Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Production of Potential Ice Nuclei by Gasoline Engines

Abstract Potential ice nuclei, particles which become ice nuclei when properly treated, are produced in automotive exhaust. They are activated by iodine vapor and are believed to be lead particles originating from the tetraethyl lead mixed with the fuel. The sensitivity of nucleation measurements provides an excellent method of counting submicron lead particles and monitoring the automotive component of air pollution. Measurements reported here show that the production of potential ice nuclei by a gasoline engine is at least 2 × 107 per gram Pb at −10C, 1 × 1010 per gram Pb at −15C and 1 × 1012 per gram Pb at −20C. Some simple calculations are presented, showing that large enough numbers of potential ice nuclei are produced by the routine burning of gasoline to be useful in cloud and weather modification research. In particular, a DC-6 aircraft burning 6 gal min−1 of gasoline should produce at least 4 × 1011 nuclei sec−1 at −20C. It is demonstrated that ethylene diiodide can be added to the gasoline suppl.
Removal of ethnicity adjustment for creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate equations

Creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate equations (eGFRcreatinine) are used to measure excretory kidney function in clinical practice. Despite inter and intra-patient variability, eGFRcreatinine has excellent clinical utility and provides the basis for the classification system for chronic kidney disease (CKD), for kidney function monitoring, treatment interventions and referral pathways. The 4-variable modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) eGFRcreatinine equation was introduced in 2000 and recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2008. Subsequently, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) eGFRcreatinine equation was introduced in 2009 and is more accurate than MDRD in patients with mild and moderate CKD. In 2014, NICE recommended that CKD-EPI eGFRcreatinine replace MDRD eGFRcreatinine in routine clinical practice across England. Both equations originally incorporated adjustments for age, gender and ethnicity. However, the evidence for ethnicity adjustment has been increasingly questioned, and in 2021 NICE recommended that kidney function should be estimated by CKD-EPI eGFRcreatinine without using ethnicity adjustment. Recently, a CKD-EPI equation has been presented without ethnicity adjustment; however, this has not been validated outside of North America and NICE continues to recommend CKD-EPI 2009. We review the status of eGFRcreatinine in clinical practice, including the limitations of eGFRcreatinine and the rationale for removal of ethnicity adjustment and the potential impact of this change on clinical care for patients with kidney disease.
Evidence for Solid Planets from Kepler's Near-Resonance Systems

Abstract The multiple-planet systems discovered by the Kepler mission show an excess of planet pairs with period ratios just wide of exact commensurability for first-order resonances like 2:1 and 3:2. In principle, these planet pairs could be in resonance if their orbital eccentricities are sufficiently small, because the width of first-order resonances diverges in the limit of vanishingly small eccentricity. We consider a widely-held scenario in which pairs of planets were captured into first-order resonances by migration due to planet-disk interactions, and subsequently became detached from the resonances, due to tidal dissipation in the planets. In the context of this scenario, we find a constraint on the ratio of the planet's tidal dissipation function and Love number that implies that some of the Kepler planets are likely solid. However, tides are not strong enough to move many of the planet pairs to the observed separations, suggesting that additional processes are at play.
A field study of nocturnal stratocumulus; III. High resolution radiative and microphysical observations

High resolution observations from a tethered balloon of nocturnal stratocumulus on three occasions are presented. Measurements of the microphysical properties of the clouds (drop‐size distributions, concentrations and liquid water contents) were obtained with an Axially Scattering Spectrometer Probe (ASSP). A ground based 95 GHz radiometer was used to infer the integrated liquid water path through the cloud. In the two thick clouds studied the drop‐size data show an almost monotonic increase of mean radius from cloud base to top. The liquid water content increases with height above cloud base at slightly less than the adiabatic rate and shows considerable variability towards cloud top. The observations support the concept of the inhomogeneous mixing of the cloudy air with the dry air entrained at the cloud top. Measurements were also made of infrared net radiative fluxes, and very good agreement is found with the theoretical fluxes from a high resolution radiative transfer scheme, using the ASSP drop spectra and liquid water contents, scaled by the 95 GHz radiometer data.
True Molecular Composites: Unusual Structure and Properties of PDMS-MQ Resin Blends

Poly(dimethyl siloxane)-MQ rubber molecular composites are easy to prepare, as it does not require a heterophase mixing of ingredients. They are characterized by perfect homogeneity, so they are very promising as rubber materials with controllable functional characteristics. The manuscript reveals that MQ resin particles can significantly, more than by two orders of magnitude, enhance the mechanical properties of poly(dimethyl siloxane), and, as fillers, they are not inferior to aerosils. In the produced materials, MQ particles play a role of the molecular entanglements, so rubber molecular weight and MQ filler concentration are the parameters determining the structure and properties of such composites. Moreover, a need for a saturation of the reactive groups and minimization of the surface energy of MQ particles also determine the size and distribution of the filler at different filler rates. An unusual correlation of the concentration of MQ component and the interparticle spacing was revealed. Based on the extraordinary mechanical properties and structure features, a model of the structure poly(dimethyl siloxane)-rubber molecular composites and of its evolution in the process of stretching, was proposed.
Bacterial Biofilm And Role In The Pathogenesis Of Disease

Background: Bacterial biofilms may play a role in pathogenesis which has led to increased focus on identifying diseases that may be associated with biofilms. Chronic biofilm infections are usually chronic in nature, as the bacteria that live in biofilms can be resilient to both the immune system and antibiotics and other treatments. Current knowledge of how biofilms contribute to disease pathogenesis suggests a number of different mechanisms. This extends from biofilms being merely a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, to playing a more active role, for example, by contributing to inflammation. This knowledge is important for developing effective treatment strategies for such infections.
Progress in passive submillimeter-wave video imaging

Since 2007 we are developing passive submillimeter-wave video cameras for personal security screening. In contradiction to established portal-based millimeter-wave scanning techniques, these are suitable for stand-off or stealth operation. The cameras operate in the 350GHz band and use arrays of superconducting transition-edge sensors (TES), reflector optics, and opto-mechanical scanners. Whereas the basic principle of these devices remains unchanged, there has been a continuous development of the technical details, as the detector array, the scanning scheme, and the readout, as well as system integration and performance. The latest prototype of this camera development features a linear array of 128 detectors and a linear scanner capable of 25Hz frame rate. Using different types of reflector optics, a field of view of 1×2m2 and a spatial resolution of 1–2 cm is provided at object distances of about 5–25m. We present the concept of this camera and give details on system design and performance. Demonstration videos show its capability for hidden threat detection and illustrate possible application scenarios.
Applications of electro-optic polymers to optical interconnects

Electro-optic (EO) polymers have emerged as a new class of materials for integrated optics and lightwave device applications. We provide a concise engineering description of the state of EO polymer materials development and then introduce their application to switchable, guided wave optical interconnections. Such interconnections potentially offer higher routing density, lower noise, lower propagation delay, and the simplification of many problems encountered in the design of high-frequency on- and off-module connections for high-performance electronic systems.
Temperature driven transition from giant to tunneling magneto-resistance in Fe3O4/Alq3/Co spin Valve: Role of Verwey transition of Fe3O4

We demonstrate interface energy level engineering, exploiting the modification in energy band structure across Verwey transition temperature (TV) of Fe3O4, in a Fe3O4(111)/Alq3/Co spin-valve (SV). I-V characteristics exhibit a transition in conduction mode from carrier injection to tunneling across TV of Fe3O4 electrode. Both giant magneto-resistance (GMR) and tunneling MR (TMR) have been observed in a single SV, below and above TV, respectively. We have achieved room-temperature SV operation in our device. We believe that the tuning of charge gap at Fermi level across TV resulting in a corresponding tuning of conduction mode and a unique cross over from GMR to TMR.
Older Adults With Functional Limitations and Their Use of Telehealth and During COVID-19

We investigated the association between functional limitations and telehealth use among older Medicare beneficiaries in 2020. We use logistic regression models to estimate associations between functional limitations and the use of technological tools (i.e., computers, Internet, telehealth). We consider Internet use and informal technological support as moderators for telehealth use. Respondents (N = 3151; Mage = 78.31) with more functional limitations were more likely to use video-based telehealth. Net of functional limitations, those with a consistent Internet use were more likely to use emails/texts/portal messages to communicate with a healthcare provider. Further, more functional limitations were associated with a higher probability of using emails/texts/portal messages, but only among respondents who received informal technological support. Healthcare access may have been more difficult for older adults with functional limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those with little prior experience with the Internet, or those without friends/family to provide technological support.
Establishing Normative Values to Determine the Prevalence of Biochemical Hyperandrogenism in Premenopausal Women of Different Ethnicities from Eastern Siberia

Androgen assessment is a key element for diagnosing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and defining a “normal” level of circulating androgens is critical for epidemiological studies. We determined the upper normal limits (UNLs) for androgens in a population-based group of premenopausal “healthy control” women, overall and by ethnicity (Caucasian and Asian), in the cross-sectional Eastern Siberia PCOS Epidemiology and Phenotype (ESPEP) Study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05194384) conducted in 2016–2019. Overall, we identified a “healthy control” group consisting of 143 healthy premenopausal women without menstrual dysfunction, hirsutism, polycystic ovaries, or medical disorders. We analyzed serum total testosterone (TT) by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and DHEAS, sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), TSH, prolactin, and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP) were assessed with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The UNLs for the entire population for the TT, free androgen index (FAI), and DHEAS were determined as the 98th percentiles in healthy controls as follows: 67.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 48.1, 76.5) ng/dl, 5.4 (3.5, 14.0), and 355 (289, 371) μg/dl, respectively. The study results demonstrated that the UNLs for TT and FAI varied by ethnicity, whereas the DHEAS UNLs were comparable in the ethnicities studied.
Derivation of finite-size scaling for mean-field models from the Burgers equation

The magnetization per spin for a class of models with the Husimi-Temperley type interaction satisfies the Burgers equation with a diffusion coefficient 1/2N, where N is the number of particles. The role of time is played by the dimensionless interaction parameter, and the role of spatial coordinate by the dimensionless field variable. Both thermodynamic scaling and finite-size scaling for the magnetization near the critical point are derived from a family of self-similar solutions of the corresponding Burgers equation. The models are specified by the initial conditions which are chosen to correspond in the high-temperature region to a vanishing interaction constant and in the low-temperature region to an infinitely large interaction constant.
Distributed Algorithm for Nonsmooth Resource Allocation Problems With Nonlinear Constraints and Its Application to Smart Grids

In this article, we study nondifferentiable resource allocation problems (RAPs). In our problem, the decisions of agents are subject to coupling inequality constraints, local inequality constraints, and local convex set constraints. In contrast to existing RAPs, the cost functions are nonsmooth and the inequality constraints are nonsmooth and nonlinear in our problem. Based on differential inclusions and projection methods, we exploit a fully distributed subgradient-based resource allocation algorithm to optimally allocate the network resources. With the help of the set-valued LaSalle invariance principle, we prove the global convergence of the algorithm to the optimal resource allocation of our problem. Finally, our method is applied to the economic dispatch problems of smart grids. With our method, the generations of generating units converge to the optimal power generation.
Kindleberger, Mehrling y ese Premio Nobel

Este escrito sostiene que el premio “Nobel” de economía de este año celebra uno de los aspectos más débiles del pensamiento macroeconómico moderno: su limitada capacidad para entender la inestabilidad macrofinanciera del capitalismo moderno. En vez de desafiar la obstinada negativa de tomar en serio a los pensadores que afrontan la importancia esencial de las finanzas y sus peligros para el mundo moderno, como Hyman Minsky o Hyun Song Shin, hace alarde de la tendencia a ignorarlos. Y argumenta que si el Comité del premio hubiese querido galardonar a quienes procuran entender la dinámica del sistema financiero global moderno y sus interconexiones con la economía real, debería habérselo entregado al equipo del BIS, que se remonta a la época de William White, y a economistas académicos asociados al BIS como Hyun Song Shin.
The effect of medical cannabis in inflammatory bowel disease: analysis from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry

ABSTRACT Objectives Cannabis-based medicinal products (CBMPs) have shown promising preclinical activity in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, clinical trials have not demonstrated effects on inflammation. This study aims to analyze changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and adverse events in IBD patients prescribed CBMPs. Methods A case series from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry was performed. Primary outcomes included changes from baseline in the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Single-Item Sleep Quality Scale (SQS), and EQ-5D-5L Index score at 1 and 3 months. Statistical significance was defined using p < 0.050. Results Seventy-six patients with Crohn’s disease (n = 51; 67.11%) and ulcerative colitis (n = 25; 32.89%) were included. The median baseline SIBDQ score improved at 1 and 3 months. EQ-5D-5L index values, GAD-7, and SQS also improved after 3 months (p < 0.050). Sixteen (21.05%) patients reported adverse events with the majority being classified as mild to moderate in severity. Conclusion Patients treated with CBMPs for refractory symptoms of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis demonstrated a short-term improvement in IBD-specific and general HRQoL. Prior cannabis consumers reported greater improvement compared to cannabis-naïve individuals.
A note on the impulse due to a vapour bubble near a boundary

Abstract An expression for the impluse due to a vapour (cavitation) bubble is obtained in terms of an integral over a nearby boundary. Examples for a point source near a free surface, rigid boundary, inertial boundary and a fluid of different density are considered. It appears that the sign of the impluse determines the direction a cavitation bubble will migrate and the direction of the high speed liquid jet during the collapse phase. The theory may explain recent observations on buoyant bubbles near an interface between two fluids of different densities.
Finite element modelling for mitigation of residual stress and distortion in macro-scale powder bed fusion components

Powder bed fusion (PBF) has attracted significant attention in many applications due to its capability of fabricating complex and customized metal parts. However, the potential for high inherent residual stresses that produce distortion in additive manufacturing (AM) components prevents more widespread application of the AM technique. Efficient and accurate prediction of residual stress and distortion at component-level (macro-scale) is a complex task. Although process-level (meso-scale) thermo-mechanical simulations have resulted in accurate predictions for small-scale parts, the computational times (typically weeks) and memory requirements for application of such methods to component-level are prohibitive. The main goal of the current study therefore is to present an efficient and accurate finite element (FE) simulation method with detailed validation for PBF manufacture of a complex 3D Inconel 625 benchmark bridge component (macro-scale). The simulation results are successfully validated against the published benchmark experimental measurements from neutron diffraction, X-ray diffraction (XRD), contour method and coordinate measurement machine (CMM) by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratory. A key additional novelty of the present work is the investigation of the effects of substrate removal and preheating on mitigation of residual stresses and distortions using the validated model. Ultimately, these results will guide the selection of optimal manufacturing protocols and integration of the FE-based AM modelling for industrial application with complex geometries. The ultimate aim of the present work is to facilitate fatigue life prediction of complex geometry AM components including residual stress effects, for example, conformally-cooled injection moulding dies (for different material than Inconel 625).
Metal–Organic Frameworks and Gas Hydrate Synergy: A Pandora’s Box of Unanswered Questions and Revelations

Recent research on the role of nanomaterials in gas hydrate science and a few review papers have highlighted the positive synergies between gas hydrates and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for gas separation and storage. Metal–organic frameworks consist of metal nodes and organic linkers connected by coordination bonds to form programmable modular structures that are symmetric and have tunable properties. Metal–organic frameworks, also known as microporous or nanoporous materials, provide a large pore volume and surface area suitable for capturing, separating and storing gases through physisorption mechanisms. However, water and water interactions within the nanopores, open metal sites, coordination bonds and surface make metal–organic framework usage in water-based technologies an exciting research topic. Water-based gas hydrate technology could be potential technology that can take advantage of MOF tunable properties, such as a large surface area and a high pore volume, to improve its efficiency and formation mechanism. For the authors of this review, the synergy of MOFs and gas hydrates resembles a Pandora’s box of unanswered questions and revelations. Therefore, this review examines the current state of the art, including present research on gas storage and separation using gas hydrates in the presence of a MOF. In addition, critical technical aspects, such as the water stability of MOFs, the nano confinement effect and water properties in the nanopores, are presented to stimulate critical thinking among scientists in hydrate research to fully exploit the synergies between MOFs and hydrates. This review ends with the authors’ opinion on potential research areas, unanswered questions and practical implications and prospects.
Spectroscopic evaluation of Tm-doped potassium lead halides for 2μm laser cooling applications

Tm3+ doped solids have shown promising results for laser cooling applications at IR wavelengths of ~2 μm. The extended IR fluorescence of the involved Tm3+ transition (3H6 → 3F4), however, requires low-phonon energy hosts reducing the detrimental effect of non-radiative decay through multiphonon relaxation. In this work the temperature dependent absorption and emission properties of Tm doped KPC (hνmax<200 cm-1) and KPB (hνmax<140 cm-1) crystals were evaluated for applications in laser cooling. Under laser pumping both crystals exhibited broad IR fluorescence at room temperature with a mean fluorescence wavelength of 1.82 μm and bandwidth of 0.14 μm (FWHM). Initial experiments on laser-induced heating and cooling were performed using a combined IR imaging and fluorescence thermometry setup. Employing a continuous-wave laser operating at 1.907 μm, Tm: KPC and Tm: KPB crystals revealed a very small heat load resulting in a temperature increase of ~0.3 (±0.1) °C compared to undoped reference samples. Further work on material improvement will be necessary to identify possible non-radiative loss mechanisms and to improve the crystal quality.
Lasp1 Expression Is Implicated in Embryonic Development of Zebrafish

The LIM and SH3 domain protein 1 (LASP1) was originally identified in metastatic breast cancer and mainly characterized as a cytoskeleton protein overexpressed in various cancer types. At present, little is known about LASP1 expression in physiological conditions, and its function during embryonic development has not been elucidated. Here, we focused on Lasp1 and embryonic development, choosing zebrafish as a vertebrate model. For the first time, we identified and determined the expression of Lasp1 protein at various stages of development, at 48 and 72 h post-fertilization (hpf), at 6 days pf and in different organs of zebrafish adults by Western blotting, 3D light-sheet microscopy and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. Further, we showed that specific lasp1 morpholino (MO) led to (i) abnormal morphants with alterations in several organs, (ii) effective knockdown of endogenous Lasp1 protein and (iii) an increase in lasp1 mRNA, as detected by ddPCR. The co-injection of lasp1 mRNA with lasp1 MO partially rescued morphant phenotypes, thus confirming the specificity of the MO oligonucleotide-induced defects. We also detected an increase in apoptosis following lasp1 MO treatment. Our results suggest a significant role for Lasp1 in embryonic development, highlighting zebrafish as a vertebrate model suitable for studying Lasp1 function in developmental biology and organogenesis.