Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The H I Line Width/Linear Diameter Relationship as an Independent Test of the Hubble Constant

The relationship between corrected H I line widths and linear diameters (LW/LD) for spiral galaxies is used as an independent check on the value of the Hubble constant. After calibrating the Tully-Fisher (TF) relation in both the B and I bands, the B-band relation is used for galaxies of morphological/luminosity types Sc I, Sc I.2, Sc I.3, Sab, Sb, Sb I-II, and Sb II to derive the LW/LD relation. We find that for this sample the scatter in the LW/LD is smallest with a Hubble constant of 90-95 km s-1 Mpc-1. Lower values of the Hubble constant produce a separation in the LW/LD relation that is a function of morphological type. Since a Hubble constant of 90-95 is significantly larger than the final Key Project value of 72 km s-1 Mpc-1, a comparison of TF, surface brightness fluctuation (SBF), and fundamental plane (FP) is made. This comparison indicates that the Key Project TF distances to 21 clusters may be too large. For a sample of 11 clusters, the Key Project TF distances provide an unweighted mean Hubble constant of 77 km s-1 Mpc-1, while a combination of the FP, SBF, and our TF distances for the same 11 clusters gives H0 = 91 km s-1 Mpc-1. A more subtle result in our data is a morphological dichotomy in the Hubble constant. The data suggest that Sc I galaxies follow a Hubble constant of 90-95 while Sb galaxies follow a Hubble constant closer to 75 km s-1 Mpc-1. Possible explanations for this result are considered, but it is shown that this Sb/Sc I Hubble flow discrepancy is also present in the Virgo Cluster and is consistent with previous investigations that indicate that some galaxies carry a component of age-related intrinsic redshift.
In Silico Evidence of the Multifunctional Features of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus LPG1, a Natural Fermenting Agent Isolated from Table Olive Biofilms

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in obtaining probiotic bacteria from plant origins. This is the case of Lactiplantibacillus pentosus LPG1, a lactic acid bacterial strain isolated from table olive biofilms with proven multifunctional features. In this work, we have sequenced and closed the complete genome of L. pentosus LPG1 using both Illumina and PacBio technologies. Our intention is to carry out a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and whole-genome annotation for a further complete evaluation of the safety and functionality of this microorganism. The chromosomic genome had a size of 3,619,252 bp, with a GC (Guanine-Citosine) content of 46.34%. L. pentosus LPG1 also had two plasmids, designated as pl1LPG1 and pl2LPG1, with lengths of 72,578 and 8713 bp (base pair), respectively. Genome annotation revealed that the sequenced genome consisted of 3345 coding genes and 89 non-coding sequences (73 tRNA and 16 rRNA genes). Taxonomy was confirmed by Average Nucleotide Identity analysis, which grouped L. pentosus LPG1 with other sequenced L. pentosus genomes. Moreover, the pan-genome analysis showed that L. pentosus LPG1 was closely related to the L. pentosus strains IG8, IG9, IG11, and IG12, all of which were isolated from table olive biofilms. Resistome analysis reported the absence of antibiotic resistance genes, whilst PathogenFinder tool classified the strain as a non-human pathogen. Finally, in silico analysis of L. pentosus LPG1 showed that many of its previously reported technological and probiotic phenotypes corresponded with the presence of functional genes. In light of these results, we can conclude that L. pentosus LPG1 is a safe microorganism and a potential human probiotic with a plant origin and application as a starter culture for vegetable fermentations.
Factor Structure and Validation of the Revised Suicide Crisis Inventory in a Korean Population

Objective Because of the exceptionally high suicide rates in South Korea, new assessment methods are needed to improve suicide prevention. The current study aims to validate the revised Suicide Crisis Inventory-2 (SCI-2), a self-report measure that assesses a cognitiveaffective pre-suicidal state in a Korean sample. Methods With data from 1,061 community adults in South Korea, confirmatory factor analyses were first conducted to test the proposed one-factor and five-factor structures of the SCI-2. Also, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed to examine possible alternative factor structure of the inventory. Results The one-factor model of the SCI-2 resulted in good model fit and similarly, the five-factor model also exhibited strong fit. Comparing the two models, the five-factor was evaluated as the superior model fit. An alternative 4-factor model derived from EFA exhibited a comparable model fit. The Korean version of the SCI-2 had high internal consistency and strong concurrent validity in relation to symptoms of suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion The SCI-2 is an appropriate and a valid tool for measuring one’s proximity to imminent suicide risk. However, the exact factor structure of the SCI-2 may be culture-sensitive and warrants further study.
Dependence of dielectric properties on internal stresses in epitaxial barium strontium titanate thin films

A series of heteroepitaxial BaxSr1−xTiO3 thin films with composition x=0.50 were deposited on (001) MgO substrates by pulsed-laser deposition. The thickness of the films was varied from 14 to 500 nm to produce a systematically decreasing level of in-plane tensile stresses. The microstructural and crystallographic features of the films were determined via transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction. A theoretical treatment of the in-plane misfit strain as a function of film thickness is in agreement with the measured out-of-plane lattice parameters. Electrical measurements indicate a drop in the dielectric constant from 2350 for highly stressed thin films to 1700 for relaxed thicker films. The variation in the dielectric constant with the misfit strain is in accordance with a thermodynamic model developed. The relationship between the dielectric constant and electric field is also described by extending the thermodynamic model and taking the effect of electric field into account. A new definitio.
A model of the development of droplet effective radius in convective cloud

A model is presented of a growing cumulus turret which is used to investigate the sensitivity of the droplet effective radius in a convective cloud to variations in the cloud-base temperature, the liquid-water content, the vertical wind speed at cloud base, the cloud condensation nucleus (CCN) spectrum entering the cloud base, and dry-air entrainment. It is found that the existence of large quantities of dry-air entrainment has a major impact on the evolution of the cloud microphysics. Near to the cloud base the growth of newly nucleated droplets causes a rapid increase in the droplet effective radius with height. Higher in the cloud, dry-air entrainment results in new nucleation of small droplets at all heights in the cloud and the complete evaporation of some of the pre-existing droplets. The effect of this is that is that the horizontally averaged effective radius becomes a very weak function of height. The value of the effective radius is most strongly influenced by the CCN spectrum entering through the cloud base. This mean that differences between oceanic and continental clouds are reflected in different values for the effective radius. The effects of entrainment do, however, tend to reduce the sensitivity of the effective radius to the initial CCN spectrum. In addition, the very broad droplet-size distribution produced by the effects of entrainment may be very important in the development of the ice phase in these clouds. The droplent effective radius produced by the entraining model is less sensitive to temperature than the effective radius predicted by adiabatic growth. The result. The result is also insensitive to differences between the CCN distribution entering the cloud base and the CNC population entrained from the environment within reasonable limits.
Overcoming Obstacles Using Tail STAR: A Novel Sprawling Robot With a Two-Joint Tail

This letter presents Tail STAR (TSTAR), a novel reconfigurable robot with an active two-link tail. TSTAR is also fitted with a sprawling mechanism that lets it run either upright or inverted and change its height. The tail enables the robot to move its center of mass (COM) forwards or backwards and extend its length, provides it with more surface contact points, and increases its climbing capabilities. After presenting a kinematic model of the robot, a quasi-static analysis is presented that aims at optimizing the design of the robot and evaluating its motor requirements, climbing conditions and limitations. Experiments then show that the combination of the sprawling and tail mechanisms enables the TSTAR to overcome extremely challenging obstacles, climb high steps (6 times its wheel radius), bridge gaps equal to its own body length, and flip over to switch between its whegs and wheels to operate on very different terrains such as dirt, stones and grass (see attached video).
Efficacy of acupuncture in patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on gut microbiota: Study protocol for a randomized sham-controlled trial

Introduction Acupuncture is used as an adjuvant therapy for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but available evidence for efficacy is limited so far. Growing studies suggest that resident gut microbiota contributes to the development and progression of AD. Meanwhile, acupuncture is reported to treat gastrointestinal and neurodegenerative disorders via the gut-brain axis. Therefore, our aim is to confirm the adjunctive therapeutic effects of acupuncture for AD, and explore the relationship between clinical efficacy and shifts of gut microbiota. Methods and analysis This is a randomized, participant-masked, sham-controlled trial. One hundred and sixty participants with mild AD will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either active acupuncture or non-penetrating sham acupuncture (three times weekly for 14 weeks) added to donepezil treatment (5 mg per day for 28 weeks). The primary efficacy outcome is the change from baseline to week 28 in the Alzheimer’s disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog12). Secondary efficacy outcomes include other assessments of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Alzheimer’s disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Gut microbiota will be measured using 16S rRNA tag sequencing. Discussion This rigorous trial will provide high-quality evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture as adjunctive treatment for mild AD, and identify the possible mechanisms of acupuncture from gut microbiota. Clinical Trial Registration [https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05078944], ClinicalTrials.gov [NCT05078944]. Registered 15 October 2021
3D‐Var Hessian singular vectors and their potential use in the ECMWF ensemble prediction system

Singular vectors are computed which are consistent with 3D‐Var (three‐dimensional variational) estimates of analysis error statistics. This is achieved by defining the norm at initial time in terms of the full Hessian of the 3D‐Var cost function. At final time the total energy norm is used. the properties of these Hessian singular vectors (HSVs) differ considerably from total energy singular vectors (TESVs) in such aspects as energy spectrum and growth rate. Despite these differences, the leading 25 TESVs and HSVs explain nearly the same part of the 2‐day forecast error.
Static properties of hydrophobic polyelectrolytes in the thermodynamic limit

A series of hydrophobic sodium poly(styrene-co-styrene sulfonate) of different charge fractions has been studied by static light scattering in the thermodynamic limit. In the examined concentration range ( ≤ 0.1 M/l, in monomers), the solutions show an ideal gas behaviour. A quantitative comparison with previous osmotic pressure measurements reveals the existence of a strong variation of the polarizability, which is related to a change of local chain conformation. This result can be interpreted in terms of the globular instability model for hydrophobic polyelectrolytes (pearl necklace model).
REGIONAL DISPARITIES AS A RESULT OF DIFFERENCES IN HUMAN CAPITAL AND INNOVATIVENESS ON THE EXAMPLE OF POLAND

Inequalities in human capital most often affect other spheres of life. It is people who create innovation, so the unequal distribution of human capital and innovation in the regions leads to development disparities between regions. This, in turn, is a force inhibiting the achievement of higher levels of prosperity at the national level. The existing studies mainly focus on the assessment of disparities in development between countries. Although understandings of mechanisms of regional disparities, i.e., assessment of how and whether disparities are disappearing or widening under current socio-economic conditions is crucial to economic stability and cohesion, the problem of determinants of development and the pace of development between regions has rarely been studied in the economic literature. The purpose of the article, therefore, is to show how quickly weaker regions are catching up with more developed regions and that regional disparities are mainly the result of uneven human capital accumulation. The authors wonder if human capital in the regions is used similarly to create innovation. Hence, they examine the rate of development of these two relationships. The research: (1) determines the pace of development and adjustment processes by using the dynamic time warping method, (2) discovers if human capital is the main driver of regional disparities and is fully utilized in the creation of innovativeness.
Time-Varying Resource Graph Based Processing on the Way for Space-Terrestrial Integrated Vehicle Networks

Desirable information processing in space-terrestrial integrated vehicle networks (STINs) handles data distributed in different satellites while transmitting, where efficient modeling time-varying resources is critical. Existing works are not applicable to STINs, however, because they lack the joint consideration of different movement patterns and fluctuating loads. In this paper, we propose the Time-Varying Resource Graph (TVRG) to model dynamic resources in STINs, by leveraging the advantages of software-defined networking in flexible resource management. First, we propose the STIN mobility model to uniformly model different movement patterns in STINs. Then, we propose a layered Resource Modeling and Abstraction (RMA) approach, where evolutions of node resources are modeled as Markov processes, by encoding predictable topologies and influences of fluctuating loads as states. Besides, we propose the low-complexity domain resource abstraction algorithm by defining two mobility-based and load-aware partial orders on resource abilities. Finally, we formulate the TVRG-based Processing on the Way (TPoW) problem for data flows with processing requirements and multiple sources. We propose a Multi-level Processing on the Way (MPoW) approach with a bounded approximation ratio, realizing adaptive matching of resources and demands of processing and transmission. To evaluate the RMA approach, we propose a TVRG-based Routing (TR) algorithm for time-sensitive and bandwidth-intensive data flows, with the multi-level on-demand scheduling ability. Comprehensive simulation results demonstrate that our RMA-TR and MPoW outperform most related schemes by decreasing nearly 40% bandwidth consumption with the shortest end-to-end delay.
The development of a smartphone app to enhance post-traumatic stress disorder treatment in high-risk workers

Objective Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is highly prevalent in certain populations. However, evidence indicates that many individuals do not respond to treatment. Digital supports hold promise for increasing service provision and engagement but there is a lack of evidence on blended care options and still less research guiding the development of such tools. This study details the development and overarching framework used to build a smartphone app to support PTSD treatment. Methods The app was developed in line with the Integrate, Design, Assess, and Share (IDEAS) framework for the development of digital health interventions and involved clinicians (n=3), frontline worker clients (n=5) and trauma-exposed frontline workers (n=19). Integrated iterative rounds of testing were conducted via in-depth interviews, surveys, prototype testing and workshops, alongside app and content development. Results Clinicians and frontline workers both expressed a clear preference for the app to augment but not replace face-to-face therapy, with the aim of increasing between-session support, and facilitating homework completion. Content was adapted for app delivery from manualised therapy (trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Prototype versions of the app were well received, with both clinicians and clients reporting the app was easy to use, understandable, appropriate and highly recommendable. System Usability Scale (SUS) scores were on average in the excellent range (82/100). Conclusions This is one of the first studies to document the development of a blended care app designed specifically to augment clinical care for PTSD, and the first within a frontline worker population. Through a systematic framework with active end user consultation, a highly usable app was built to undergo subsequent evaluation.
3D motion and strain estimation of the heart: initial clinical findings

The quantitative assessment of regional myocardial function remains an important goal in clinical cardiology. As such, tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking based methods have been introduced to estimate local myocardial strain. Recently, volumetric ultrasound has become more readily available, allowing therefore the 3D estimation of motion and myocardial deformation. Our lab has previously presented a method based on spatio-temporal elastic registration of ultrasound volumes to estimate myocardial motion and deformation in 3D, overcoming the spatial limitations of the existing methods. This method was optimized on simulated data sets in previous work and is currently tested in a clinical setting. In this manuscript, 10 healthy volunteers, 10 patient with myocardial infarction and 10 patients with arterial hypertension were included. The cardiac strain values extracted with the proposed method were compared with the ones estimated with 1D tissue Doppler imaging and 2D speckle tracking in all patient groups. Although the absolute values of the 3D strain components assessed by this new methodology were not identical to the reference methods, the relationship between the different patient groups was similar.
The Evaluation of Module Division Programme Based on Information Entropy

Firstly, analysis product’s customer demand correlation, function correlation, geometric correlation, structure the corresponding correlation matrix, distribute the respective weighting factor, and then establish an integrated correlation matrix. Application of fuzzy clustering, the establishment of cluster map, the program has been divided into different modules. Based on information entropy theory, select product’s design and manufacturing complexity, cost, maintenance as the optimization objective, establish mathematical evaluation model of module division. Evaluating a number of options get from the fuzzy clustering method, which gain the most reasonable module division program. Finally, taking the seat frame of the Remote Control Weapon Station(RCWS) for example, verify the validity and reasonableness of the evaluation method.
A Novel Construction Method of QC-LDPC Codes Based on Generalized ACE Constrained

Recently, structured LDPC codes have been focused on due to excellent performance and lower complexity. An improved construction of QC-LDPC based on a modified PEG algorithm is proposed in this paper. The modified Progressive Edge-Growth algorithm is a PEG algorithm with Approximated Cycle Extrinsic Message Degree (ACE) metric, which is used to describe the connectivity of cycles. The approach can maximize the girth of the cycles, improve the connectivity of cycles and have the advantages of QC algorithms. The simulation results demonstrate that the PEG algorithm based on ACE has lower Bit Error Rate (BER) and Frame Error Rate (FER) than the original PEG algorithm at the low Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) values, and has a relatively lower computational complexity.
Bioactive Materials for Caries Management: A Literature Review

Researchers have developed novel bioactive materials for caries management. Many clinicians also favour these materials, which fit their contemporary practice philosophy of using the medical model of caries management and minimally invasive dentistry. Although there is no consensus on the definition of bioactive materials, bioactive materials in cariology are generally considered to be those that can form hydroxyapatite crystals on the tooth surface. Common bioactive materials include fluoride-based materials, calcium- and phosphate-based materials, graphene-based materials, metal and metal-oxide nanomaterials and peptide-based materials. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a fluoride-based material containing silver; silver is antibacterial and fluoride promotes remineralisation. Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate is a calcium- and phosphate-based material that can be added to toothpaste and chewing gum for caries prevention. Researchers use graphene-based materials and metal or metal-oxide nanomaterials as anticaries agents. Graphene-based materials, such as graphene oxide-silver, have antibacterial and mineralising properties. Metal and metal-oxide nanomaterials, such as silver and copper oxide, are antimicrobial. Incorporating mineralising materials could introduce remineralising properties to metallic nanoparticles. Researchers have also developed antimicrobial peptides with mineralising properties for caries prevention. The purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of current bioactive materials for caries management.
How Do We Catch Our Tongue From Slipping?

Speaking is such an important part of our lives. We use it to communicate with our families, friends, and even our pets! Not only do we talk a lot, but we are also very good at it. Healthy speakers can say 2–3 words per second and usually produce an error only about once every 1,000 words. To limit the number of errors we make, we are continuously monitoring our own speech. While speaking is easy, the brain process of monitoring our own speech is quite complex. In this article, we outline the process of selecting a word, understanding what happens when a speech error is made, and what could happen if the parts of the brain responsible for monitoring speech are damaged.
Comparison of centroid computation algorithms in a Shack–Hartmann sensor

Analytical theory is combined with extensive numerical simulations to compare different flavours of centroiding algorithms: thresholding, weighted centroid, correlation, quad cell (QC). For each method, optimal parameters are defined in function of photon flux, readout noise and turbulence level. We find that at very low flux the noise of QC and weighted centroid leads the best result, but the latter method can provide linear and optimal response if the weight follows spot displacements. Both methods can work with average flux as low as 10 photons per subaperture under a readout noise of three electrons. At high-flux levels, the dominant errors come from non-linearity of response, from spot truncations and distortions and from detector pixel sampling. It is shown that at high flux, centre of gravity approaches and correlation methods are equivalent (and provide better results than QC estimator) as soon as their parameters are optimized. Finally, examples of applications are given to illustrate the results obtained in the paper.