Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design, Simulation, and Characterization of MEMS-Based Slot Waveguides

This contribution presents a design approach as well as characterization results for dielectric slot waveguides fabricated in highly resistive (HR) silicon (HR-Si) designed for operation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range. The authors discuss the fundamentals of dielectric slot waveguides and the respective figures of merit. Furthermore, analytical solutions as well as numerical results from field simulations of the propagating mode are presented and discussed. Prototypes are fabricated in a process for HR-Si microelectromechanical systems (MEMSs), including a silicon-based metamaterial to mechanically support the waveguide while preserving a strong field confinement. In addition, actuator concepts to implement device functionalities, such as phase shifting capabilities, are demonstrated. The prototypes are measured and characterized using vector network analyzer (VNA)-based two-port measurements in the frequency range from 220 to 330 GHz. The devices are characterized in terms of their field confinement, loss, and effective mode index. For the first time, the authors report on the experimental validation of dielectric slot waveguides in this frequency range and provide values for the obtained losses.
Antagonistic and synergistic interactions dominate GHGs fluxes, soil properties and yield responses to biochar and N addition

Applying biochar to soil has been advocated as an effective measure to improve soil fertility and increase carbon (C) sequestration. Biochar is often co-applied with nitrogen (N) fertilizers in agricultural ecosystems, however, the interactive effects of biochar and N addition (BN) on soil greenhouse gases (GHGs) fluxes, soil C and N fractions, and yield has not been investigated. Here, we manipulated a global meta-analysis to explore the effects of biochar and N addition and their interaction on the GHGs, soil C and N fractions, and yield by assembling 75 articles. Results indicate that across all studies, biochar, N, and BN additions all increased soil CO2 emissions (8.5%–29.6%), yield (4.2%–58.2%), soil organic C (SOC, 1.8%–50.4%), dissolved organic C (DOC, 2.7%–30.0%), and total N (TN, 6.8%–15.6%), but had no significant effect on CH4 fluxes. Biochar addition reduced N2O emissions (−21.3%), global warming potential (GWP, −19.8%), greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI, −28.2%), NH4 + (−17.8%) and NO3 − (−10.7%), whereas N addition increased these indexes. The interaction effects of BN on CO2 and N2O emissions, GWP, TN, and NH4 + contents were antagonistic, while CH4 emissions, DOC, MBC, NO3 −, and yield exhibited synergistic responses. Notably, soil GHGs responses varied depending on geo-climatic factors, edaphic properties, biochar and N treatment parameters, and experimental scenarios. These findings indicate that the co-addition of biochar and N has the potential to mitigate climate change and improve yield, providing a valuable reference for the improvement of climate-smart agriculture.
The study of the glass transition of glutenin using small amplitude oscillatory rheological measurements and differential scanning calorimetry

Hydrated glutenin was studied using mechanical spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Small amplitude oscillatory measurements showed, as a function of temperature, that hydrated glutenin between 4% and 14% moisture content showed glass transition temperatures between 132 and 22 °C. Over the same moisture range, glutenin samples had glass transitions temperatures between 110 and 21 °C as measured by DSC. Both techniques showed that the glass transition temperature of glutenin shifted to lower temperatures with increasing moisture content. Linear approximations of the glass transition temperatures obtained by DSC vs moisture content showed a depression of about 9 °C/wt. %. Both methods showed that glutenin was very sensitive to the plasticizing effect of water in the moisture range studied and appears to be an amorphous, water plasticizable polymer.
The Link between Iron Turnover and Pharmacotherapy in Transplant Patients

Iron is a transition metal that plays a crucial role in several physiological processes. It can also exhibit toxic effects on cells, due to its role in the formation of free radicals. Iron deficiency and anemia, as well as iron overload, are the result of impaired iron metabolism, in which a number of proteins, such as hepcidin, hemojuvelin and transferrin, take part. Iron deficiency is common in individuals with renal and cardiac transplants, while iron overload is more common in patients with hepatic transplantation. The current knowledge about iron metabolism in lung graft recipients and donors is limited. The problem is even more complex when we consider the fact that iron metabolism may be also driven by certain drugs used by graft recipients and donors. In this work, we overview the available literature reports on iron turnover in the human body, with particular emphasis on transplant patients, and we also attempt to assess the drugs’ impact on iron metabolism, which may be useful in perioperative treatment in transplantology.
Multiple Solutions for Buoyancy-Induced Flow in Saturated Porous Media for Large Peclet Numbers

The problem of buoyancy-induced secondary flow in fluid-saturated porous media is examined using a numerical model. The natural convection is coupled either with a forced axial flow or uniform internal heat generation. In both cases the model equations are shown to exhibit dual solutions over certain ranges of flow parameter. In the two-parameter space of aspect ratio and Grashof number, the flow transition between the two-vortex and four-vortex pattern can be explained in terms of a tilted cusp.
Association between multimorbidity and memory-related diseases among middle-aged and older adults: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study

Objectives This study aimed to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between multimorbidity and memory-related diseases (MDs) among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Methods This study included 8,338 subjects who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to explore the association and effect of multimorbidity on MDs. Results The overall prevalence of MDs was 2.52%, and the mean multimorbidity number was 1.87. In a cross-sectional analysis, compared with the no multimorbidity group, groups of multimorbidity with four or more non-communicable diseases (NCDs) were more likely to have MDs (OR: 6.49, 95%CI: 4.35–9.68). Within 2.7 years of follow-up, 82 cases of MDs (1.12%) were reported, and participants with multimorbidity were more likely to have new-onset MDs than participants without multimorbidity (HR: 2.93, 95%CI: 1.74–4.96). Conclusion Multimorbidity is associated with MDs among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. This relationship gradually strengthens with the severity of multimorbidity, which indicates that early prevention for people with multimorbidity may reduce the risk of MDs.
Accounting Profession: African Perspective Review of steps into the future

The advancement of technology has resulted in significant changes in the way accountants conduct their business. The purpose of this paper was to explore the various perspectives of the effects of technology on the future outlook of the accounting profession. The perspectives explored include the relationship between the accounting profession and the world revolution, the nature of accounting and its relationship with technology, the future of accounting, and changes in accounting education. This paper employed a literature review methodology. This research found that a number of studies indicated that there has to be a shift in the way accounting professionals do their business. Apparently, the transformation has begun to take shape, gradually but surely. This study also observed that this shift in the accounting profession will have an effect on accounting education. The paper concludes that there are certain aspects of the accounting profession that are likely to be transformed by technological advancement; however, the foundations of the accounting profession remain intact.
Numerical solution of the one‐dimensional heat equation on the bounded intervals using fundamental solutions

We present a numerical method for the solution of heat equation with sufficiently smooth initial condition, using fundamental solutions of heat equation in terms of singularities. In this work various aspects of this method such as efficiency, stability, and convergency are given and a comparison with some well‐known finite difference methods will be obtained. Numerical results are reported to support the superiority of the developed method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq, 2008
On the Maximum Cloud Zone and the ITCZ over Indian, Longitudes during the Southwest Monsoon

Abstract An investigation is presented of the daily variation of the maximum cloud zone (MCZ) and the 7W mb trough in the Northern Hemisphere over the Indian longitudes 70–90°E during April–October for 1973–77. It is found that during June–September there are two favorable locations for a MCZ over these longitudes–on a majority of days the MCZ is present in the monsoon zone north of 15°N, and often a secondary MCZ occurs in the equatorial region (0–10°N). The monsoon MCZ gets established by northward movement of the MCZ occurring over the equatorial Indian ocean in April and May. The secondary MCZ appears intermittently, and is characterized by long spells of persistence only when the monsoon MCZ is absent. In each of the seasons studied, the MCZ temporarily disappeared from the mean summer monsoon location (15–28°N) about four weeks after it was established near the beginning of July. It is reestablished by the northward movement of the secondary MCZ, which becomes active during the absence of the monsoo.
CD8+ Regulatory T Cell Deficiency in Elderly-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

Elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) is associated with higher disease activity and accelerated joint destruction compared with young-onset RA (YORA). However, the underlying immunological mechanism remains unclear. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are an immunosuppressive T cell subset, and CD4+ Tregs are deficient and/or dysfunctional in RA; however, CD8+ Tregs have not been fully examined in RA. Here, we aimed to determine the role of CD8+ Tregs, particularly in EORA. A total of 40 patients (EORA, n = 17; YORA, n = 23) were cross-sectionally enrolled. Current disease activity and treatment were comparable between the two groups; however, levels of multiple cytokines, including IL-1β, TNFα, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-2, and IL-10, were significantly increased in EORA. The number of CD4+ Tregs did not differ between the groups (p = 0.37), but those of CD8+ Tregs were significantly decreased in EORA (p = 0.0033). The number of CD8+ Tregs were inversely correlated with plasma matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-3 levels (r = −0.3331, p = 0.036). Our study results revealed an intrinsic deficiency of CD8+ Tregs in patients with EORA, which leaves synovitis unchecked with excessive MMP-3 release. A therapeutic approach to restore CD8+ Tregs may provide a new avenue for the treatment of EORA.
Hybrid synthetic data generation pipeline that outperforms real data

Abstract. Fine-tuning a pretrained model with real data for a machine learning task requires many hours of manual work, especially for computer vision tasks, where collection and annotation of data can be very time-consuming. We present a framework and methodology for synthetic data collection that is not only efficient in terms of time taken to collect and annotate data, making use of free- and open-source software tools and 3D assets but also beats the state-of-the-art against real data, which is the ultimate test for any similar-to-real approach. We test our approach on a set of image classes from ObjectNet, which is a challenging image classification benchmark test dataset that is designed to be similar in many respects to ImageNet but with a wider variety of viewpoints, rotations, and backgrounds, which can make it more difficult for transfer learning problems. The novelty of our approach stems from the way we create complex backgrounds for 3D models using 2D images laid out as decals in a 3D game engine, where synthetic images are captured programmatically with a large number of systematic variations. We demonstrate that our approach is highly effective, resulting in a deep learning model with a top-1 accuracy of 72% on the ObjectNet data, which is a new state-of-the-art result. In addition, we present an efficient strategy for learning rate tuning that is an order of magnitude faster than regular grid search.
Myeloperoxidase PET Imaging Tracks Intracellular and Extracellular Treatment Changes in Experimental Myocardial Infarction

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a highly oxidative, pro-inflammatory enzyme involved in post-myocardial infarction (MI) injury and is a potential therapeutic target. While multiple MPO inhibitors have been developed, the lack of an imaging reporter to select appropriate patients and assess therapeutic efficacy has hampered clinical development. Thus, a translational imaging method to detect MPO activity non-invasively would help to better understand the role MPO plays in MI and facilitate novel therapy development and clinical validation. Interestingly, many MPO inhibitors affect both intracellular and extracellular MPO, but previous MPO imaging methods can only report extracellular MPO activity. In this study, we found that an MPO-specific PET imaging agent (18F-MAPP) can cross cell membranes to report intracellular MPO activity. We showed that 18F-MAPP can track the treatment effect of an MPO inhibitor (PF-2999) at different doses in experimental MI. The imaging results were corroborated by ex vivo autoradiography and gamma counting data. Furthermore, extracellular and intracellular MPO activity assays revealed that 18F-MAPP imaging can report the changes induced by PF-2999 on both intracellular and extracellular MPO activities. These findings support 18F-MAPP as a translational candidate to noninvasively report MPO activity and accelerate drug development against MPO and other related inflammatory targets.
A uniqueness characterization in terms of signed magnitude for functions in the polydisc algebra A(Un)

In an excellent paper written in 1983 Van Hove et al. [ IEEE Trans. Acoust. Speech Signal Process.ASSP-31, 1286 ( 1983)] proved that a real polynomial P(z), free of zeros in |z| = 1, is determined uniquely by its magnitude A(θ) and the sign of its real part u(θ) for z = ejθ. Van Hove et al. also indicated a possible extension to real polynomials in more than one variable and suggested an iterative procedure for the recovery of P(z). The restriction to polynomials (or rational functions), real or otherwise, is not crucial. In fact, on due reflection, it is seen that the problem continues to make sense for functions H(z) = H(z1, z2, …, zn) in n variables that are holomorphic in the open polydisc Un = {z:|z1| < 1, |z2| < 1, …, |zn| < 1}, continuous in the closure Ūn = {z:|z1| ≤ 1, |z2| ≤ 1, …, |zn| ≤ 1}, and free of zeros on its distinguished boundary Tn = {z:|z1| = 1, |z2| = 1, …, |zn| = 1}. The collection A(Un) of functions holomorphic in Un and continuous in Ūn is Rudin’s polydisc algebra [ W. Rudin , Function Theory in Polydiscs ( Benjamin, NewYork, 1969)]. Our main result can be stated as follows. Let H(z) belong to A(Un) and be free of zeros in Tn. For real θ = (θ1, θ2, …, θn), write, in terms of real and imaginary parts, H(exp(jθ1), exp(jθ2), …, exp(jθn)) = H(ejθ) = u(θ) + jv(θ), and let A(θ) = |H(ejθ)|; then H(z) is determined uniquely by the functions A(θ) and sign u(θ), together with its value at one point z0 exp(jθ0) ∈ Tn for which u(θ0) ≠ 0. We also clarify the meaning and the scope of this theorem by the use of specific examples, but reconstruction techniques are not discussed.
Reconfigurable PCB Coil Array Loaded With PIN Diodes for Improving Transmission Efficiency in MCR-WPT Systems

In this letter, we propose a reconfigurable coil array by loading PIN diodes to solve the problem of transmission efficiency degradation due to lateral misalignment in magnetically coupled resonant wireless power transfer (MCR-WPT) systems. The reconfiguration of the coil array is achieved by changing the capacitance of the coil array through the on/off of the PIN diodes, thus adjusting the magnitude of the induced current and achieving higher transmission efficiency. By specifying one of the four loaded PIN diodes in the transmitting (Tx) coil array as on state by the relative position of the receiving (Rx) coil to the Tx coil array, a significant improvement in transmission efficiency with a wider area of strong coupling can be obtained compared to a conventional Tx coil array without loading PIN diodes. This can be used in high efficient multicoil versus single-coil WPT systems to provide more positioning freedom for Rx coil.
Animal Models and Their Role in Imaging-Assisted Co-Clinical Trials

The availability of high-fidelity animal models for oncology research has grown enormously in recent years, enabling preclinical studies relevant to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer to be undertaken. This has led to increased opportunities to conduct co-clinical trials, which are studies on patients that are carried out parallel to or sequentially with animal models of cancer that mirror the biology of the patients’ tumors. Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMM) are considered to be the models that best represent human disease and have high translational value. Notably, one element of co-clinical trials that still needs significant optimization is quantitative imaging. The National Cancer Institute has organized a Co-Clinical Imaging Resource Program (CIRP) network to establish best practices for co-clinical imaging and to optimize translational quantitative imaging methodologies. This overview describes the ten co-clinical trials of investigators from eleven institutions who are currently supported by the CIRP initiative and are members of the Animal Models and Co-clinical Trials (AMCT) Working Group. Each team describes their corresponding clinical trial, type of cancer targeted, rationale for choice of animal models, therapy, and imaging modalities. The strengths and weaknesses of the co-clinical trial design and the challenges encountered are considered. The rich research resources generated by the members of the AMCT Working Group will benefit the broad research community and improve the quality and translational impact of imaging in co-clinical trials.
Mobile Applications for Resting Tremor Assessment in Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review

(1) Background: Resting tremor is a motor manifestation present in most Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. For its assessment, several scales have been created, but mobile applications could help in objectively assessing resting tremor in PD patients in person and/or remotely in a more ecological scenario. (2) Methods: a systematic review following the PRISMA recommendations was conducted in scientific databases (PubMed, Medline, Science Direct, Academic Search Premier, and Web of Science) and in the main mobile application markets (Google Play, iOS App Store, and Windows Store) to determine the applications available for the assessment of resting tremor in patients with PD using only the measurement components of the phone itself (accelerometers and gyroscopes). (3) Results: 14 articles that used mobile apps to assess resting tremor in PD were included, and 13 apps were identified in the mobile application markets for the same purpose. The risk of bias and of applicability concerns of the articles analyzed was low. Mobile applications found in the app markets met an average of 85.09% of the recommendations for the development of medical mobile applications. (4) Conclusions: the use of mobile applications for the evaluation of resting tremor in PD patients has great potential, but validation studies for this purpose are scarce.
Performance Analysis of MIMO-mQAM System with Pointing Errors and Beam Spreading in Underwater Málaga Turbulence Channel

Both the long-term beam spreading caused by ocean turbulence and the pointing errors induced by the jitter of transmitters and receivers degrade the performance of underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) links. To effectively alleviate their effects, an in-depth study was carried out over the Málaga turbulence channel with pointing errors and beam spreading in multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) UWOC. First, we analyzed the long-term beam spreading and the received light power for the finite receiving aperture in the presence of pointing error displacements. Based on this, the relationship between beam spreading, pointing errors, and signal power was established. Second, the approximate expressions of the average bit error rate (BER) and the communication outage probability were derived theoretically for this MIMO system using maximal-ratio combining (MRC) diversity. Third, the effects of the pointing errors on the coding and the diversity gains were explored for the MIMO links. Finally, using the observed ocean data from the Global Ocean Argo gridded dataset, we numerically verified the combined effects of ocean turbulence strength, beam spreading, and pointing errors on the average BER and outage probability of this system. These results also proved that adjusting the size of the receiving aperture or the order of the multiple quadrature amplitude modulation (mQAM) could effectively mitigate their effects.
The split feasibility problem and fixed point problem of Bregman totally quasi-asymptotically non-expansive mapping in Banach spaces

In this article, an iterative algorithm is proposed for solving the split feasibility problem and ﬁxed point problem of Bregman totally quasi-asymptotically nonexpansive mapping in p -uniformly convex and uniformly smooth real Banach spaces. We obtained and proved the strong convergence theorem of the iterative scheme presented. Then, our main result is used to solve split feasibility problem and equilibrium problem.
Parametric instability of optical amplifier noise in long-distance optical transmission systems

In this paper, the optical amplifier noise accumulation in long-distance optical transmission systems is analyzed under the influence of the parametric process caused by the Kerr effect and group-velocity dispersion. By considering the input signal as a continuous-wave (CW) carrier and the optical amplifier noise as the small modulation, the general theory on the evolution of the optical amplifier noise along the system is proposed. This theory enables us to treat all of the noise enhancement effects, the so called parametric instability, discussed so far in a unified manner. The validation of the theory is finally confirmed by using extensive computer simulations.
Three-dimensional scattering center extraction using the shooting and bouncing ray technique

We present a technique to extract the three-dimensional (3-D) scattering center model of a complex target. Using the shooting and bouncing ray technique, we first generate the 3-D inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) image of the target based on a one-look ISAR algorithm. In step two, we use the image processing algorithm CLEAN to extract the 3-D position and strength of the scattering centers from the 3-D ISAR image. Various implementation issues related to computation time and memory are addressed and an efficient scheme is presented to accomplish the 3-D scattering center extraction. Several examples ranging from simple canonical structures to complex targets are presented to demonstrate the validity of the extraction scheme and the usefulness of the resulting 3-D scattering center model.