Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ripple Steering Interleaved Boost PFC Converter Analysis, Simulation, and Experimentation

Abstract A zero-voltage-transition (ZVT)-based ripple steering interleaved boost converter is proposed in this paper for power factor correction. The ZVT auxiliary circuit enables soft-switching, reducing the current input ripple and the stress on the main circuit device. The proposed converter achieves better performance in terms of THD and power factor with fewer elements, reducing size and cost. A non-linear current control strategy is employed to suppress harmonics in the supply current. The theoretical study and design are validated through simulations and laboratory tests. Automatic current sharing characteristic is an added advantage when interleaved boost converters are employed. In this work, the devices in the semiconductor power are soft switched and consequently, the losing switches are eliminated, thereby making the across the switchers there is stress voltage which is very less. The results show that the converter achieves ZVT operation, reducing switching losses and improving efficiency. The measured supply current THD is 3.029%, and the switching frequency hardly affects the soft switching performance. The converter proposed reduces the stress on the devices and significantly lowers the switching loss when compared to hard switching. The proposed ZVT-based IBC accomplishes soft switching operation and lessens the number of power devices, improving power factor and efficiency.
Design of ultra-wideband gradient line coupler based on optimization algorithm

Because of the discontinuity at the node of broadband multisection directional coupler, its performance is poor at high frequency. Based on this structure, the gradient line coupler is developed. In order to avoid discontinuity and achieve the minimum design error, this paper uses optimization algorithm to calculate and optimize the structure of the tapered line coupler. A 6-18GHz gradient line coupler is designed by mathematical formula and genetic algorithm, and uses the three layers bias stripline as the transmission line. After optimization and simulation, the results show that the return loss is above 16dB, the coupling is 3.09 ± 0.25dB, and the phase difference is 91 ± 2°. This design method has better results than other methods.
Can Patients with HER2-Low Breast Cancer Benefit from Anti-HER2 Therapies? A Review

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) poses a severe threat to the health of women worldwide. Currently, different therapeutic regimens are used for BC according to the pathological classification of HER2-positive or HER2-negative. Clinical reports of HER2-low expression indicate that the condition is HER2-negative, which was ineligible for HER2-targeted therapy. In contrast to HER2-zero tumors, however, HER2-low BC is a heterogeneous disease with unique genetic characteristics, prognoses, and different therapeutic responses. Clinical efficacy has been demonstrated by numerous potent and innovative anti-HER2 medications, particularly antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs). Certain ADCs, including T-DXd, have demonstrated good efficacy in some trials either used alone or in conjunction with other medications. To enhance outcomes in individuals with HER2-low BC, immunotherapy and other treatments are frequently combined with HER2-targeted therapy. There are also alternative strategies that target both HER2 and HER3 or other antigenic sites. We hope more individuals with HER2-low BC will benefit from more precise treatment regimens in the future. This article provides a review of existing research and clinical trials.
Motor and Cognitive Modulation of a Single Session of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Post Stroke Patients: A Pilot Study

Objective: The aim of the present study is to explore whether a single session of transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) can enhance the ipsilesional, and contralesional upper limb motor functions as well as cognitive functions in stroke patients. The effects of the stimulation were evaluated through two different tasks: the box and blocks test (BB), indexing manual dexterity, and the Go/No-go task, a visuomotor paradigm used to assess both motor readiness and response inhibition. Tests were administered without tVNS, during tVNS and during sham tVNS. Results: The BB showed a statistical difference for both contralesional side (p = 0.05) between Basal-Real condition (p = 0.042) and ipsilesional side (p = 0.001) between Basal-Real (p = 0.008) and for Real-Sham (p = 0.005). Any statistical difference was found for the mean latencies in the three conditions of the Go/No-go test. Conclusion: A single session of tVNS seems to improve upper limb motor functions but not cognitive functions in post-stroke patients, despite a positive trend was detected.
Straight-Line Target Tracking for Unmanned Surface Vehicles

This paper considers the subject of straight-line target tracking for unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Target-tracking represents motion control scenarios where no information about the target behavior is known in advance, i.e., the path that the target traverses is not defined apriori. Specifically, this work presents the design of a motion control system which enables an underactuated USV to track a target that moves in a straight line at high speed. The motion control system employs a guidance principle originally developed for interceptor missiles, as well as a novel velocity controller inspired by maneuverability and agility concepts found in fighter aircraft literature. The performance of the suggested design is illustrated through full-scale USV experiments in the Trondheimsfjord.
Ocean acidification has a strong effect on communities living on plastic in mesocosms

We conducted a mesocosm experiment to examine how ocean acidification (OA) affects communities of prokaryotes and eukaryotes growing on single‐use drinking bottles in subtropical eutrophic waters of the East China Sea. Based on 16S rDNA gene sequencing, simulated high CO2 significantly altered the prokaryotic community, with the relative abundance of the phylum Planctomycetota increasing by 49%. Under high CO2, prokaryotes in the plastisphere had enhanced nitrogen dissimilation and ureolysis, raising the possibility that OA may modify nutrient cycling in subtropical eutrophic waters. The relative abundance of pathogenic and animal parasite bacteria also increased under simulated high CO2. Our results show that elevated CO2 levels significantly affected several animal taxa based on 18S rDNA gene sequencing. For example, Mayorella amoebae were highly resistant, whereas Labyrinthula were sensitive to OA. Thus, OA may alter plastisphere food chains in subtropical eutrophic waters.
An Adaptive Metadata Management Scheme Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning for Large-Scale Distributed File Systems

A major challenge confronting today’s distributed metadata management schemes is how to meet the dynamic requirements of various applications through effectively mapping and migrating metadata nodes to different metadata servers (MDS’s). Most of the existing works dynamically reallocate nodes to different servers adopting history-based coarse-grained methods, failing to make a timely and efficient update on the distribution of nodes. In this paper, we present the first deep reinforcement learning-leveraged distributed metadata management scheme, AdaM, to address the aforementioned dilemma. AdaM is an adaptive fine-grained metadata management scheme that trains an actor-critic network to migrate “hot” metadata nodes to different MDS’s based on its observations of the current “states” (i.e., access pattern, the structure of namespace tree and current distribution of nodes on MDS’s). Adaptive to varying access patterns, AdaM can automatically migrate hot metadata nodes among servers to keep load balancing while maintaining metadata locality. Besides, we propose a self-adaptive metadata cache policy, which dynamically combines the two strategies of managing caches on the server side and the client side to gain better query performance. Last but not least, we design a distributed metadata processing 2PC Protocol called MST-based 2PC to ensure data consistency. Experiments on a real-world dataset demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method over other schemes.
Hyalofast Cartilage Repair Surgery with a Full Load-Bearing Rehabilitation Program One Day after Operation Reduces the Time for Professional Athletes to Return to Play

Background and Objectives: This study evaluated the effectiveness of Hyalofast cartilage repair surgery with an early, full load-bearing rehabilitation program one day after the operation for reducing the time needed for professional athletes to return to play. Materials and Methods: This prospective study included 49 patients aged between 19 and 38 years who had undergone surgical reconstruction of cartilage using the microfracture technique combined with a Hyalofast scaffold. All patients were active professional athletes. Early rehabilitation was implemented from the first postoperative day, fully loading the operated limb. A clinical evaluation was based on the KOOS and SF-36 questionnaires used during subsequent follow-up visits. All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate the effect of the surgery after one year. Results: The clinical results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the number of complaints about pain and in the quality of life of the patients, measured in all of the applied scales, with comparisons made between six months or one year post-surgery and pre-surgery. Importantly for athletes, the parameter related to sports and recreation improved from 14 ± 11.1 to 95 ± 7.7 6 months after surgery and to 99.8 ± 1.8 one year after surgery. The overall quality of life score improved from 30 ± 18 to 88 ± 8.8 one year after surgery. Conclusions: These results show that this approach significantly shortened the time needed for the athletes to return to sports at the same level as before the surgery (athletes returned to sports in approximately 2.5–3 months). The mean follow-up time was 19.75 months. This technique can be considered a viable option for the treatment of cartilage injuries in professional athletes, allowing them to return to play more quickly in a safe and healthy way.
PTHrP Modulates the Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation of Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia-Derived BMSCs

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a skeletal stem cell disease caused by mutations in the guanine nucleotide-binding protein, alpha-stimulating activity polypeptide (GNAS) gene, which results in the abnormal accumulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and hyperactivation of downstream signaling pathways. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is secreted by the osteoblast lineage and is involved in various physiological and pathological activities of bone. However, the association between the abnormal expression of PTHrP and FD, as well as its underlying mechanism, remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that FD patient-derived bone marrow stromal cells (FD BMSCs) expressed significantly higher levels of PTHrP during osteogenic differentiation and exhibited greater proliferation capacity but impaired osteogenic ability compared to normal control patient-derived BMSCs (NC BMSCs). Continuous exogenous PTHrP exposure on the NC BMSCs promoted the FD phenotype in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Through the PTHrP/cAMP/PKA axis, PTHrP could partially influence the proliferation and osteogenesis capacity of FD BMSCs via the overactivation of the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway. Furthermore, PTHrP not only directly modulated cAMP/PKA/CREB transduction but was also demonstrated as a transcriptional target of CREB. This study provides novel insight into the possible pathogenesis involved in the FD phenotype and enhances the understanding of its molecular signaling pathways, offering theoretical evidence for the feasibility of potential therapeutic targets for FD.
A Study of Lexicographic Expected Utility

A relation L on a set of real vectors a, b, . is a lexicographic order when a L b if and only if a \ne b and for every j such that b j j there is an i i i . A simple and direct derivation is given for a multidimensional utility function whose lexicographically-ordered expected utility vectors preserve an individual's preference order on a set of probability measures. All but one of Hausner's axioms yield an equivalence on the set of preference intervals, and the resulting bet of equivalence classes is shown to account for the hierarchy in the lexicographic structure. A lexicographic utility representation is noted for the finite-dimensional case. When Hausner's other axiom is added, his theorem for lexicographic linear utility is obtained. This theorem is applied to sets of simple and discrete probability measures.
How Agribusiness Uses Climate Predictions: Implications for Climate Research and Provision of Predictions

Abstract The paper presents an analysis of climate prediction needs and uses within six important subsegments of the agribusiness sector. Results are based on a mail survey of 114 managers. Although nearly 70% of the respondents indicated some use of climate predictions in the last year, only 1 in 8 of the respondents used that information in a specific decision. Lack of sufficient accuracy and prediction lead time were identified as two important impediments to current use of climate predictions. Estimates of necessary accuracy levels and lead time are reported both for the group average and by segments of need. Recommendations are offered regarding research needs to enhance climate prediction and activities of the government and the private sector to improve use of climate predictions.
Optimal design of CPM decoders based on state-space partitioning

The joint optimization of decoder complexity and error performance is considered for partial-response continuous phase modulation (CPM). The operation of the decoder is defined by a state-space partition (SSP), by which the states are divided into C classes. Proceeding breadth-first in the trellis, the decoder selects the single best path for each state-class. A novel decoder design criterion is formulated, based on two parameters: C, which determines the computational effort, and a distance parameter d'/sub min/, which characterizes the error event probability. A systematic procedure for obtaining the optimal SSP subject to the new criterion is presented. <<ETX>>
Implied costs in loss networks

Implied costs in loss networks are measures of the rate of change of an objective function with respect to the parameters of the network. This paper considers these costs and the costs predicted by the Erlang fixed-point approximation. We derive exact expressions for the implied costs and consider the asymptotic accuracy of the approximation. We show that the approximation is asymptotically valid in some cases but is not valid in one important limiting regime. We also show that a linearity approximation for the implied costs is asymptotically correct when taken over suitable subsets of links.
Left atrial appendage strain predicts subclinical atrial fibrillation in embolic strokes of undetermined source

Abstract Aims Left atrial (LA) strain is promising in prediction of clinical atrial fibrillation (AF) in stroke patients. However, prediction of subclinical AF is critical in patients with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate novel LA and left atrial appendage (LAA) strain markers in prediction of subclinical AF in ESUS patients. Methods and results A total of 185 patients with ESUS, mean age 68 ± 13years, 33% female, without diagnosed AF, were included. LAA and LA function by conventional echocardiographic parameters and reservoir strain (Sr), conduit strain (Scd), contraction strain (Sct), and mechanical dispersion (MD) of Sr were assessed with transoesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography. Subclinical AF was detected by insertable cardiac monitors during follow-up. LAA strain was impaired in 60 (32%) patients with subclinical AF compared to those with sinus rhythm: LAA-Sr, 19.2 ± 4.5% vs. 25.6 ± 6.5% (P < 0.001); LAA-Scd, −11.0 ± 3.1% vs. −14.4 ± 4.5% (P < 0.001); and LAA-Sct, −7.9 ± 4.0% vs. −11.2 ± 4% (P < 0.001), respectively, while LAA-MD was increased, 34 ± 24 ms vs. 26 ± 20 ms (P = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in phasic LA strain or LA-MD. By ROC analyses, LAA-Sr was highly significant in prediction of subclinical AF and showed the best AUC of 0.80 (95% CI 0.73–0.87) with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 73% (P < 0.001). LAA-Sr and LAA-MD were both independent and incremental markers of subclinical AF in ESUS patients. Conclusion LAA function by strain and mechanical dispersion predicted subclinical AF in ESUS patients. These novel echocardiographic markers may improve risk stratification in ESUS patients.
CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to confer turnip mosaic virus (TuMV) resistance in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa)

Abstract Genome editing approaches, particularly the CRISPR/Cas9 technology, are becoming state-of-the-art for trait development in numerous breeding programs. Significant advances in improving plant traits are enabled by this influential tool, especially for disease resistance, compared to traditional breeding. One of the potyviruses, the turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), is the most widespread and damaging virus that infects Brassica spp. worldwide. We generated the targeted mutation at the eIF(iso)4E gene in the TuMV-susceptible cultivar “Seoul” using CRISPR/Cas9 to develop TuMV-resistant Chinese cabbage. We detected several heritable indel mutations in the edited T0 plants and developed T1 through generational progression. It was indicated in the sequence analysis of the eIF(iso)4E-edited T1 plants that the mutations were transferred to succeeding generations. These edited T1 plants conferred resistance to TuMV. It was shown with ELISA analysis the lack of accumulation of viral particles. Furthermore, we found a strong negative correlation (r = −0.938) between TuMV resistance and the genome editing frequency of eIF(iso)4E. Consequently, it was revealed in this study that CRISPR/Cas9 technique can expedite the breeding process to improve traits in Chinese cabbage plants.
AERODYNAMIC NOISE PREDICTION OF THE OPEN AXIAL FLOW FAN

The vortices flow characters inside the open axial flow fan and the associated aerodynamic noise were studied using large-eddy simulation and the FW-H equations.The far field aerodynamic noise was predicted and the spectra of the noise radiated from various rotor surfaces were discussed. Calculation results indicate that both the tip vortex and the leading edge separation vortex formed near the suction surface induce large pressure fluctuation at the corresponding position on suction surface,which forms the main noise source.The noise level radiated from the suction surface can be reduced by weakening the vortices flow nearby.The dominant source for low-speed axial flow fan's noise is the broadband noise.
HYPERBOLIC CONE-SURFACES, GENERALIZED MARKOFF MAPS, SCHOTTKY GROUPS AND McSHANE'S IDENTITY

Following Bowditch [8], we study representations in SL(2,C) of the free group Γ on two generators, and the connection with generalized Markoff maps. We show that Bowditch’s Q-conditions for generalized Markoff maps are sufficient for the generalized McShane identity to hold for the corresponding representations.
Chromosomes of Asian Cyprinid Fishes: Genomic Differences in Conserved Karyotypes of ‘Poropuntiinae’ (Teleostei, Cyprinidae)

Simple Summary All Poropuntiinae fish species are diploid and have 50 chromosomes in their cells; however, their karyotypes differ (the organization of chromosomes according to size and shape). The goal of this study is to compare the genomic differences between their conserved karyotypes using conventional and molecular cytogenetic methods. We found distinct patterns in the distribution of ribosomal DNA and microsatellites, indicating that, while their karyotypes are conserved, these fishes have species-specific patterns. Our comparative genomic hybridization experiment reveals that any of their repetitive DNA content matches, highlighting the differences between such species. This study adds to our understanding of chromosome evolution in Cyprinidae fishes, which include diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid species. Abstract The representatives of cyprinid lineage ‘Poropuntiinae’ with 16 recognized genera and around 100 species form a significant part of Southeast Asian ichthyofauna. Cytogenetics are valuable when studying fish evolution, especially the dynamics of repetitive DNAs, such as ribosomal DNAs (5S and 18S) and microsatellites, that can vary between species. Here, karyotypes of seven ‘poropuntiin’ species, namely Cosmochilus harmandi, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, Hypsibarbus malcomi, H. wetmorei, Mystacoleucus chilopterus, M. ectypus, and Puntioplties proctozysron occurring in Thailand were examined using conventional and molecular cytogenetic protocols. Variable numbers of uni- and bi-armed chromosomes indicated widespread chromosome rearrangements with a stable diploid chromosome number (2n) of 50. Examination with fluorescence in situ hybridization using major and minor ribosomal probes showed that Cosmochilus harmandi, Cyclocheilichthys apogon, and Puntioplites proctozystron all had one chromosomal pair with 5S rDNA sites. However, more than two sites were found in Hypsibarbus malcolmi, H. wetmorei, Mystacoleucus chilopterus, and M. ectypus. The number of chromosomes with 18S rDNA sites varied amongst their karyotypes from one to three; additionally, comparative genomic hybridization and microsatellite patterns varied among species. Our results reinforce the trend of chromosomal evolution in cyprinifom fishes, with major chromosomal rearrangements, while conserving their 2n.
Improving the auxiliary particle filter: a statistical perspective

and • finally, let {(ξ 0:k+1, ω j k+1)} MN j=1 approximate φ0:k+1. •Optionally, resample, at the end of each loop,N particles multinomially according to the normalized weights ω j k+1, 1 ≤ j ≤ MN , in order to obtain evenly weighted particles. Crucial problem: How should the first-stage weights τ i k , tk(ξ i 0:k) be chosen? Is there an optimal choice? At present only ad hoc solutions: • [2]: Take tk ≡ 1, yielding the so-called bootstrap particle filter ; • [3]: Aim at evenly distributed second-stage weights by letting, e.g., for the case Rk ≡ Q, tk(x0:k) = g[yk+1| ∫
APC Loss Prevents Doxorubicin-Induced Cell Death by Increasing Drug Efflux and a Chemoresistant Cell Population in Breast Cancer

Chemoresistance is a major health concern affecting cancer patients. Resistance is multifactorial, with one mechanism being the increased expression of ABC transporters (such as MDR1 and MRP1), which are drug efflux transporters capable of preventing intracellular accumulation of drugs and cell death. Our lab showed that the loss of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC) caused an intrinsic resistance to doxorubicin (DOX), potentially through an enhanced tumor-initiating cell (TIC) population and the increased activation of STAT3 mediating the expression of MDR1 in the absence of WNT being activated. Here, in primary mouse mammary tumor cells, the loss of APC decreased the accumulation of DOX while increasing the protein levels of MDR1 and MRP1. We demonstrated decreased APC mRNA and protein levels in breast cancer patients compared with normal tissue. Using patient samples and a panel of human breast cancer cell lines, we found no significant trend between APC and either MDR1 or MRP1. Since the protein expression patterns did not show a correlation between the ABC transporters and the expression of APC, we evaluated the drug transporter activity. In mouse mammary tumor cells, the pharmacological inhibition or genetic silencing of MDR1 or MRP1, respectively, decreased the TIC population and increased DOX-induced apoptosis, supporting the use of ABC transporter inhibitors as therapeutic targets in APC-deficient tumors.