Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The electrification of the atmosphere

Will the twentieth century number among its triumphs a complete electrical survey of the atmosphere? There are some good grounds for believing that it will. In the first place, the subject of atmospheric electricity, unlike the commercial problems in electricity, has not been attacked by an army of workers; swarming on each new phase and forcing further development by tireless industry and determined zeal. The appearance of three such papers as are referred to below indicates a quickening and wide-spread interest in the subject. Secondly, although we still lack a guiding theory as to the origin of the earth's negative charge, valuable data are accumulating so rapidly, and are now so accessible, that erroneous hypotheses may be quickly and effectively put to the test and disposed of. And thirdly, in the matter of instrumental equipment, we know the weakness of our present methods and apparatus, and also understand that where so many independent variables are to be dealt with, care must be taken to properly evaluate the electrometer readings. Furthermore, as with problems in meteorology, we must reach out from the individual observations to a series of similar simultaneous ones. The general laws of the potential variation in free air will be forthcoming when the necessary observations are made at many places. It is as logical for one to use a single thermometer to foretell marked temperature changes as to use a quadrant electrometer, and hope to determine from a series of isolated readings much of value concerning the potential of the air.
A generalized estimating equation approach to modelling incompatible data formats with covariate measurement error: application to human immunodeficiency virus immune markers

The integration of technological advances into research studies often raises an issue of incompatibility of data. This problem is common to longitudinal and multicentre studies, taking the form of changes in the definitions, acquisition of data or measuring instruments of some study variables. In our case of studying the relationship between a marker of immune response to human immunodeficiency virus and human immunodeficiency virus infection status, using data from the Multi‐Center AIDS Cohort Study, changes in the manufactured tests used for both variables occurred throughout the study, resulting in data with different manufactured scales. In addition, the latent nature of the immune response of interest necessitated a further consideration of a measurement error component. We address the general issue of incompatibility of data, together with the issue of covariate measurement error, in a unified, generalized linear model setting with inferences based on the generalized estimating equation framework. General conditions are constructed to ensure consistent estimates and their variances for the primary model of interest, with the asymptotic behaviour of resulting estimates examined under a variety of modelling scenarios. The approach is illustrated by modelling a repeated ordinal response with incompatible formats, as a function of a covariate with incompatible formats and measurement error, based on the Multi‐Center AIDS Cohort Study data.
Understanding the Meteorological Drivers of U.S. Particulate Matter Concentrations in a Changing Climate

Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is a serious public health issue for the United States. While there is a growing body of evidence that climate change will partially counter the effectiveness of future precursor emission reductions to reduce ozone (O3) air pollution, the links between PM and climate change are more complex and less understood. This paper discusses what we currently understand about the potential sensitivity of PM episodes to climate-change-related shifts in air pollution meteorology, in the broader context of the emissions and atmospheric chemistry drivers of PM. For example, initial studies have focused largely on annual average concentrations of inorganic aerosol species. However, the potential for future changes in the occurrence of PM episodes, and their underlying meteorological drivers, are likely more important to understand and remain highly uncertain. In addition, a number of other poorly understood factors interact with these likely critical meteorological changes. These in.
Moderate muscle cooling induced by single and intermittent/prolonged cold-water immersions differently affects muscle contractile function in young males

Background: We investigated the impact of moderate muscle cooling induced by single and intermittent/prolonged cold-water immersions (CWI) on muscle force and contractility in unfatigued state and during the development of fatigue resulting from electrically induced contractions. Methods: Twelve young males participated in this study consisting of two phases [single phase (SP) followed by intermittent/prolonged phase (IPP)], with both phases including two conditions (i.e., four trials in total) performed randomly: control passive sitting (CON) and cold-water immersions (10°C). SP-CWI included one 45 min-bath (from 15 to 60 min). IPP-CWI included three baths (45 min-bath from 15 to 60 min, and 15 min-baths from 165 to 180 min and from 255 to 270 min), with participants sitting at room temperature the rest of the time until 300 min. Blood pressure and intramuscular (Tmu) temperature were assessed, and neuromuscular testing was performed at baseline and 60 min after baseline during SP, and at baseline, 60, 90, 150 and 300 min after baseline during IPP. A fatiguing protocol (100 electrical stimulations) was performed after the last neuromuscular testing of each trial. Results: In unfatigued state, SP-CWI and IPP-CWI reduced electrically induced torque at 100 Hz (P100) but not at 20 Hz (P20), and increased P20/P100 ratio. The changes from baseline for P100 and P20/P100 ratio were lower in IPP-CWI than SP-CWI. Both cold-water immersion conditions slowed down muscle contraction and relaxation, and reduced maximal isokinetic contraction torque, but the changes from baseline were lower after IPP-CWI than SP-CWI. cold-water immersions did not impair maximal voluntary isometric contraction. During the fatiguing protocol, torque fatigue index and the changes in muscle contractile properties were larger after IPP-CWI than SP-CWI, but were in the same range as after CON conditions. The differences of muscle contractile function between SP-CWI and IPP-CWI were accompanied by a lower reduction of superficial Tmu and a smaller increase in systolic blood pressure after IPP-CWI than SP-CWI. Conclusion: IPP-CWI induces a less pronounced fast-to-slow contractile transition compared to SP-CWI, and this may result from the reduced vasoconstriction response and enhanced blood perfusion of the superficial muscle vessels, which could ultimately limit the reduction of superficial Tmu.
Comparison of Feeding Practices and Growth of Urbanized African Infants Aged 6–12 Months Old by Maternal HIV Status in Gauteng Province, South Africa

Appropriate feeding practices are protective against malnutrition and poor growth. We compared feeding practices and growth in HIV-exposed-uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed-uninfected (HUU) between 6-12 months of age in urbanized African infants in South Africa. A repeated cross-sectional analysis was used to determine differences in infant feeding practices and anthropometric measures by HIV exposure status at 6, 9, and 12 months in the Siyakhula study. The study included 181 infants (86 HEU; 95 HUU). Breastfeeding rates were lower in HEU vs. HUU infants at 9 (35.6% vs. 57.3%; p = 0.013) and 12 months (24.7% vs. 48.0%; p = 0.005). Introduction to early complementary foods was common (HEU = 16.2 ± 11.0 vs. HUU = 12.8 ± 9.3 weeks; p = 0.118). Lower weight-for-age Z-scores (WAZ) and head circumference-for-age Z-scores (HCZ) were found in HEU infants at birth. At 6 months, WAZ, length-for-age Z-scores (LAZ), HCZ, and mid-upper-arm circumference-for-age Z-scores (MUACAZ) were lower in HEU vs. HUU infants. At 9 months, lower WAZ, LAZ, and MUACAZ were found in HEU vs. HUU infants. At 12 months, lower WAZ, MUACAZ, and weight-for-length Z-scores (−0.2 ± 1.2 vs. 0.2 ± 1.2; p = 0.020) were observed. HEU infants had lower rates of breastfeeding and poorer growth compared to HUU infants. Maternal HIV exposure affects the feeding practices and growth of infants.
Lamb wave propagation in elastic plates coated with viscoelastic materials

This paper addresses the effects of attenuative coatings on the dispersion characteristics of Lamb wave propagation in elastic plates. The topology of phase velocity and guided wave attenuation spectra is analyzed as a function of the coating internal damping (longitudinal and shear bulk attenuations) and it is proved that in contrast to elastic plates, all modes are propagating albeit with large attenuation in some cases. An energy-based correspondence between the dispersion of the attenuative bilayer and that of a related elastic bilayer is derived in order to investigate separately the effects of the longitudinal and shear bulk attenuations on the attenuation of the guided modes. It is shown that at low frequency the guided wave attenuation is only slightly affected by the longitudinal bulk attenuation, while the contribution of the shear bulk attenuation is substantial. The attenuation characteristics of shear horizontal modes are compared with those of Lamb modes in order to identify the mode and the.
A rare gas-containing lumbar synovial cyst treated by percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic cystectomy: A case report and literature review

Spinal synovial cysts are rare entities for which standard surgical strategies are inconsistent. Here, we present an uncommon intraspinal gas-containing synovial cyst treated by percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic cystectomy. A 52-year-old man presented with radicular pain and intermittent claudication that had persisted for one month. Computed tomography revealed an intraspinal cystic lesion anteromedial to the left L4-L5 articular joint and the center of the lesion manifested gas contents. A transforaminal endoscopic procedure was performed and confirmed as a safe and minimally invasive technique for gas-containing lumbar synovial cysts. It provides a valuable substitution and supplementation to open surgery.
Star formation in a massive spiral galaxy with a radio-AGN

We present an analysis of new VLT / MUSE optical imaging spectroscopic data of 2MASX J23453268–0449256 (J2345–0449), a nearby ( z = 0 . 0755) massive ( M stellar = 4 × 10 11 M (cid:12) ) spiral galaxy. This is a particularly interesting source for a study of active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback since it hosts two pairs of bright, giant radio jets and a massive, luminous X-ray halo, but it has no massive bulge. The galaxy has a 24 kpc wide ring of molecular gas, and a source-averaged star formation rate that is factors 30 to 70 lower than expected from the Kennicutt-Schmidt law. With MUSE, we have analyzed the stellar continuum and bright optical line emission and have constrained the spatially resolved past and present star formation on scales of approximately 1 kpc. More than 93% of the stellar mass formed ≥ 10 Gyrs ago including in the disk. Optical emission from the AGN is very faint and contributes 2% of the continuum around the nucleus at most. Most line emission is predominantly excited by shocks and old stellar populations except in 13 young star-forming regions that formed ≤ 11 Myrs ago, of which only seven are associated with the molecular ring (the others are at larger radii). They avoid a region of high electron densities aligned with the radio source, and form stars at e ﬃ ciencies that are comparable to those in normal spiral galaxies. We discuss the implications of our ﬁndings for the regulation of star formation in galaxies through AGN feedback in the absence of competing mechanisms related to the presence of a massive stellar bulge, such as morphological quenching.
Infants’ Folate Markers and Postnatal Growth in the First 4 Months of Life in Relation to Breastmilk and Maternal Plasma Folate

Background: Human milk is the sole source of folate in exclusively breastfed infants. We investigated whether human milk folate or maternal plasma folate are associated with infants’ folate status and postnatal growth in the first 4 months of life. Methods: Exclusively breastfed infants (n = 120) were recruited at age < 1 month (baseline). Blood samples were available at baseline and at the age of 4 months. Plasma and breastmilk samples were available from the mothers at 8 weeks postpartum. The concentrations of (6S)-5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and different folate status markers were measured in samples of the infants and their mothers. The z-scores of weight, height, and head circumference of the infants were measured five times between baseline and 4 months. Results: Women with 5-MTHF concentrations in breastmilk <39.9 nmol/L (median) had higher plasma 5-MTHF compared to those with milk 5-MTHF concentrations >39.9 nmol/L (mean (SD) plasma 5-MTHF = 23.3 (16.5) vs. 16.6 (11.9) nmol/L; p = 0.015). At the age of 4 months, infants of women who were higher suppliers of 5-MTHF in breastmilk had higher plasma folate than those of low-supplier women (39.2 (16.1) vs. 37.4 (22.4) nmol/L; adjusted p = 0.049). The concentrations of breastmilk 5-MTHF and maternal plasma folate were not associated with infants’ longitudinal anthropometric measurements between baseline and 4 months. Conclusions: Higher 5-MTHF in breastmilk was associated with higher folate status in the infants and the depletion of folate in maternal circulation. No associations were seen between maternal or breastmilk folate and infants’ anthropometrics. Adaptive mechanisms might counteract the effect of low milk folate on infant development.
High-directivity antenna with small antenna aperture

We show in this letter that, by using an inhomogeneous metamaterial shell, it is possible to achieve highly directive emission with a small antenna aperture. The material parameters of the metamaterial substrate are obtained by a nonmonotonic optical transformation. Therefore, a large antenna can be effectively transformed to an equivalent one with much smaller aperture. Full-wave finite-element modeling has been performed to confirm this point. The concept proposed here provides a possible solution to reduce the size of antenna without disturbing the radiation characteristics.
A Bivariate Distribution for the Reliability Analysis of Failure Data in Presence of a Forewarning or Primer Event

This article presents a bivariate distribution for analyzing the failure data of mechanical and electrical components in presence of a forewarning or primer event whose occurrence denotes the inception of the failure mechanism that will cause the component failure after an additional random time. The characteristics of the proposed distribution are discussed and several point estimators of parameters are illustrated and compared, in case of complete sampling, via a large Monte Carlo simulation study. Confidence intervals based on asymptotic results are derived, as well as procedures are given for testing the independence between the occurrence time of the forewarning event and the additional time to failure. Numerical applications based on failure data of cable insulation specimens and of two-component parallel systems are illustrated.
Identifying effects of genetic obesity exposure on leukocyte telomere length using Mendelian randomization

Background Observational studies have shown that obesity is closely associated with leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, the causal relationship between obesity and LTL remains unclear. This study investigated the causal relationship between obesity and LTL through the Mendelian randomization approach. Materials and Methods The genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data of several studies on obesity-related traits with a sample size of more than 600,000 individuals were extracted from the UK Biobank cohort. The summary-level data of LTL-related GWAS (45 6,717 individuals) was obtained from the IEU Open GWAS database. An inverse-variance-weighted (IVW) algorithm was utilized as the primary MR analysis method. Sensitivity analyses were conducted via MR-Egger regression, IVW regression, leave-one-out test, MR-pleiotropy residual sum, and outlier methods. Results High body mass index was correlated with a short LTL, and the odds ratio (OR) was 0.957 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.942–0.973, p = 1.17E−07). The six body fat indexes (whole body fat mass, right leg fat mass, left leg fat mass, right arm fat mass, left arm fat mass, and trunk fat mass) were consistently inversely associated with LTL. Multiple statistical sensitive analysis approaches showed that the adverse effect of obesity on LTL was steady and dependable. Conclusion The current study provided robust evidence supporting the causal assumption that genetically caused obesity is negatively associated with LTL. The findings may facilitate the formulation of persistent strategies for maintaining LTL.
Epigenetic clocks and female fertility timeline: A new approach to an old issue?

Worldwide increase in life expectancy has boosted research on aging. Overcoming the concept of chronological age, higher attention has been addressed to biological age, which reflects a person’s real health state, and which may be the resulting combination of both intrinsic and environmental factors. As epigenetics may exert a pivotal role in the biological aging, epigenetic clocks were developed. They are based on mathematical models aimed at identifying DNA methylation patterns that can define the biological age and that can be adopted for different clinical scopes (i.e., estimation of the risks of developing age-related disorders or predicting lifespan). Recently, epigenetic clocks have gained a peculiar attention in the fertility research field, in particular in the female counterpart. The insight into the possible relations between epigenetic aging and women’s infertility might glean additional information about certain conditions that are still not completely understood. Moreover, they could disclose significant implications for health promotion programs in infertile women. Of relevance here is that the impact of biological age and epigenetics may not be limited to fertility status but could translate into pregnancy issues. Indeed, epigenetic alterations of the mother may transfer into the offspring, and pregnancy itself as well as related complications could contribute to epigenetic modifications in both the mother and newborn. However, even if the growing interest has culminated in the conspicuous production of studies on these topics, a global overview and the availability of validated instruments for diagnosis is still missing. The present narrative review aims to explore the possible bonds between epigenetic aging and fertility timeline. In the “infertility” section, we will discuss the advances on epigenetic clocks focusing on the different tissues examined (endometrium, peripheral blood, ovaries). In the “pregnancy” section, we will discuss the results obtained from placenta, umbilical cord and peripheral blood. The possible role of epigenetic aging on infertility mechanisms and pregnancy outcomes represents a question that may configure epigenetic clock as a bond between two apparently opposite worlds: infertility and pregnancy.
Fast Magnetic Field Prediction Based on Hybrid Subdomain Method and Multiobjective Optimization Design for Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines

Benefiting from the prosperity of new energy industry, interior permanent magnet synchronous machines (IPMSM) have ushered in unprecedented development opportunities. To further suppress defects and enhance engineering practicality, fast magnetic field prediction based on hybrid subdomain method and multiobjective optimization design for IPMSM are studied. First, fast no-load magnetic field prediction model based on hybrid subdomain method for IPMSM is innovatively proposed. By combining master/slave subdomain division method and lumped parameter magnetic equivalent circuit, complex rotor structure and saturation effects of magnetic bridges and cores can be comprehensively considered. Prediction model has extremely high calculation accuracy and speed. After that, based on the proposed prediction model, a multiobjective optimization model combining Taguchi method and nondominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is implemented. Model optimization efficiency has been greatly improved scientifically and effectively. Finally, the efficiency, advancement, innovation, and engineering practicability of studied prediction and optimization models are well verified through a series of finite element analysis (FEA) and prototype experiments. In addition, the generality and universality of this study are verified for other types of IPMSM.
Numerical simulation of waveguide plasma limiter under high power microwave based on the SETD method

Aiming at the "front door" protection problem of radar system, a waveguide plasma limiter with short response time, short recovery time and high isolation is presented based on the reflection and absorption characteristics of electromagnetic wave for High-Power Microwave (HPM) environment. A self-consistent three-dimensional (3-D) multi-physics electromagnetic-plasma fluid model coupling full-wave Maxwell’s equations with plasma fluid equations is established and solved by the Spectral-Element Time-Domain (SETD) method to describe the operating mechanism of the waveguide plasma limiter. The Galerkin’s method is employed for the space discretization and the central difference scheme is used for the temporal discretization during the SETD process. Numerical results demonstrate that the gas with low critical breakdown field strength is more suitable for protecting high-power microwaves. Our research can provide theoretical guidance for designers and give the complete physical process of plasma limiter.
Kalman Mean Shift 3D Difference Tracking Algorithm

Due to the bad effect of tracking fast-moving objects and the problem of the unideal initial position and the severe occlusion based on Mean shift algorithm, this paper presents a new algorithm named Kalman Mean Shift 3D difference algorithm. The simulation shows that the proposed algorithm can track the fast moving objects effectively and can solve the problem when the target is almost sheltered.
Postharvest Biology and Technology of Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.)

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) fruit is a rich source of carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, sugars, and organic acids. Although it is classified as a non-climacteric fruit, susceptibility to mechanical and physical bruising causes its rapid deterioration by moisture loss and postharvest decay caused by pathogens. Anthracnose, canker, and purple spot are the most prevalent postharvest diseases of loquat fruit. Cold storage has been used for quality management of loquat fruit, but the susceptibility of some cultivars to chilling injury (CI) consequently leads to browning and other disorders. Various techniques, including cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, hypobaric storage, modified atmosphere packaging, low-temperature conditioning, heat treatment, edible coatings, and postharvest chemical application, have been tested to extend shelf life, mitigate chilling injury, and quality preservation. This review comprehensively focuses on the recent advances in the postharvest physiology and technology of loquat fruit, such as harvest maturity, fruit ripening physiology, postharvest storage techniques, and physiological disorders and diseases.