Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cereset Research Standard Operating Procedures for Insomnia: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Background Interventions for insomnia that also address autonomic dysfunction are needed. Objective We evaluate Cereset Research™ Standard Operating Procedures (CR-SOP) in a pilot randomized, controlled trial. CR-SOP is a less operator-dependent, more generalizable innovation of HIRREM®, a noninvasive, closed-loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology demonstrated to improve insomnia and autonomic function. Methods Adults with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores of ≥8 were randomized to receive ten sessions of CR-SOP, with tones linked to brainwaves (LB, intervention), or a sham condition of random tones not linked to brainwaves (NL, control). Measures were collected at enrollment and 0-14 days and 4-6 weeks post-allocated intervention. The primary outcome was differential change in ISI from baseline to 4-6 weeks post-intervention. Secondary self-report measures assessed sleep quality65 and behavioral outcomes. Ten-minute recordings of heart rate and blood pressure were collected to analyze autonomic function (heart rate variability [HRV] and baroreflex sensitivity). Results Of 22 randomized, 20 participants completed the allocated condition. Intention to treat analysis of change from baseline to the 4-6 week outcome demonstrated mean ISI score reduction of 4.69 points among controls (SE 1.40). In the intervention group, there was an additional 2.58 point reduction in ISI score (SE 2.13; total reduction of 7.27, P = .24). Sleep quality and some measures of autonomic function improved significantly among the intervention group compared to control. Conclusions This pilot study compared use of a standardized, allostatic, acoustic neurotechnology intervention with a sham, active control condition. The magnitude of change in insomnia severity was clinically relevant and similar to the findings in a prior, fully powered trial, but the differential improvement observed was not statistically significant. Significant improvements were demonstrated in sleep quality and some autonomic function measures.
The Association between Perceived Annoyances in the Indoor Home Environment and Respiratory Infections: A Danish Cohort Study with up to 19 Years of Follow-Up

The increasing prevalence of reported annoyances in the indoor environment threatens public health. This study aimed to investigate the association between perceived annoyances from the home environment and respiratory infections among individuals with and without asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A total of 16,688 individuals from the Danish Health and Morbidity Survey initiated in 2000 were grouped according to their patterns of perceived annoyances. Information on respiratory infections (all causes, bacterial, viral, and those leading to hospital admissions) was obtained from Danish registers up to 19 years after the survey. Poisson regression of incidence rates (IRs) was applied to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Annoyances significantly increased the IR for respiratory infections of all causes and bacterial respiratory infections in individuals without asthma or COPD, adjusted IRR 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.34) and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.02, 1.31), respectively. However, no difference was observed for viral respiratory infections nor hospital admissions. Individuals with asthma or COPD and a high level of annoyances had a non-significantly increased IR in all four analyses of respiratory infections. These findings provide support for perceived annoyances as an important risk factor for respiratory infections.
Nonlinear autopilot for high maneuverability of bank-to-turn missiles

This paper presents a novel approach to autopilot design for highly maneuvering bank-to-turn (BTT) missiles. In the design and performance analysis of the proposed nonlinear autopilot, all nonlinearities of missile dynamics including the coupling between roll, yaw, and pitch channels as well as the asymmetric structure of missile body are taken into full account. It is shown that through a kind of feedback linearization technique along with a singular perturbation-like technique, the input/output (I/O) dynamic characteristics of pitch, yaw, and roll channels are made linear, decoupled, and independent of flight conditions such as air density and missile velocity. In particular, the proposed autopilot controllers can provide excellent set-point tracking performance for roll and pitch channels while keeping the side-slip angle negligible. The generality and practicality of our approach are demonstrated through mathematical analysis and various simulation results using an ILAAT missile.
Free Boundary Problems and Density Perimeter

We introduce a new concept “the density perimeter,” which substitutes the measure of length of the perimeter of a set in free boundary problems. We deduce some links between the Hausdorff convergence and the char convergence for a family of domains with bounded density perimeter. If this perimeter is considered as a penalty term, we give existence results for the variational problem which appears in computer vision and in a Bernoulli-like free boundary problem. We also make some considerations concerning aΓ-convergence property of the density perimeter
Self-organizing Dynamic Model of Fish Schooling

Abstract Fish schools show a high degree of polarization in the absence of a leader or external stimuli. In this paper the problems of the collective motion of fish schooling are analyzed, and the question of how polarized patterns or structures arise spontaneously is addressed. I attempt to show collective properties on the basis of elemental properties. Individual fish are regarded as gas molecules having locomotion, inbuilt responses with respect to each other and fluctuations of motion. A non-linear Langevin equation describing self-organized formation of fish schools is obtained with practical approximation methods. It is shown that fish schools are governed by specific mathematical relations, i.e. synergetics, which represent the principal feature of order-disorder (polarization-non-polarization) transitions. Systems composed of many fish dramatically change their structure when certain parameters are varied. Moreover, transient behavior and the onset of polarized schooling structure are discussed with reference to the non-linear Langevin equation near the instability point. Experimental data on the transient behavior of the formation of schooling structure are shown for comparison with the theoretical result.
Traditional crops and climate change adaptation: insights from the Andean agricultural sector

ABSTRACT The growth of traditional crops could be a primary resource for adapting to climate change and strengthening agrosystems’ resilience. However, these crops tend to be replaced by non-traditional crops with higher productivity, higher market values, and higher short-term income. In this context, smallholders face trade-offs between maximizing short-term income and ensuring resilience to face likely future climate adversities. The economic assessment of such trade-offs has been commonly neglected in the literature. Most studies are conducted using agronomic or anthropological frameworks to recognize the value of traditional agriculture to increase adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability. This study fills this gap by assessing economic and agronomic trade-offs between traditional and non-traditional crops triggered by climate-induced changes in water availability. We also simulate the effectiveness of a water policy. Our results suggest that farmers growing traditional crops may get lower profits, but their portfolio is more resilient to climate change, whereas the water policy proves to be an effective adaptation strategy to climate change. However, the policy implementation could hinder the development of traditional crops. Based on our results, we suggest implementing smart agricultural policies to balance economic, cultural, and adaptation goals.
The evolution of packages for monolithic microwave and millimeter-wave circuits

The maturing of monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology has spawned a variety of new military and commercial applications. As-a result, there is an increased emphasis on the packaging of MMIC chips and MMIC-based components. Currently, the industry is applying a number of new assembly and packaging technologies to RF components and subsystems driven by the forces of performance, size and weight, and cost. This paper outlines the current evolution in microwave and millimeter-wave packaging using examples drawn from the area of active array antennas. >
RNA–DNA hybrid nano-materials for highly efficient and long lasting RNA interference effect

In attempts to effectively improve RNAi function, we herein report a new RNAi approach using X-shaped RDNA and Dgel (RNA interfering DNA hydrogel, Ri-Dgel). X-shaped RDNA is a 4 branched nanostructure which was composed of three dsDNA branches and one dsRNA branch, and the structure was made by annealing partially complementary ssDNAs and chimeric RNA–DNA oligonucleotides. Ri-Dgel was synthesized through the ligation of the X-shaped RDNAs using their palindromic sticky ends. In MDCK/GFP cells transfected with 1 μM of each format of siRNA, Ri-Dgel and X-RDNA, the intensity of GFP fluorescence was significantly reduced by 65% and 56%, respectively, while dsRNA which is a conventional siRNA format showed a relatively weak reduction intensity of 7% compared with a negative control. We also observed the decreased intensity of GFP fluorescence by approximately 59% in MDA-MB-231/GFP cells transfected with 5 nM Ri-Dgel. Furthermore, the Ri-Dgel showed persistent RNAi efficiency up to 6 days from the treatment. The use of Ri-Dgel to trigger RNAi resulted in enhanced efficacy and longer duration at lower concentration compared to traditional dsRNA implying the nanostructured DNA–RNA hybrid materials have great potential as a platform technology for RNAi-based therapy.
Theory of convex projection and its application to image restoration

The method of projections onto convex sets (POCS), also known as the method of convex projections, is a powerful image restoration/reconstruction algorithm that uses prior information as well as current data. The author discusses the method and shows some applications. It is concluded that the great value in recognizing that an algorithm is of the convex projection type is that one can make definite statements regarding its convergence as well as using prior information in a consistent fashion. <<ETX>>
The Hyades Binary Finsen 342 (70 Tauri): A Double-lined Spectroscopic Orbit, the Distance to the Cluster, and the Mass-Luminosity Relation

We present new radial velocity measurements for both components of the close (ρ ≈ 0.″1) visual binary Finsen 342 (ϕ342) in the Hyades. We combine speckle and visual observations with our velocities to derive an astrometric-spectroscopic orbital solution. This yields individual masses for the stars (MA = 1.363 ± 0.073 M☉ and MB = 1.253 ± 0.075 M☉) as well as an orbital parallax for the system (πorb = 0.″02144 ± 0.″00067). We use relative proper motions to transfer this orbital parallax to 53 representative cluster members and derive a distance to the cluster of 47.4 ± 2.3 pc (m - M = 3.38 ± 0.11), which is only 1% closer than the cluster distance derived recently by Torres, Stefanik, & Latham from the orbital parallax for 51 Tauri, another astrometric-spectroscopic binary in the Hyades. We compare the masses and luminosities we derive for ϕ342, along with those of two other binaries in the Hyades (vB 22 and 51 Tau), with isochrones computed for the cluster and find that there is good agreement for an age of 630 Myr and metallicity Z = 0.027. Because the distances to these binaries have been determined directly, no arbitrary shifts have been applied, as is usually done when fitting main sequences. These results therefore provide a fundamental test of the mass-luminosity relation as predicted by recent stellar evolution models.
A miniature x-ray tube

A miniature x-ray tube is described. The tube is made of Kovar, inside which a grounded target is located close to a field-electron emitter consisting of aligned carbon nanofibers, which continues to work for around 100 h in the 10−6 Pa region unless arcing is induced between the electrodes. The resolution of the contact x-ray images provided by the tube would be impossible using the existing techniques of conventional x-ray radiography, whether the sample is biological or nonbiological.
Optimal Grouping, Spacing, Stratification, and Piecewise Constant Approximation

A variety of statistical problems of optimal grouping, spacing, and stratification are seen to be problems of optimal breakpoint selection for piecewise constant ${\text{L}}_2 [0,1]$ approximation of certain functions. This allows for the development of conditions that insure the existence and uniqueness of solutions, a computational algorithm, and simple approximate solutions. In addition, this approach is shown to provide insight into the relationships between the various problems considered.
A Sim-to-Real Learning-Based Framework for Contact-Rich Assembly by Utilizing CycleGAN and Force Control

Deep reinforcement learning (RL) has succeeded in robotic manipulation applications. However, training robots in the real world is challenging due to sample efficiency and safety concerns. Sim-to-real transfer has been proposed to address the aforementioned concerns but introduces the reality gap. In this work, we introduce a sim-to-real learning framework for vision-based assembly tasks and perform training in a simulation environment by employing raw image inputs from a single camera to address the aforementioned issues. We build a robotic Peg-in-Hole (PiH) training environment that requires low-level simulation knowledge. We also present a domain adaptation method based on a cycle-consistent generative adversarial network (CycleGAN) and a force control transfer approach to bridge the reality gap. The proposed framework, trained in a simulation environment with different environmental scenes, can be successfully transferred to a real PiH setup with a UR5e robot. We then reproduce these results with a Diana7 robot and different peg shapes to verify the generalization ability of the framework.
Dynamic Feature Dataset for Ransomware Detection Using Machine Learning Algorithms

Ransomware-related cyber-attacks have been on the rise over the last decade, disturbing organizations considerably. Developing new and better ways to detect this type of malware is necessary. This research applies dynamic analysis and machine learning to identify the ever-evolving ransomware signatures using selected dynamic features. Since most of the attributes are shared by diverse ransomware-affected samples, our study can be used for detecting current and even new variants of the threat. This research has the following objectives: (1) Execute experiments with encryptor and locker ransomware combined with goodware to generate JSON files with dynamic parameters using a sandbox. (2) Analyze and select the most relevant and non-redundant dynamic features for identifying encryptor and locker ransomware from goodware. (3) Generate and make public a dynamic features dataset that includes these selected parameters for samples of different artifacts. (4) Apply the dynamic feature dataset to obtain models with machine learning algorithms. Five platforms, 20 ransomware, and 20 goodware artifacts were evaluated. The final feature dataset is composed of 2000 registers of 50 characteristics each. This dataset allows for a machine learning detection with a 10-fold cross-evaluation with an average accuracy superior to 0.99 for gradient boosted regression trees, random forest, and neural networks.
Improved Passive Microwave Retrievals of Rain Rate over Land and Ocean. Part I: Algorithm Description

AbstractA new approach to passive microwave retrievals of precipitation is described that relies on an objective dimensional reduction procedure to filter, normalize, and decorrelate geophysical background noise while retaining the majority of radiometric information concerning precipitation. The dimensional reduction also sharply increases the effective density of any a priori database used in a Bayesian retrieval scheme.The method is applied to passive microwave data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), reducing the original nine channels to three “pseudochannels” that are relatively insensitive to most background variations occurring within each of seven surface classes (one ocean plus six land and coast) for which they are defined. These pseudochannels may be used in any retrieval algorithm, including the current standard Goddard profiling algorithm (GPROF), in place of the original channels. The same methods are also under development for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Cor.
Hercules X-1 hard X-ray pulsations observed from HEAO 1

The 1.24 s pulsations of Her X-1 in the energy range 13--75 keV has been analyzed in data obtained from the UCSD/MIT experiment on HEAO 1 during observations of the source on three dates in 1978 February and three in 1978 August. Observational results are (1) the main pulse broadens somewhat with increasing energy; (2) the pulsation light curve undergoes pronounced changes at the leading edge of the main pulse from day to day; (3) spectral hardening within the main pulse is confirmed; (4) a 40--60 keV spectral feature in the spectrum is confirmed; (5) this feature is resolved, . delta.E/E>20%, and its its centroid varies with pulsation phase; and (6) the 13--75 keV spectrum does not noticeably vary from day to day, except for an overall intensity factor. Some implications of these results for the prevailing models of Her X-1 and the HZ Her-Her X-1 system are briefly discussed.
A vector-space approach to the theory of linear n-port networks

The theory of linear (active and passive) networks is investigated from a vector-space viewpoint. It is shown that any linear n -port {\cal N} can be associated with a linear operator R and characterized through the kernel or hyperkernel of R . More precisely, {\cal N} may be associated with a whole class of linear operators. Some of the corresponding matrices (that will be called "canonical") allow a unified treatment for the usual matrix descriptions of n-ports. This also provides a new derivation of the rules for the change of external variables in the description of {\cal N} , as well as some results about the connectability of two n -port networks.
Comparison of a Genotype 1 and a Genotype 2 Macaque Foamy Virus env Gene Indicates Distinct Infectivity and Cell-Cell Fusion but Similar Tropism and Restriction of Cell Entry by Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Proteins

Foamy viruses (FVs) are naturally found in many different animals and also in primates with the notable exception of humans, but zoonotic infections are common. In several species, two different envelope (env) gene sequence clades or genotypes exist. We constructed a simian FV (SFV) clone containing a reporter gene cassette. In this background, we compared the env genes of the SFVmmu-DPZ9524 (genotype 1) and of the SFVmmu_R289hybAGM (genotype 2) isolates. SFVmmu_R289hybAGM env-driven infection was largely resistant to neutralization by SFVmmu-DPZ9524-neutralizing sera. While SFVmmu_R289hybAGM env consistently effected higher infectivity and cell-cell fusion, we found no differences in the cell tropism conferred by either env across a range of different cells. Infection by both viruses was weakly and non-significantly enhanced by simultaneous knockout of interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITMs) 1, 2, and 3 in A549 cells, irrespective of prior interferon stimulation. Infection was modestly reduced by recombinant overexpression of IFITM3, suggesting that the SFV entry step might be weakly restricted by IFITM3 under some conditions. Overall, our results suggest that the different env gene clades in macaque foamy viruses induce genotype-specific neutralizing antibodies without exhibiting overt differences in cell tropism, but individual env genes may differ significantly with regard to fitness.
Platelet Parameters and Their Correlation with Parasitemia Levels Among Malaria Infected Adult Patients at Jinella Health Center, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Background Malaria is a major public health problem with the highest morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Hematological changes play a great role in malaria pathogenesis through platelets and platelet parameters. However, the changes in platelet parameters are not clearly described in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to compare platelet parameters and their correlation with parasitemia among malaria-infected adult patients and healthy adults. Methods An institutional-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted involving 186 (93 malaria-infected patients and 93 healthy adults) study participants using a convenient sampling technique at Jinella health center, Harar, Eastern Ethiopia, from July 10–August 10, 2022. Five milliliters of venous blood were collected from each study participant, and platelet parameters were analyzed using a Unicel (DxH 800) automated hematologic analyzer. A drop of blood was taken from malaria-suspected patients for blood film preparation. Results between two groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U-test. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationships between two continuous variables. A P-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Platelet, plateletcrit, and mean platelet volume of malaria-infected patients were significantly lower as compared with healthy adults (103 x103cells/μL vs 268 x103cells/μL, 0.13 fl vs 0.23 fl, and 9.6 fl vs 15.3 fl), respectively). Conversely, platelet distribution width and platelet large cell ratio were higher in malaria-infected patients than healthy adults (19.2% vs 15.3% and 0.35% vs 0.29%), respectively). Parasitemia levels had a moderately inverse correlation with platelet count (r= −0.419) and a weakly positive correlation with mean platelet volume (r=0.278). Conclusion The platelet, plateletcrit, and mean platelet volume of malaria-infected patients were significantly lower as compared with healthy adults. Malaria parasitemia had a moderate inverse correlation with platelet count and a weak positive correlation with mean platelet volume. Thrombocytopenia and alteration of platelet parameters should be considered in malaria patients.