Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OPTICAL POWER TRANSFER OF SINGLE-MODE LASER BEAMS THROUGH DISTORTING MEDIA USING A SEMILINEAR PHASE CONJUGATE MIRROR

We report experiments on the use of a semilinear phase-conjugate mirror to transfer single-mode laser beams through distorting media. Calculations using a 1-D model show that in optimum circumstances, up to 90% of the input power can be transferred to the system output whilst experimentally 23% power transfer has been observed limited by the absorption and gain in our Barium Titanate crystal. We have also studied seeding the semilinear mirror with a separate beam as a means of starting its oscillation in conditions where high power transfer efficiency is required and investigated regions of bistability in the output which also occur in this regime.
A Simplified and Effective Approach for the Isolation of Small Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from Human Peripheral Blood

Pluripotent stem cells are key players in regenerative medicine. Embryonic pluripotent stem cells, despite their significant advantages, are associated with limitations such as their inadequate availability and the ethical dilemmas in their isolation and clinical use. The discovery of very small embryonic-like (VSEL) stem cells addressed the aforementioned limitations, but their isolation technique remains a challenge due to their small cell size and their efficiency in isolation. Here, we report a simplified and effective approach for the isolation of small pluripotent stem cells derived from human peripheral blood. Our approach results in a high yield of small blood stem cell (SBSC) population, which expresses pluripotent embryonic markers (e.g., Nanog, SSEA-3) and the Yamanaka factors. Further, a fraction of SBSCs also co-express hematopoietic markers (e.g., CD45 and CD90) and/or mesenchymal markers (e.g., CD29, CD105 and PTH1R), suggesting a mixed stem cell population. Finally, quantitative proteomic profiling reveals that SBSCs contain various stem cell markers (CD9, ITGA6, MAPK1, MTHFD1, STAT3, HSPB1, HSPA4), and Transcription reg complex factors (e.g., STAT5B, PDLIM1, ANXA2, ATF6, CAMK1). In conclusion, we present a novel, simplified and effective isolating process that yields an abundant population of small-sized cells with characteristics of pluripotency from human peripheral blood.
Third‐Order Elastic Constants of Ge, MgO, and Fused SiO2

The third‐order elastic constants of germanium, magnesium oxide, and fused silica have been measured using the pulse superposition method for determining the ultrasonic velocity as a function of both uniaxial and hydrostatic pressure. From these measurements all six third‐order elastic constants were calculated by using the equations of Thurston and Brugger for MgO and Ge, and the three independent isotropic third‐order constants were calculated for fused SiO2.The results for Ge are in good agreement with the most recent data of McSkimin and Andreatch. The results for MgO agree in part quite well with theoretical data calculated from a Born‐Mayer potential. Drastic failure of the three Cauchy relations indicates the presence of many body forces. For fused silica, the remaining Cauchy relation is, as may be expected, not well fulfilled.
Caenorhabditis elegans as a Model System to Study Human Neurodegenerative Disorders

In recent years, advances in science and technology have improved our quality of life, enabling us to tackle diseases and increase human life expectancy. However, longevity is accompanied by an accretion in the frequency of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, creating a growing burden, with pervasive social impact for human societies. The cost of managing such chronic disorders and the lack of effective treatments highlight the need to decipher their molecular and genetic underpinnings, in order to discover new therapeutic targets. In this effort, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans serves as a powerful tool to recapitulate several disease-related phenotypes and provides a highly malleable genetic model that allows the implementation of multidisciplinary approaches, in addition to large-scale genetic and pharmacological screens. Its anatomical transparency allows the use of co-expressed fluorescent proteins to track the progress of neurodegeneration. Moreover, the functional conservation of neuronal processes, along with the high homology between nematode and human genomes, render C. elegans extremely suitable for the study of human neurodegenerative disorders. This review describes nematode models used to study neurodegeneration and underscores their contribution in the effort to dissect the molecular basis of human diseases and identify novel gene targets with therapeutic potential.
Chemical leaching from polyethylene mulching films to soil in strawberry farming

Mulching is a widely practiced agricultural technique able to boost crop productivity and to reduce weed growth and water evaporation. One of the most common materials used for mulching is polyethylene. Polyethylene films are known to contain phthalates, plasticizers recognized as endocrine disruptors, thus able to endanger the hormonal system. Only few data exist on the possible transfer of plasticizers from polyethylene mulching films to agricultural soil, especially in Europe, or on the potential implications for the environment and human health. In this study, we analyzed the occurrence of plasticizers such as phthalates and acetyl tributyl citrate from polyethylene mulching films and soil samples collected from strawberry fields where polyethylene films have been used. The samples were analyzed with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer and the results indicated that the soil exposed to polyethylene mulches contained a significantly higher concentration, compared to the control soil, of some of the most common plasticizers, including dibuthyl phthalate, benzylbutyl phthalate and acetyl tributyl citrate. These outcomes highlight the need to carry out further research to understand the potential risks that mulching practices can cause for the environment and human health.
An automatic method for detection of evoked events in the brain during spinal cord stimulation

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative brain disorder that mainly affects the elderly population and currently has no cure, only palliative treatments. Recently, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) showed great promise in the treatment of certain PD symptoms. In this semi-invasive technique, pulses of current are delivered to the spinal cord via electrodes implanted in the epidural space. However, the effects of SCS in the brain are poorly understood. In this work, we developed a method for detection of electrophysiological events in the brain evoked by SCS pulses, and analyzed the latency of such events under different experimental conditions. We performed in vivo recordings of local field potentials using 64 microelectrodes implanted in different brain areas of a rat model of PD, and during active and inactive states, and with and without administration of L-dopa. The signals were pre-processed and divided into windows centered around the stimulation pulses, in which we detected the evoked events using two approaches: the Hampel identifier and the wavelet transform. Next, we measured the latency of the response evoked in the brain with respect to the applied pulse. The Hampel method detected events in about 31% of trials, and the wavelet method in about 42% of trials. In addition, we found that movement had a statistical significant effect on the measured latency but only when L-dopa was administered to the animal. The differences in latency suggest that there may be a trajectory of neuronal activation in the brain in response of SCS. Our results may have implications in the design of more effective SCS strategies for the treatment of PD.
Almost nonparametric inference for repeated measures in mixture models

We consider ways to estimate the mixing proportions in a finite mixture distribution or to estimate the number of components of the mixture distribution without making parametric assumptions about the component distributions. We require a vector of observations on each subject. This vector is mapped into a vector of 0s and 1s and summed. The resulting distribution of sums can be modelled as a mixture of binomials. We then work with the binomial mixture. The efficiency and robustness of this method are compared with the strategy of assuming multivariate normal mixtures when, typically, the true underlying mixture distribution is different. It is shown that in many cases the approach based on simple binomial mixtures is superior.
Structural and Functional Adaptive Artificial Bone: Materials, Fabrications, and Properties

It is an urgent need that defect repair can develop from simple device fixation to living tissue reconstruction, from short life function replacement to permanent regeneration repair. At present, bone transplantation has become the second largest transplantation surgery after blood transfusion, and artificial bone transplantation generates great hope for the repair and treatment of bone defect. In order to repair bone defect, artificial bone must have good biological properties and sufficient mechanical properties, and it should also have the shape matching to bone defect site and the connected porous structure. For structures and properties requirements of artificial bone, in this review three major challenges faced by artificial bone transplantation are systemtically analyzed and current methods and strategies to address these issues are discussed: 1) the need for developing a type of bone scaffold material with both biological and mechanical properties, 2) the need for realizing the controllable fabrication of individual shape and multistage pore structure of bone scaffold, 3) the need for realizing the transformation from man‐made structure to biological structure. Besides, it summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of these methods and discusses the potential future directions of structural and functional adaptive artificial bone for bone defect regeneration.
Enhanced Permeation of Methotrexate via Loading into Ultra-permeable Niosomal Vesicles: Fabrication, Statistical Optimization, Ex Vivo Studies, and In Vivo Skin Deposition and Tolerability

The aim of this study was to incorporate methotrexate (MTX) into ultra-permeable niosomal vesicles, containing cremophor RH40 as an edge activator (EA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a stabilizer to enhance the drug permeation. Formulae were prepared by ethanol injection method following a Box-Behnken design in order to optimize the formulation variables (EA%, stabilizer %, and sonication time). To investigate the role of both cremophor RH40 and PVA, conventional MTX niosomes and MTX niosomes containing PVA only were fabricated. Drug entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), particle size (PS) analysis, zeta potential (ZP) measurements, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were conducted to characterize the vesicles. Cell viability studies and ex vivo permeation experiments of the optimized formula were conducted. Lastly, in vivo skin deposition of MTX from both the optimized formula and MTX solution was performed in rats. Besides, histopathological changes in rat skin were assessed. The optimized MTX ultra-permeable niosomal formula demonstrated spherical morphology, with an EE% of 65.16% and a PS of 453.6 nm. The optimized formula showed better physical stability in comparison with that of the same composition but lacking PVA. The cell viability studies verified the superior cytotoxicity of the optimized formula, and the ex vivo permeation studies revealed its ability to improve the drug permeation. The optimized formula demonstrated a significant deposition of MTX in rat dorsal skin, and histopathological evaluation confirmed the tolerability of the optimized formula in rats upon topical application. Accordingly, ultra-permeable noisomes, as a stable nanosystem, could be promising for effective delivery of MTX.
Representation of Hybrid Systems by Means of Stochastic Automata

In this paper hybrid systems with discrete-event measurements and inputs are considered. Such systems consist of a continuous-variable subsystem and a discrete-event subsystem which are connected in a closed loop. Stochastic automata are used as models of the discrete-event behavior of the hybrid system, which is in general non-deterministic. It is shown that the model can be set up by, first, modeling the discrete-event behavior of the continuous-variable subsystem by means of a stochastic automaton. It is shown, that the transition relation of this automaton can be derived from a continuous-variable description of the subsystem. Second, the resulting model is combined with the model of the discrete-event subsystem, which in general can be represented by a deterministic automaton. As the continuous-variable subsystem and, therefore, also the hybrid system cannot be modeled exactly by an automaton, the model of the hybrid system generates spurious solutions. Therefore, conditions on the model of the continuous-variable and on the model of the hybrid system will be presented which yield the best complete model of the hybrid system, i.e., the model which generates all event sequences which may occur in the hybrid system and the least number of spurious solutions.
A Transient-State Lumped Parameter Thermal Model for Brushless Wound Field Switched Flux Machines

In this article, the transient-state lumped parameter thermal model (LPTM) of the wound field switched flux (WFSF) machine is characterized for the first time. The modeling methodology for the LPTM is given in detail, including the process of determining the parameters of the LPTM, based on which two LPTMs are compared with the experiments, i.e., the LPTM-I and LPTM-II without and with consideration of the practical winding position in the stator slot. It is found that the practical positions of the dc and ac coils in the slots are important to improve the accuracy of the LPTM, due to the existence of slot empty space caused by overlapped dc and ac windings. By considering the practical positions of the dc and ac coils in the slots, the maximum value of the absolute error between the LPTM model predicted temperature and the measured values of the ac winding are 3.4 °C, 5.23 °C, 3.18 °C, and 5.22 °C under dc test, steady-state test, cycling test-I, and cycling test-II, respectively, while they are 3.95 °C, 2.00 °C, 2.28 °C, and 4.89 °C for the dc winding temperature error. The average value of the absolute error between the LPTM model predicted temperature and the measured values of the ac winding are 0.88 °C, 1.25 °C, 0.85 °C, and 1.87 °C under dc test, steady-state test, cycling test-I, and cycling test-II, respectively, while they are 1.08 °C, 1.47 °C, 1.06 °C, and 2.73 °C for the dc winding temperature. The temperature of the WFSF machine during a 9-h experiment can be predicted in 27.8 s by the LPTM, which has a more than 1100 times faster calculation speed.
Blurred face recognition by fusing blur-invariant texture and structure features

Blurred face recognition is still remaining as a challenge task, but with wide applications. Image blur can largely affect recognition performance. The local phase quantization (LPQ) was proposed to extract the blur-invariant texture information. It was used for blurred face recognition and achieved good performance. However, LPQ considers only the phase blur-invariant texture information, which is not sufficient. In addition, LPQ is extracted holistically, which cannot fully explore its discriminative power on local spatial properties. In this paper, we propose a novel method for blurred face recognition. The texture and structure blur-invariant features are extracted and fused to generate a more complete description on blurred image. For texture blur-invariant feature, LPQ is extracted in a densely sampled way and vector of locally aggregated descriptors (VLAD) is employed to enhance its performance. For structure blur-invariant feature, the histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) is used. To further enhance its blur invariance, we improve HOG by eliminating weak gradient magnitude which is more sensitive to image blur than the strong gradient. The improved HOG is then fused with the original HOG by canonical correlation analysis (CCA). At last, we fuse them together by CCA to form the final blur-invariant representation of the face image. The experiments are performed on three face datasets. The results demonstrate that our improvements and our proposition can have a good performance in blurred face recognition.
The role of heat conduction to the formation of [WC]-type planetary nebulae

Abstract X-ray observations of young Planetary Nebulæ (PNe) have revealed diffuse emission in extended regions around both H-rich and H-deficient central stars. In order to also reproduce physical properties of H-deficient objects, we have, at first, extended our time-dependent radiation-hydrodynamic models with heat conduction for such conditions. Here we present some of the important physical concepts, which determine how and when a hot wind-blown bubble forms. In this study we have had to consider the, largely unknown, evolution of the CSPN, the slow (AGB) wind, the fast hot-CSPN wind, and the chemical composition. The main conclusion of our work is that heat conduction is needed to explain X-ray properties of wind-blown bubbles also in H-deficient objects.
Progress in phase III clinical trials of molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy for glioblastoma

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary central nervous system tumor, whose prognosis remains poor under the sequential standard of care, such as neurosurgery followed by concurrent temozolomide radiochemotherapy and adjuvant temozolomide chemotherapy in the presence or absence of tumor treating fields. Accordingly, the advent of molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy has opened a new era of tumor management. A diverse range of targeted drugs have been tested in patients with GBM in phase III clinical trials. However, these drugs are ineffective for all patients, as evidenced by the fact that only a minority of patients in these trials showed prolonged survival. Furthermore, there are several published phase III clinical trials that involve immune checkpoint inhibitors, peptide vaccines, dendritic cell vaccines, and virotherapy. Accordingly, this review comprehensively overviews existing studies of targeted drugs and immunotherapy for glioma and discusses the challenge and perspective of targeted drugs and immunotherapy for glioma to clarify future directions.
The 1979 X-ray outburst of Centaurus X-4

X-ray observations of the first major outburst of the classical transient X-ray source Centaurus X-4 since its discovery in 1969 are presented. The observations were obtained in May, 1979, with the all-sky monitor on board Ariel 5. The flare light curve is shown to exhibit many of the characteristics of other transients, including a double-peaked maximum, as well as significant, apparently random, variations and a lower peak flux and shorter duration than the 1969 event. Application of a standard epoch-folding technique to data corrected for linear decay trends indicates a possible source modulation at 0.3415 days (8.2 hours). Comparison of the results with previous other data on Cen X-4 and the characteristics of the soft X-ray transients allows a total X-ray output of approximately 3 x 10 to the 43rd ergs to be estimated, and reveals the duration and decay time of the 1979 Cen X-4 outburst to be the shortest yet observed from soft X-ray transients. The observations are explained in terms of episodic mass exchange from a late-type dwarf onto a neutron star companion in a relatively close binary system.
Feeding Habits of Dentex maroccanus and the Effect of Body Size

Simple Summary Understanding the biology and ecology of Morocco dentex (Dentex maroccanus) requires knowledge of several life aspects, including its feeding habits. The findings of this study demonstrated that this species is a predator with a carnivorous character, feeding mainly on decapods. Gastropods, squids, clams, and fish are also included in the diet of Morocco dentex in the South Aegean Sea. The body size is an important factor affecting the diet of the species with the smaller individuals feeding more on small-sized clams and gastropods than the larger ones, which feed more on large-sized worms, fish, and mantis prawns. This research may contribute to a deeper understanding of the species’ feeding habits, which is important information for environmentally friendly fisheries management. Abstract The feeding habits of organisms are important elements in their ecological role and are affected by several factors. The present study provides for the first time information on the diet and feeding strategy of Dentex maroccanus (Valenciennes, 1830) and examines the effects of various factors on the species’ feeding activity. Various indices (vacuity index, numerical and weight proportion, frequency of occurrence, alimentary coefficient, index of relative importance, diet breadth and overlap, Shannon–Wiener index, and trophic level) were estimated. The diet of the species consisted of 18 different prey taxa. The most important prey taxon was Decapoda. The study of the feeding strategy showed the narrow width of the species. Body size was found to significantly affect the species’ feeding habits. Polychaeta and Stomatopoda were found only in individuals with size ≥165 mm, Bivalvia mainly in sizes ≤120 mm, and Decapoda in the intermediate sizes. The largest individuals showed the lowest overlap with all other size groups. The trophic level increased from 3.7 in young individuals to 4.0 in larger sizes, indicating the carnivorous character of the species. The results of the present work contribute to a better knowledge of the species’ feeding ecology.
Technology of Intense dc Ion Beams

The present status of a program directed toward the improvement of ion sources and the technology of intense dc ion beams is described. The work is in the energy range of from 20–600 keV at currents of up to 1 A. Several factors have differentiated the approach from that existing in some other areas of ion beam research. There are severe cooling problems in the ion source and in beam targets. Grids cannot be used in the electrode system, and many of the techniques which have been used to study detailed emittance shapes are very difficult to utilize because of these thermal problems. On the other hand, it is possible to accumulate electrons in these dc beams to eliminate the dispersive effect of space charge. Pulsed beams with on‐times of less than a few hundred microseconds ordinarily are completely unneutralized. Ion sources are described which are especially suited to proton production and to molecular ion production at source arc currents of up to 50 A. Single gap accelerating and focusing arrangements.