos is reached for increasing feedback level through a quasi-periodic route interrupted by frequency locking. Furthermore, the coexistence of two attractors, associated with the same external cavity mode, but having different relaxation oscillation frequencies, is demonstrated and explained. >
Team Science: Advancing Women and Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color on the Pathway of Conducting Clinical Research

Introduction: Innovative discovery begins with diverse perspectives; research teams should harness this model. Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) and women are underrepresented as researchers. Team science leverages collaborative and cross-disciplinary approaches to diversify the research workforce, and introduces academic (and non-academic) faculty with limited research exposure/experience to clinical research. Methods: In 2020, two Black women academic physicians implemented an academic collaborative – COVID-19 Characteristics, Readmissions, Outcomes, and Social Determinants of Health (CROSS) – to investigate COVID-19 health inequities, with intentional recruitment of BIPOC and women. The 37 CROSS team members were of diverse races, ethnicities, sex, specialties, and disciplines, and represented eight hospitals. Team members were electronically surveyed to determine their interest, desired activities, and level of participation in research activities; concurrently, self-identified demographics (including race, ethnicity, sex, and language(s) spoken) were obtained. Results: All team members completed the survey: 78.4% (n = 29) were BIPOC and 78.4% (n = 29) were women. Team members spoke 18 languages (including English). Academic medical ranks included Assistant Professor (32.4%; n = 12), Associate Professor (16.2%; n = 6), and Full Professor (2.7%; n = 1). Each member identified desired activities (data collection, data analytics, manuscript development, abstract development/poster presentation, serving as a consultant) and the percentage of time they intended to allocate to each. Between June 2020 and February 2023, the team produced five original peer-reviewed manuscripts (including this article); five members served as first or senior authors. Twenty-one abstracts were presented at local conferences, and 10 at national and regional conferences. Five members achieved academic promotion, and team members were awarded three intramural grants resulting directly from team collaborations. Conclusion: Intentional recruitment and assessment of team members’ desired levels of participation in an integrated clinical research team is an effective strategy to engage BIPOC and women. The CROSS Collaborative is a model for diversity and inclusion in team science and clinical research.
Thermally stimulated currents in polycrystalline diamond films: Application to radiation dosimetry

Thermally stimulated currents (TSC) were studied in polycrystalline diamond films to gain information about the trap levels in this material. The TSC glow curve is composed of a dominant peak at 555 K with smaller overlapping peaks in the 400–500 K range. The analysis of the TSC isothermal decay at high temperatures shows that the peak at 555 K is related to a trap level at 1.86 eV. The dose response and the room temperature fading rate of TSC were measured in order to evaluate the potential of these films for UV radiation dosimetry. The TSC are found to increase sublinearly with the dose over three decades and to decay with the logarithm of the storage time at room temperature.
Upcycled synthesis and extraction of carbon‐encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles for gap Plasmon applications in perovskite solar cells

An effective method for obtaining large amounts of metal nanoparticles (NPs) encapsulated by carbon layers through upcycling from floating-catalyst aerosol chemical vapor-deposited carbon nanotubes is demonstrated. NPs with diameters of less than 20 μ m are selectively extracted from the synthesized carbon assortments through sonication, centrifugation, and filtration. The particles show an aggregation behavior owing to the π – π interaction between the graphitic carbon shells surrounding the iron carbides. By controlling the degree of the aggregation and arrangement, the light scattering by the gap-surface plasmon effect in perovskite solar cells is maximized. Application of the NPs to the devices increased the power conversion efficiency from 19.71% to 21.15%. The short-circuit current density ( J SC ) trend over the particle aggregation time accounts for the plasmonic effect. The devices show high stability analogue to the control devices, confirming that no metal-ion migration took place thanks to the encapsulation.
Optical Transitions and Nonreciprocity in Spatio‐Temporally Periodic Layers of Spherical Particles

An extension of the photonic layer multiple scattering methodology to dynamic spherical scatterers, which exhibit a periodic time‐varying response, is presented. The applicability of the method is demonstrated on specific examples of single‐ and bi‐layers of periodically modulated high‐refractive‐index spherical particles arranged on a square lattice. The results provide compelling evidence for strong and tunable inelastic scattering effects under the triple resonance condition, fulfilled for optical transitions between neighboring high‐Q lattice modes of the appropriate symmetry, which originate from multipolar Mie resonances. A consistent interpretation of the underlying mechanisms is provided and potential applications in the design of nonreciprocal devices are discussed.
A surrogate indicator of criticality for stochastic project networks

The study of the delay that can be caused by any activity of a stochastic project network is a key topic because of the increasing importance of risk and time control in project management. The main concept adopted for this purpose has been the notion of critical activity developed for deterministic project networks but, in this paper, the inadequacy of the concept critical activity for stochastic project networks is shown and a new surrogate indicator of criticality (SIC) is built, using a regression model applied to a large set of generated project networks. This new indicator explains more than 90% of the initial variance estimated for more than 80,000 activities belonging to a wide range of project networks (580 nets), with very different morphological types.
The association between dietary sodium intake and obesity in adults by sodium intake assessment methods: a review of systematic reviews and re-meta-analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The scientific evidence of a sodium-obesity association is limited by sodium intake assessments. Our specific aim is to synthesize the association between dietary sodium intake and obesity across the sodium intake assessments as evidenced by systematic reviews in adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS A systematic search identified systematic reviews comparing the association of dietary sodium intakes with obesity-related outcomes such as body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist circumference, and risk of (abdominal) obesity. We searched PubMed on October 24, 2022. To assess the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), we employed the ROBIS tool. RESULTS This review included 3 systematic reviews, consisting of 39 unique observational studies (35 cross-sectional studies and 4 longitudinal studies) and 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We found consistently positive associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity-related outcomes in cross-sectional studies. Studies that used 24-h urine collection indicated a greater BMI for those with higher sodium intake (mean difference = 2.27 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59–2.51; P < 0.001; I2 = 77%) compared to studies that used spot urine (mean difference = 1.34 kg/m2; 95% CI, 1.13–1.55; P < 0.001; I2 = 95%) and dietary methods (mean difference = 0.85 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1–1.51; P < 0.05; I2 = 95%). CONCLUSIONS Quantitative synthesis of the systematic reviews has shown that cross-sectional associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity outcomes were substantially different across the sodium intake assessments. We need more high-quality prospective cohort studies and RCTs using 24-h urine collection to examine the causal effects of sodium intake on obesity.
Genomic Redistribution of Metal-Response Transcription Factor-1 (MTF-1) in Cadmium Resistant Cells

(1) Background: Metal homeostasis is an important part of cellular programs and is disrupted when cells are exposed to carcinogenic heavy metals. Metal response is mediated by the metal response element transcription factor MTF-1. However, where MTF-1 binds and how that binding changes in response to heavy metals, such as cadmium, remains unknown. (2) Methods: To investigate the effects of prolonged cadmium exposure on the genomic distribution of MTF-1, we performed MTF-1 CUT&RUN, RNA-seq and ATAC-seq on control and cadmium-resistant cells. (3) Results: Changes in MTF-1 binding primarily occur distal to the transcription start sight. Newly occupied MTF-1 sites are enriched for FOS/JUN DNA binding motifs, while regions that lose MTF-1 binding in cadmium are enriched for the FOX transcription factor family member DNA binding sites. (4) Conclusions: Relocalization of MTF-1 to new genomic loci does not alter the accessibility of these locations. Our results support a model whereby MTF-1 is relocalized to accessible FOS/JUN-bound genomic locations in response to cadmium.