Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technical details and clinical outcomes after high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy for squamous cell carcinoma of external auditory canal and external beam radiotherapy for nodal coverage: A case report

Purpose To report technical details and 15-month outcomes of a patient with node-positive external auditory canal (EAC) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with definitive intracavitary high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy to primary tumor, and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to draining lymphatics. Material and methods A 21-year-old male was diagnosed with SCC of the right EAC. The patient underwent definitive HDR intracavitary brachytherapy, 340 cGy/fraction for 14 twice-daily fractions, followed by EBRT using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) to cover the grossly enlarged pre-auricular node, ipsilateral intra-parotid, and cervical lymph node levels II and III. Results The approved brachytherapy plan had an average high-risk clinical tumor volume (CTV-HR) D90 of 341 cGy with a total dose of 47.7 Gy (BED, 80.3 Gy, EQD2, 66.6 Gy). For the approved IMRT plan, the prescription to the involved right pre-auricular node was 66 Gy in 33 fractions, and more than 95% of the target received at least 62.7 Gy. High-risk nodal regions were simultaneously prescribed: 59.4 Gy in 1.8 Gy fractions, and more than 95% received at least 56.4 Gy. Organs at risk (OARs) were kept below their dose constraints. The patient tolerated both the procedures with no grade ≥ 2 treatment-related adverse events. Grade 1 dermatitis in the right pre-auricular and cervical areas during the course of EBRT was experienced. Fifteen months post-RT, the patient has no evidence of disease, and was noted to have EAC stenosis, which translated to moderate conductive hearing loss of the right ear. Thyroid function was normal at 15 months after EBRT. Conclusions This case report illustrates that the delivered definitive radiotherapy is technically feasible, effective, and well-tolerated in patients with SCC of EAC.
Mid-infrared broadband sensing and temperature dependence of trace gas molecular transitions

Several environmental trace gas species and toxic chemicals or warfare simulants have fingerprint spectral signatures in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum. For instance, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor are critical greenhouse gases relevant for environmental sensing. In contrast, Sarin is one of the most lethal warfare agents that is a highly toxic synthetic chemical organophosphorus compound, which is of interest in defense and security sensing applications. Due to complex chemical structure and significant absorption and collision cross-section, the molecular linewidths of such chemicals can cover a broad range of spectral widths in the mid-infrared region. Detection of such molecules in the mid-infrared region is sensitive, which requires broadly tunable sources and appropriate spectral resolution in detection schemes. We show a rapid detection methodology of atmospheric bands of trace gases in the 7 μm to 8 μm region, which also coincides with the fingerprints region of several hazardous chemicals. Methane absorbs strongly in the wavelength range of 3 μm to 8 μm, and nitrous oxide has absorption from 5 μm to 8 μm. We use molecular rotational-vibrational transitions of carbon and nitrogen trace species to demonstrate well-resolved peaks in the spectral region of 6.88 μm to 7.6 μm for detection. The detection was performed by a continuous wave multiplexed quantum cascade laser source capable of an ultra-wide tuning range from 6.88 μm to 11.05 μm.
The calculated performance of forest structure and biomass estimates from interferometric radar

Abstract Vertical structure and biomass are key characteristics of the forest random medium. This paper calculates the power and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) sensitivity to tree height and vegetation density as it manifests in extinction, using a homogeneous, random-volume model of the forest medium, and accounting for speckle and thermal noise. Tree height and extinction are both related to biomass within the context of this simple model. Signal and noise calculations show that InSAR coherence and phase are more sensitive than radar power to structure and biomass to 10% variations in structure parameters over a wide range of medium to high density forests. For example, for extinctions of 0.2 db m−1 and other parameters as noted in the text, the sensitivity of InSAR coherence to 10% changes in tree height exceeds observation errors for trees shorter than about 37 m, as opposed to 14 m for radar power. InSAR phase sensitivity to 10% structural and associated biomass changes exceeds observation errors for all tree heights. Only for the very lowest densities, for extinctions less than 0.15 db m−1, does radar power sensitivity to density exceed that of InSAR; even at low densities, InSAR sensitivity to tree height outperforms that of radar power in these calculations.
Bradie on Polanyi on the Meno Paradox

An argument of Michael Polanyi ([3], pp. 21-24) for the necessity of "tacit knowledge," based upon the paradox of the Meno, is refuted correctly by Michael Bradie [1] who observes that the paradox, in Polanyi's version, rests on the false premise that "if you know what you are looking for, there is no problem. " Bradie's refutation is based on an example, but he does not explain how the example works or why Polanyi's premise is generally fallacious. It is the purpose of this note to describe some classes of conditions under which Polanyi's premise will be false. I have given the argument less formally elsewhere ([4] and [5]), but will try to make it more precise here. Polanyi's thesis ([3], p. 4) is that "we can know more than we can tell. " In part, he supports the thesis by citing empirical phenomena that appear to imply the existence of tacit knowledge: that we can recognize faces without knowing how we do it ([3], pp. 4-7); that a human subject, in psychological experiments, can acquire certain conditioned responses without awareness of the stimulus that is being conditioned ([3], pp. 7-10); that we can only understand the behavior of another person by an unanalyzed empathetic process ([3], pp. 16-17); that when we attend repeatedly to the pronunciation of a word (i.e., to the tacit knowledge whereby we recognize it), it loses its meaning ([3], p. 18). He follows these examples by a general argument ([3], pp. 20-21): "in order that we may formalize the relations that constitute a comprehensive entity . this entity . must be first identified informally by tacit knowing. " Finally ([3], pp. 21-23), he argues that "the Meno shows conclusively that if all knowledge is explicit, i.e., capable of being clearly stated, then we cannot know a problem or look for its solution. And the Meno also shows, therefore, that if problems nevertheless exist, and discoveries can be made by solving them, we can know things, and important things, that we cannot tell. "
Convergence of control performance by unfalsification of models—levels of confidence

A general framework is introduced for iterative/adaptive controller design schemes by model unfalsification. An important feature of the schemes is their convergence near to the best possible controller given a set of model and controller structures. The problem of stability assured controller tuning is examined through unfalsified Riemannian bands of the Nyquist plot. Instability tolerant H∞ and l1‐norm‐based controller tuning schemes are introduced. Computational problems are discussed and a simulation is used to illustrate the new scheme. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fault tolerant control design for a class of multi‐sensor networked control systems

In this paper, we consider a multi‐sensor networked control configuration with linear plant which is affected by a bounded additive disturbance. Shared network is used for the communication between sensors and controller. It is assumed that the sensors are prone to abrupt faults, while the controller's input may be updated with a varying time‐delay. In order to identify and isolate the sensor(s) providing faulty information, we equip the controller with a set‐based detection and isolation routine. Furthermore, in the case when the network induces time‐delays, control is performed based on the knowledge we have on the mathematical model of the plant. In the presence of model inaccuracies or disturbance, such a control action may not guarantee satisfying performance of the system. Therefore, a stabilising controller with delay compensation has been designed. The functioning of the proposed control algorithm has been illustrated through an example. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impacts of alpine meadow degradation on the soil moisture and hydrological processes in the three river source region on the Qinghai Tibetan plateau

To explore the effects of mattic epipedon (ME) on soil moisture and hydraulic properties in the alpine meadow of three‐river source region, the soil moisture, water infiltration, evapotranspiration, soil bulk density and soil water holding capacity of original vegetation (OV), light degradation (LD), moderate degradation (MD) and severe degradation (SD) was conducted in this study, respectively. The results showed that: (1) the alpine meadow degradation reduced the soil moisture in the shallow layer (0–10 cm) and had no significant effects on the soil moisture in the deep layer (20–30 cm). (2) The effects of alpine meadow degradation on infiltration was depend on the presence of ME or not, when the ME existed on the land surface (from OV treatment to MD treatment), the alpine meadow degradation had no significant effects on infiltration. Once the ME disappeared on the land surface (from MD treatment to SD treatment), the alpine meadow degradation mainly increased the infiltration. (3) With the aggravation of alpine meadow degradation, the daily evapotranspiration first decreased and then significantly increased when the gravimetric soil water content at 0–5 cm in SD treatment (GWC5) was exceeded 19.5%, the daily evapotranspiration gradually decreased when GWC5 ranged from 9.3% to 19.5%, and had no significant changes on the evapotranspiration when GWC5 was less than 9.3%. Considering the characteristics of precipitation in alpine meadow, it was concluded that the alpine meadow degradation accelerated the evapotranspiration during the plant‐growing season. (4) The effect of alpine meadow degradation on soil bulk density and saturated water capacity was concentrated at 0–10 cm. With the aggravation of alpine meadow degradation, the bulk density at 0–10 cm was first stable and then significantly increased and the saturated water capacity at 0–10 cm was first gradually increased and then significantly decreased. Our results suggested that the ME is vital for water conservation of alpine meadow and the protection of ME should be emphasized to promote the sustainable development of the ecosystem and the water supply of water towers in China.
Coastal land use change and evaluation of ecosystem services value enhancement under the background of Yangtze River protection: Taking Jiangyin coastal areas as an example

Evaluating the ecosystem service value is an important step to promote the sustainable development and the construction of ecological civilization of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the related research is already very rich. However, they neglect the evaluation of coastal areas and lack the deeper thinking of ecological value. To improve these deficiencies, this study takes the coastal area of Jiangyin as the study area, constructs the evaluation method system of ecosystem service value based on the land use data in 2016 and 2020, explores the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of land use and ecosystem service value in the study area, and analyzes reasons for these changes. The results show that: (1) Cultivated land is the main land type in the coastal area, with an area change rate of -15.89%, forest land increases rapidly, with a growth rate of 281.62%, followed by water area with a growth rate of 55.98%, garden land decreases the most, with a decrease rate of 86.36%, followed by construction land of 62.19%. Land use mainly presents the characteristics of changes from construction land to other land, construction land and green space, and cultivated land to cultivated land, water area and forest land. (2) The net increase of ecosystem service value in the coastal area is 483 million, with a growth rate of 137.27%. Among them, the value of forest land accounts for the largest proportion, with a net increase of 264 million yuan and a growth rate of 109.54%. In terms of single function, flood regulation and storage accounts for the main ecosystem service value, reaching more than 65%, with a net increase of 394 million yuan. (3) In terms of spatial distribution, the ecosystem service value of water conservation, flood regulation and storage has a spatial distribution characteristic of being high in the east and low in the west, while the distribution of ecosystem service value of wind prevention and sand fixation is both high and low in the west. In addition, this study further explores the response mechanism of ecological value to the protection measures along the river and the transformation path of ecosystem service value, which provides a new path for the study of government-led evaluation of ecological protection effects in important coastal areas and ecologically sustainable development with regional multi-subject participation.
Automatic Site Survey for RSS-Based Wi-Fi Positioning Using Unlabeled Data

Preparing a database of Wi-Fi access points (APs) is essential for deploying Wi-Fi-based positioning solutions. This study proposes an automated method to discover APs installed in an indoor site by exploiting unlabeled data provided by mobile users. Furthermore, the positions of these APs are estimated by comparing the shapes of two trajectories, which are obtained using the provided Wi-Fi and sensor data. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified with excessive experimental campaigns, including an extreme case scenario, where the positions of 60 APs are obtained from only three APs with known positions.
Approach to accurately estimating low‐contrast inclusion with a priori guidance in near‐infrared diffuse optical tomography

Abstract In this paper, the slight variation in low‐contrast optical properties of an inclusion (tumor) is estimated and investigated by near infra‐red diffusive optical tomography (NIR DOT). We show that absorption‐image reconstruction of test phantoms is based on the continuous wave domain with the aid of structural a priori knowledge obtained from other imaging modalities as well as empirical updating information that is proportional to the off‐boundary distance, but not the size of inclusion against the background. Numerical simulation is demonstrated using various sizes, locations and contrasts of inclusion, where a stable and accurate reconstruction of absorption‐coefficient images can be achieved using our method with structural knowledge and updating information.
The First-In-Class Anti-AXL×CD3ε Pronectin™-Based Bispecific T-Cell Engager Is Active in Preclinical Models of Human Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas

Simple Summary Sarcomas are a group of heterogeneous diseases with a poor prognosis and scarce therapeutic options. Innovative approaches based on novel therapeutic targets are eagerly awaited. AXL, a TAM family tyrosine kinase receptor, recently emerged as an interesting target for several type of sarcomas. Here, we propose an innovative immunotherapeutic strategy based on the targeting of AXL, using a first-in-class Pronectin™-based Bispecific T-Cell Engager (pAXL×CD3ε) for the treatment of sarcomas. Our results demonstrate that pAXL×CD3ε redirects T cells toward AXL-expressing sarcoma cell lines, leading a dose-dependent and T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in vitro. Moreover, pAXL×CD3ε inhibits the in vivo growth of human sarcoma xenografts and improves survival in immunocompromised mice, thus representing a new-generation strategy for the treatment of a still-incurable disease. Abstract Sarcomas are heterogeneous malignancies with limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. We developed an innovative immunotherapeutic agent, a first-in-class Pronectin™-based Bispecific T-Cell Engager (pAXL×CD3ε), for the targeting of AXL, a TAM family tyrosine kinase receptor highly expressed in sarcomas. AXL expression was first analyzed by flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot on a panel of sarcoma cell lines. The T-cell-mediated pAXL×CD3ε cytotoxicity against sarcoma cells was investigated by flow cytometry, luminescence assay, and fluorescent microscopy imaging. The activation and degranulation of T cells induced by pAXL×CD3ε were evaluated by flow cytometry. The antitumor activity induced by pAXL×CD3ε in combination with trabectedin was also investigated. In vivo activity studies of pAXL×CD3ε were performed in immunocompromised mice (NSG), engrafted with human sarcoma cells and reconstituted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. Most sarcoma cells showed high expression of AXL. pAXL×CD3ε triggered T-lymphocyte activation and induced dose-dependent T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. The combination of pAXL×CD3ε with trabectedin increased cytotoxicity. pAXL×CD3ε inhibited the in vivo growth of human sarcoma xenografts, increasing the survival of treated mice. Our data demonstrate the antitumor efficacy of pAXL×CD3ε against sarcoma cells, providing a translational framework for the clinical development of pAXL×CD3ε in the treatment of human sarcomas, aggressive and still-incurable malignancies.
Thermodynamic stabilization of nanocrystalline binary alloys

The work presented here was motivated by the need to develop a predictive model for thermodynamic stabilization of binary alloys that is applicable to strongly segregating size-misfit solutes, and that can use available input data for a wide range of solvent-solute combinations. This will serve as a benchmark for selecting solutes and assessing the possible contribution of thermodynamic stabilization for development of high-temperature nanocrystalline alloys. Following a regular solution model that distinguishes the grain boundary and grain interior volume fractions by a transitional interface in a closed system, we include both the chemical and elastic strain energy contributions to the mixing enthalpy ΔHmix using an appropriately scaled linear superposition. The total Gibbs mixing free energy ΔGmix is minimized with respect to simultaneous variations in the grain-boundary volume fraction and the solute contents in the grain boundary and grain interior. The Lagrange multiplier method was used to obtain n.
Régularité des solutions de problèmes elliptiques ou paraboliques avec des données sous forme de mesure

Dans cette these on etudie la regularite de problemes elliptiques (Laplace, Helmholtz) ou paraboliques (equation de la chaleur) avec donnee mesure dans divers cadres geometriques. Ainsi, on considere pour les seconds membres des masses de Dirac en un point, sur une ligne infinie, semi-infinie ou finie, et egalement sur une courbe reguliere. Les solutions de ces problemes etant singulieres sur la fracture (modelisee par la masse de Dirac dans le second membre), on etudie la regularite dans des espaces de Sobolev avec poids. Dans le cas d'une fracture droite, on utilise une technique classique qui consiste a appliquer une transformee de Fourier ou de Mellin a l'equation de Laplace. Ceci nous amene a etudier l'equation de Helmholtz en 2D. Pour ce dernier, on montre des estimations uniformes qui permettent ensuite de prendre la transformee inverse et d'obtenir le resultat de regularite attendu. De meme, la transformee de Laplace transforme l'equation de la chaleur dans la meme equation de Helmholtz en 2D. Dans le cas d'une fracture courbe reguliere, grâce aux resultats de [D'angelo:2012], en utilisant un argument de localisation et un recouvrement dyadique, on obtient une regularite amelioree de la solution toujours dans les espaces de Sobolev avec poids.
Multi-spectral imaging in mammalian cells using a home-built LSFM system

Light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) works on fluorescence imaging, employing target-specific fluorescent proteins to label regions of interest in a sample. In this way, analyzing and manipulating information from different targets in a specimen requires labeling the specimen using multiple fluorophores. Multispectral imaging helps identify several target molecules simultaneously at once, thereby retrieving information from the entire volume of the sample. Here we report multispectral imaging studies on mammalian cells using our in-house built multispectral LSFM imaging system. Experimental studies were conducted on mammalian cells in alive conditions, and results are provided.
THE CROSSED PRODUCT BY A POINTWISE UNITARY ACTION ON A C*-ALGEBRA WITH CONTINUOUS TRACE

Abstract Let $G$ be a locally compact group, $A$ a continuous trace $C^*$-algebra, and $\alpha$ a pointwise unitary action of $G$ on $A$. It is a result of Olesen and Raeburn that if $A$ is separable and $G$ is second countable, then the crossed product $A\times_\alpha G$ has continuous trace. We present a new and much more elementary proof of this fact. Moreover, we do not even need the separability assumptions made on $A$ and $G$. AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 46L55
Variability in the summertime coastal marine atmospheric boundary‐layer off California, USA

An analysis of boundary‐layer structure and surface‐layer turbulence from measurements off the California coast is presented from data collected by research aircraft during two field experiments: the Coastal Waves 1996 (CW96) and the Monterey Area Ship Track (MAST) experiments. CW96 covers the near‐coast region, in particular in the vicinity of major headlands, whereas MAST extends offshore.
Framing Gamification in Undergraduate Cybersecurity Education

Gamification presents potential benefits in courses that traditionally require the comprehension of complex concepts and a high level of technical and abstract thinking. Courses in Cyber Security Operations (CSO) undergraduate education meet these criterion. This research evaluates organizational constructs that have been applied to gamification applications (GAs) in CSO education. It utilizes framing theory and frame-reflective discourse analysis to outline frames based on engagement levels and analyzes the current distribution of GAs. The following organizational constructs for GAs in data structures and algorithms education apply to CSO education: Enhanced Examination (EE), Visualization of Abstract Ideas (VAI), Dynamic Gamification (DG), Social and Collaborative Engagement (SGE), and Collaborative Gamification Development (CGD). Three additional frames are identified: Missions and Quests (MQ), Simulations (Sim) and Aspirational Learning (AL). MQ GAs have process-driven quests, stories, and/or descriptive scenarios to augment engagement. Sim GAs use environmental immersion to demonstrate real world problem solving while allowing freedom of movement. AL GAs use goal-based designs like Capture The Flag (CTF) missions to enhance engagement. Twenty-seven existing CSO GAs fit within the MQ frame as CSO education lends itself well to these types of experiences. Seventeen CSO GAs fall within the AL GA frame, many of these manifesting as CTF missions. Seventeen CSO GAs fit in the EE Frame due to their optimization in the analysis of learning progress. Nine Sim GAs were successfully deployed in CSO education, followed by 4 VAI, 3 SGE, and 3 DG GAs.