Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Phobos Reflect Solar Wind Protons? Mars Express Special Flyby Operations With and Without the Presence of Phobos

We characterize the solar wind proton reflection (backscattering) from Phobos using a series of Mars Express operations. The plasma data obtained during the Phobos flyby of Mars Express in January 2016 showed a non‐solar wind signal possibly reflected from the Phobos surface. Similar signatures were previously reported during an earlier Phobos flyby in 2008. On the other hand, although Mars Express has encountered Phobos (within 100 km) more than 10 times, it has thus far detected only two clear cases of reflected protons. The intermittency of the reflected proton detections could indicate that these protons are not from Phobos but are produced by the spacecraft body or solar arrays under a special attitude configuration during the flyby maneuver. To rule out these artifacts as the cause, we conducted three special operations; Mars Express was operated using the identical attitude and solar panel control sequence but without Phobos nearby. All the measured plasma data during the special operations exhibit no additional plasma signatures. These fake flyby experiments indicate that the measured non‐solar wind protons during the real flyby are not from the spacecraft and that Phobos likely reflects solar wind into space. On the other hand, the intermittency of the reflected protons from Phobos remains unexplained. The reflected protons are vital additional plasma components because they inject enough energy to disturb the near‐Phobos plasma environment. In addition, we can utilize these reflected particles to remotely measure the surface precipitation flux.
WILLINGNESS TO PAY: A PROXY TO PRODUCT PRICE

Information about willingness to pay (WTP) essentially aims to protect consumers from the abuse of monopoly power owned by companies in the supply of quality products and prices. The consumer's WTP of a product can be an appropriate basis in determining the pricing policy for a product because he can reveal the true value or price of the product based on consumer perception. The price proxy with the WTP can still meet the assumption of the traditional demand model (Marshallian demand model) where the price is not set (regulated) by the government. WTP can be obtained by using a contingent valuation method.
Monopoly Pricing, Optimal Randomization, and Resale

We provide a parsimonious and unified explanation for randomized selling mechanisms widely used in practice yet commonly perceived as puzzling. Optimality of randomization in the form of conflation and rationing implies that revenue under market-clearing pricing is nonconcave. Randomization is implementable via opaque pricing and underpricing. Relative to market-clearing pricing, randomization increases the equilibrium quantity and quality of goods sold and, consequently, may increase consumer surplus. For fixed quantities, resale increases consumer surplus. However, resale can decrease the equilibrium quantity and quality of goods sold. Thus, resale prohibition, which always benefits the seller, may also increase consumer surplus.
Just Move It! Dynamic Parameter Allocation in Action

Parameter servers (PSs) ease the implementation of distributed machine learning systems, but their performance can fall behind that of single machine baselines due to communication overhead. We demonstrate Lapse , an open source PS with dynamic parameter allocation . Previous work has shown that dynamic parameter allocation can improve PS performance by up to two orders of magnitude and lead to near-linear speed-ups over single machine baselines. This demonstration illustrates how Lapse is used and why it can provide order-of-magnitude speed-ups over other PSs. To do so, this demonstration interactively analyzes and visualizes how dynamic parameter allocation looks like in action
Grasslands, their Threats and Management in Eastern Europe

The Eastern European region covers the post-socialist countries of central and eastern Europe (excluding East Germany and the European part of Russia) and the Balkan countries (excluding Greece and Turkey) (Fig. 4.1). The total area of the region is 2,154,005 km2, characterized mostly by extensive lowland regions to the north and north-east and with considerable mountainous regions in the central (Carpathians) and the southern (Balkan mountains, Crimean mountains) parts of the region. The region experiences a cool continental climate with increasing Mediterranean influence to the south (Peel et al., 2007). Based on the European Environmental Stratification system provided by Metzger et al. (2005), most of the Eastern European plains and lowlands and the uplands and low mountains of the Balkan Peninsula are situated in the Continental Environmental Zone (CON), naturally dominated by deciduous, mixed and coniferous forests. In the lowland regions, grasslands were formed on fine or coarse-grained alluvial and fluvial deposits and are characterized by the high influence of large rivers and their tributaries. The
Case series of meningococcal sepsis; are we seeing the real picture

Invasive meningococcal sepsis caused by Neisseria meningitidis is of global health concern with high morbidity and mortality. N. meningitidis can cause sporadic cases, focal outbreaks (institutional based) and large epidemics. Here we report eleven cases of invasive meningococcal sepsis in Sri Lanka during a period of eight months which is a significant occurrence. In our case series, age of presentation ranged from 1.5 to 67 years. There were 7 (63.6%) males. Four patients were associated with inmates of two prisons. The majority of patients were from urban, crowded areas in Colombo and the adult working population. All were promptly treated with antibiotics on suspicion and aetiology confirmed by blood cultures. Contact tracing, notification and prescription of chemoprophylaxis to contacts of these sporadic cases were carried out. Four (36.3%) patients died, and the others recovered without any complication. It is important to maintain a strong surveillance programme to identify epidemics early and to initiate timely preventive measures in the population.
Massager-Induced Anterior Subcapsular Cataracts and Keratoconus in a Patient With Multiple Epiphyseal Dysplasia

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (MED) is a phenotypically heterogeneous disease associated with orthopedic abnormalities among other systemic manifestations. While the spectrum of ocular abnormalities in this disorder is yet to be fully reported, MED has been rarely associated in the literature with the development of cataracts and keratoconus. Here, we report a case of bilateral massager-induced anterior subcapsular cataracts and keratoconus in a 46-year-old female with MED. This case presentation aims to prevent similar occurrences of inappropriate massaging device use and highlight potential ocular findings in MED patients.
Interleukin-6 is a Strong Predictor of the Frequency of COPD Exacerbation Within 1 Year

Purpose Persistent chronic inflammation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with poor outcomes and frequently results in acute exacerbation. Predicting the number of exacerbations is important. Because interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays an important role in inducing and maintaining chronic inflammation, we sought to observe whether IL-6 measurement can predict the frequency of acute exacerbation of COPD. Methods We reviewed serum IL-6 concentrations of stable COPD patients from January 2016 to December 2017 and statistically analyzed them to determine the optimal threshold value to predict the frequency of COPD acute exacerbations. Outpatients with stable COPD were then recruited between January 2018 and December 2019 and grouped into a low IL-6 group and a high IL-6 group according to this threshold value. We then compared the number of exacerbations of COPD in 1 year between the two groups. Results We reviewed data from 95 COPD patients, who had a median of 1.00 exacerbations in preceding year; 35 of these patients had no fewer than two. The median IL-6 concentration was 8.80 pg/mL. IL-6 and hs-CRP were positively correlated with frequency of acute exacerbation in the preceding year, COPD assessment test (CAT) score and British medical research council (mMRC) score, and negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in one second as percentage of predicted value (FEV1%pred) and FEV1/FVC% (forced vital capacity). IL-6 was the risk factor of COPD patients with two or more exacerbations in 1 year. Finally, we enrolled 65 COPD patients and divided into low IL-6 group and high IL-6 group; the high IL-6 group experienced more frequent exacerbations than did the low IL-6 group. Conclusion An IL-6 measurement of 14.030 pg/mL or more is a risk factor for ≥2 acute exacerbations of COPD in the following year.
On the importance of fixed effects over a short period of time when using sports data: a lesson from home advantage in alpine skiing

ABSTRACT Research question The aim of this paper is to compare the effect of competing in a home country between a racer fixed effects model, which assumes a constant ability over the span of a racer’s career, and a racer per season fixed effects model, which has a more plausible assumption that ability may vary between the seasons. Research methods We use data on all 50,046 performances among men and 44,311 performances among women from all the top competitions in alpine skiing that took place in the seasons from 2001–2002 to 2017–2018. We use fixed effects estimations in which we compare the performance of racers when they compete in their home country to performance of the same racers when they compete abroad. Results and findings When using the racer fixed effects model, we find no relationship between competing at home and the likelihood of failing to finish the first run for both genders. However, when using the racer per season fixed effects model, we find that racers have a significantly higher probability of failing to complete the first run when competing abroad. In addition, we find that competing at home has a positive effect on racers’ performance in terms of World Cup points. Implications Given the widespread use of fixed effects models in sports-related studies, as well as in other fields, this paper illustrates the sensitivity of results to the length of the fixed effects. This should help practitioners and scholars to better understand the underlying assumptions that relate to athletes’ abilities over time.
Eddy current tomography for visualization of cracks in aircraft riveted joints

The control of the subsurface areas of metal products is necessary in many technological processes. So, for example, in aerospace technology it is essential to determine the presence of defects in aircraft engines. The same problems arise in chemical, power and other industries, which are letting out the highly technological equipment one of the widely known methods for inspecting metal products in the aviation industry is the eddy current method. This method is widely used to control small microscopic defects inside conductive materials. This method allows to ensure the safety of the operation of various products and devices in many areas of modern industry. An eddy current detector (probe) is a device, which induces eddy currents into metal objects and then detects the magnetic fields produced by these eddy currents. A magnetic field is created by a coil, or set of coils, through which a time-varying electrical current is driven. The frequency regime is sufficiently low, a few hertz to a few hundred kilohertz, so the targets of interest are within the near field of the transmitter. Considering the high conductivity of study samples, we can define that used waves in metals are located in the millimeter wave band. An eddy current imaging can be considered near-field imaging and a device allowing obtaining the eddy current images as a scanning near-field microscope. The obtained experimental results showed that the proposed tomographic method is effective for studying various complex inhomogeneities under the metal surface
Effect of Tongluozhitong Prescription-Assisted Intra-Articular Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate on VAS Score and Knee Lysholm Score in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) has become one of the leading causes of workforce loss in the middle-aged and elderly population and a global public health problem second only to cardiovascular disease, so we need to find more effective treatments for this disease. In this study, we selected 120 patients with KOA admitted to our hospital from June 2018 to December 2020 and divided them into treatment group 1, treatment group 2, and joint group according to the random number table method, with 40 patients in each group. Treatment group 1 was treated with Tongluozhitong prescription dip-soaking therapy, treatment 2 group was treated with intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate, and the joint group was treated with a combination of both modalities for 4 weeks in all three groups. Clinical efficacy, visual analogue scale (VAS), Lysholm knee score (LKS), activity of daily living score (ADL), the levels of bone metabolic markers such as cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), type II collagen degradation maker (CTX-II), and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and the levels of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were used as observations to compare and analyze the therapeutic effects of the three treatment regimens in KOA patients. The results showed that the clinical excellence rates of the joint group, treatment group 1, and treatment group 2 were 72.50%, 50.00%, and 90.00%, respectively, with statistically significant differences between any two comparisons. After treatment, VAS scores, serum COMP, CTX-II, MMP-3, IL-1β, TNF-α, and hs-CRP levels decreased in all three groups, and the levels of each index were as follows: joint group < treatment group 1 < treatment group 2, and the difference between any two comparisons was statistically significant. The LKS score and ADL score increased in all three groups, and the levels of each index were as follows: joint group > treatment group 1 > treatment group 2, with statistically significant differences in any two groups compared. None of the patients in the three groups experienced any significant adverse effects during treatment. This suggests that the dip-soaking therapy of Tongluozhitong prescription is more advantageous than intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection treatment in suppressing the level of serum bone metabolic markers and inflammatory mediators, reducing pathological joint damage, relieving symptoms of pain, alleviating degenerative joint symptoms, and improving knee function in KOA patients. The combination of the two in KOA patients can significantly improve the efficacy and has a good safety profile.
Breast Cancer CAFs: Spectrum of Phenotypes and Promising Targeting Avenues

Activation of the tumor-associated stroma to support tumor growth is a common feature observed in different cancer entities. This principle is exemplified by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are educated by the tumor to shape its development across all stages. CAFs can alter the extracellular matrix (ECM) and secrete a variety of different molecules. In that manner they have the capability to affect activation, survival, proliferation, and migration of other stromal cells and cancer cell themselves. Alteration of the ECM, desmoplasia, is a common feature of breast cancer, indicating a prominent role for CAFs in shaping tumor development in the mammary gland. In this review, we summarize the multiple roles CAFs play in mammary carcinoma. We discuss experimental and clinical strategies to interfere with CAFs function in breast cancer. Moreover, we highlight the issues arising from CAFs heterogeneity and the need for further research to identify CAFs subpopulation(s) that can be targeted to improve breast cancer therapy.
Quality Management in Higher Education; Challenges of Private Universities in Albania

Higher education is considered as one of the main socio-economic development factors of the society. Quality assurance in higher education shall be one of the main priorities of the government and civil society. Expectations for a better performance in the quality of teaching, scientific research and other similar activities, obliges the university managers and administrators to review their strategy. For this reason, the demand for quality in higher education is increasing. After assessing the current state of the private educational institutions in Albania in terms of quality and of identifying the existing issues, there will be provided some recommendations and suggestions for improvement in relation to the future challenges. For this reason, in the theoretical framework of references from literature assessment, a specific total quality management framework (TQM) will be developed.
Tropical cyclone forecast using NCMRWF Global (12 km) and regional (4 km) models

Countries adjoining the North Indian Ocean (NIO) region are among the world's worst affected areas by tropical cyclones (TCs). An increase in frequency and intensity of TCs affecting this basin is noticed in recent years. Timely and accurate prediction of a TC can lead to a decrease in damages to life and property caused by the cyclone. In recent times, the forecasts of TC tracks and intensity have improved due to advancements in the resolution, data assimilation techniques and physics of Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models and improvements in the model's initial condition. In this study, we have analysed the forecasts of Super Cyclone (SuCS) 'Amphan' that occurred over the Bay of Bengal during 16-21 May, 2020 obtained from the Global and Regional version of the NCMRWF Unified Model, i.e., NCUM-G and NCUM-R, respectively. The analysis of the track error shows that the initial position and 24-hour forecast errors in both the models are very close. However, the 48 to 72-hour forecast errors are much lower in the NCUM-R compared to NCUM-G. The percentage decrease in the track errors from global to regional model is about 12% in the 48-hour forecasts and 17% in the 72-hour forecasts. The landfall position error is less than 50 km in the predictions after 18 May, 2020 in NCUM-G. However, NCUM-R shows a lower landfall location error as compared to NCUM-G. Comparing the intensity forecasts from NCUM-G and NCUM-R shows that the 48 hrs forecast of minimum sea level pressure (SLP) based on initial conditions of 16 May, 2020 are very close to the observed intensity. The rapid intensification of Amphan is also well predicted by both the models, although with a delay. The cyclone structure shows that the 850 hPa vorticity core is much stronger in NCUM-R forecasts than NCUM-G. The warm-core system in the NCUM-R forecasts is also more organized than in NCUM-G. On the other hand, the maximum wind radius is greater in NCUM-G forecasts than NCUM-R.
A 28 GHz 2 × 2 Antenna Array with 10 Beams Using Passive SPDT Switch Beamforming Network

In this paper, a dual-polarized four-port 2 × 2 series fed antenna array operating at 28 GHz with beam-switching capability is proposed. The antenna array uses a simple passive beamforming network to switch the main beam. The presented antenna design is suitable for 5G user equipment and high data rates applications by which it has a compact size with low cost and complexity. The size of the antenna is 37.2 × 37.2 mm2 including the ground plane, and it produces 10 different switched beams by using only two simple 3 dB/90∘ couplers which create the required amplitudes and phase excitations for the antenna elements. A one-port simple feeding mechanism including Peregrine PE42525 SPDT switch modules and a power divider is used to generate and measure the 10 switched beams. The antenna design is implemented on a two-layer 0.203 mm thick low-loss (tanδ = 0.0027) Rogers 4003C substrate, and it has a measured 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 4 GHz (14.3%, from 26 GHz to 30 GHz) for all ports. Measured peak isolation between any dual-polarized ports of the antenna is better than 30 dB. The antenna has an average measured realized gain of 8.9 dBi and around 10 dB side lobe level (SLL) for all beams. The antenna has 3-dB coverage of 80∘ to 90∘ in 2D space and it has a maximum of ±26∘ beam-steering angle. The antenna is designed and simulated using Ansys HFSS and fabricated using regular PCB processing.
Peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity in cassava genotypes infested with Phenacoccus manihoti

The cassava mealybug, Phenacoccus manihoti (Matile‐Ferrero) (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), has become an important pest with major potential to damage cassava, Manihot esculenta Crantz (Euphorbiaceae), around the world. To find new sources of plant resistance, the development of P. manihoti on 18 cassava genotypes was evaluated (duration of embryonic, nymphal, egg–adult, pre‐oviposition, and oviposition periods, longevity, and fecundity), and the defense‐related peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities in the leaves were measured. The fecundity of P. manihoti was the parameter most affected by the cassava genotype that the insect was fed. POD activity was negatively correlated with the intrinsic rate of increase (rm) of P. manihoti. PPO activity was negatively correlated with insect fecundity, net reproductive rate (R0), and rm and positively correlated with population doubling time. According to hierarchical groupings of the genotypes tested, three genotypes were resistant to P. manihoti, five were moderately resistant, nine were susceptible, and one was highly susceptible. This information could aid future genetic breeding programs, leading to development of more resistant commercial cassava varieties which could be used in integrated pest management systems.
Design of Zero-Power Control Strategy With Resisting Tilt of Hybrid Magnetic Levitation System

Traditional multipoint hybrid maglev systems cannot realize the zero-power horizontal levitation state under eccentric load, which means the steady-state current is zero, and the air gap of each magnet is equal. This article proposes a new maglev system with two rotary magnets to solve this problem. The two magnets can move on an annular guideway to counteract the moment caused by the eccentric load. At first, we established the linear parameter varying model of this maglev system. Then, the control strategy is designed, which consists of a zero-power horizontal levitation controller and rotation controller. The levitation control is realized by introducing feedback of integral current and deviation of air gap in the proportional-derivative control system. The rotation controller employs a centroid observer and centroid Jacobian. It outputs the rotating angle at the demand of the zero-power and horizontal levitation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed maglev system has a better zero power and horizontal levitation performance than without rotary magnets. The direction of the air gap variation is opposite to that of the loading direction. The variation size of air gap length depends on the load weight, whereas rotation angle is related to the load weight and loading position.