Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A monolithic dielectrically stabilized voltage controlled oscillator for the millimeter wave range

The design, fabrication, and evaluation of a monolithic 29-GHz dielectrically stabilized voltage-controlled oscillator (DVO) using a MESFET as the active device are described. The novel design yields an oscillator with excellent phase noise behavior and frequency tuning capabilities. A phase noise N/C/sub FM/ of -100 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz off carrier and an output power of+8 dBm without significant deviation over the full tuning range of 45 MHz are obtained. A frequency stability of -6 ppm/ degrees C is measured in the -20 degrees C to +80 degrees C temperature range for a+3 ppm/ degrees C temperature coefficient of the dielectric resonator. The MMIC (monolithic microwave integrated circuit) device is realized using a 0.25- mu m MESFET technology. <<ETX>>
EDRM implementation at the National Weights and Measures Laboratory

Purpose – To describe how an EDRMS was implemented at the National Weights and Measures Laboratory and indicate whether the benefits expected have been delivered.Design/methodology/approach – The paper sets out the business case, describes the implementation, shows the outcomes (planned and unexpected), and ends with a conclusion about the degree of success.Findings – Generally the project was successful, with excellent take‐up by users. It has involved records staff in change management issues as the system highlights areas of inconsistency in document management. Careful preparation of the Business Classification Scheme pays dividends on implementation. Use of the OGC Gateway project control helped make sure that the project was completed to time and budget.Research limitations/implications – The National Weights and Measures Laboratory is the smallest UK government agency and is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry. As such it was able to learn from the latter in relation to EDRMS implemen.
Factors impacting university students' online learning experiences during the COVID‐19 epidemic

Abstract Due to the COVID‐19 epidemic crisis, students from higher education institutions around the world are forced to participate in comprehensive online curriculums. In such a scenario, it is worth investigating how students perceived their learning outcomes and satisfaction based on this method of teaching and learning online. This study aims to explore the role of six factors, namely, system quality, course design, learner‐learner interaction, learner‐instructor interaction, learner‐content interaction, and self‐discipline, on university students' perceived learning outcomes and their effect on student satisfaction with online curricula during the COVID‐19 epidemic. A structural equation modelling technique was used to assess survey questionnaires obtained from 457 validated students at a Public University in China. The results demonstrated that these determinants had a positive effect on satisfaction and learning outcomes, whereas learner‐instructor interaction had no significant effect. Furthermore, the strongest determinant that affected not only students' satisfaction but also their learning outcomes was the learner‐content interaction.
Aircraft structural health monitoring using on-board BOCDA system

We developed the on-board BOCDA system for airplane and verified the flight environmental stability and durability through environmental test. The on-board BOCDA system adopted the polarization diversity technique and temporal gating technique to improve robustness of the BOCDA system. We successfully measured distribution of fiber Brillouin gain spectrum over 500m measurement range with 50mm spatial resolution, 60Hz sampling rate and ±13μ strain accuracy. Furthermore, we considered flight test to verify the validity of the BOCDA system. From these results, it was confirmed that BOCDA system has potential to be applied to an aircraft structure health monitoring system.
Race, Criminal Records, and Discrimination Against Job Seekers: Examining Attitudinal Mechanisms

Regardless of why it happens, racial discrimination is damaging and unacceptable. Efforts to reduce discrimination, however, are most successful when we understand the mechanisms that give rise to it. Building on the observation that employers are members of the public, we examine two attitudinal mechanisms that may foster discriminatory employment practices in the context of criminal background checks: stereotypes and threat-based animus. First, we estimate public perceptions of arrest prevalence using two nationwide surveys. Next, we experimentally test the effects of two racially threatening primes—Census projections about a coming majority-minority America, and information about the prison population’s racial composition—on attitudes toward hiring job applicants with criminal records. Consistent with statistical discrimination theory, respondents identify black males as having the highest arrest prevalence. Respondents are less accurate, however, when it comes to gender differences: they underestimate arrest prevalence for black, Hispanic, and white males, and tend to overestimate it for females. On the other hand, our experiments provide little evidence of an effect of threat-based animus: racially threatening primes that are influential in other contexts do not significantly impact attitudes about hiring applicants with criminal records.
Understanding the Determinants of Consumer Composting Behavior1

This study compared 3 models of waste management behavior: (a) a theory of reasoned action model, (b) an environmental belief-behavior model, and (c) an integrated waste management model which is based on the theory of planned behavior. The three models were compared using data from a sample of over 1,400 individual respondents who each completed a survey and a 2-week diary of their consumer composting activities. Overall, the results suggest that while the environmental beliefs-behavior model and the integrated waste management models both fit the data well, the integrated waste management model provided better predictive power and offers significant insight into the factors that influence composting behavior.
China on the Way to Achieving Carbon Neutrality

Sustainable development is recognized as a concept that can interrupt a series of crises observed today and bring the world to a new effective and fair level. The mechanism for implementing the concept is an approach that integrates into the decision-making process, in addition to the already existing criterion of economic efficiency, ESG-criteria, namely: criteria of environmental friendliness, social responsibility and managerial efficiency. Countries integrate these criteria in different ways into national development strategies. This is due to the nature of the problems they face and the solution of which seems to be a priority. Of great interest in this regard is the experience of China — the largest economy in the world, which has also embarked on a phase of active integration of ESG criteria into the national strategy, with an emphasis on the E-criterion (environmental), assuming that the achievement of efficiency for the rest criteria is impossible without first-priority solution of the accumulated problems in the field of ecology. The main purpose of the article is to analyze the strategic decisions of the Chinese government under the influence of the environmental factor. The article analyzes the approaches to substantiating the ideology of environmental reforms (building an ecological civilization) and its key components, namely: the national climate program, the ecological red line, combating desertification and mitigating climate change, combating water pollution and eliminating water shortages. The following conclusion was made. China has rich and interesting experience in solving the problem of modernizing production, ensuring its rational distribution and reducing the environmental burden on the territory, primarily in the framework of combating environmental pollution and climate change. The Chinese experience may be interesting for other countries, including Russia.
Manipulating neural dynamics to tune motion detection

Neurons integrate excitatory and inhibitory signals to produce their outputs, but the role of input timing in this integration remains poorly understood. Motion detection is a paradigmatic example of this integration, since theories of motion detection rely on different delays in visual signals. These delays allow circuits to compare scenes at different times to calculate the direction and speed of motion. It remains untested how response dynamics of individual cell types drive motion detection and velocity sensitivity. Here, we sped up or slowed down specific neuron types in Drosophila’s motion detection circuit by manipulating ion channel expression. Altering the dynamics of individual neurons upstream of motion detectors changed their integrating properties and increased their sensitivity to fast or slow visual motion, exposing distinct roles for dynamics in tuning directional signals. A circuit model constrained by data and anatomy reproduced the observed tuning changes. Together, these results reveal how excitatory and inhibitory dynamics jointly tune a canonical circuit computation.
Free Convection Flow of a Non-Newtonian Fluid in a Vertical Channel

The steady two-dimensional free convection flow of a Walters fluid (model B') in a vertical channel one 'of whose walls is wavy, has been investigated analytically. The governing equationsof the fluid and the heat transfer have been solved subject to the relevant boundary conditions byassuming that the solution consists of two parts: a mean part and disturbance or perturbed part. Toobtain the perturbed part of the solution, the long wave approximation has been used and to solvethe mean part, a well-known approximation used by Ostrach has been utilised. The relevant flow and the heat transfer characteristics, namely the skin-friction and the rate ofheat transfer at both the wallshave been discussed in detail.
Use of Cytokine Mix-, Imiquimod-, and Serum-Induced Monoculture and Lipopolysaccharide- and Interferon Gamma-Treated Co-Culture to Establish In Vitro Psoriasis-like Inflammation Models

Psoriasis (Ps), commonly perceived as a skin and joint disorder, has a complex basis and results from disturbances in the sophisticated network between skin and the immune system. This makes it difficult to properly depict the complete pathomechanism on an in vitro scale. Deciphering the complicated or even subtle modulation of intra- and intercellular factors, assisted by the implementation of in vitro human skin models, may provide the opportunity to dissect the disease background step by step. In addition to reconstructed artificial skin substitutes, which mimic the native physiological context, in vitro models are conducive to the broad “3 Rs” philosophy (reduce, refine, and replace) and represent important tools for basic and applied skin research. To meet the need for a more comprehensive in vitro Ps model, a set of various experimental conditions was applied in this study. The selection of in vitro treatment that mimicked the Ps phenotype was illustrated by analyses of discriminating biomarker genes involved in the pathogenesis of the disease, i.e., keratinocyte differentiation markers, antimicrobial peptides, chemokines, and proliferation markers. This resulted in a reproducible protocol for the use of the primary skin keratinocyte (pKC) monoculture treated with a cytokine cocktail (5MIX, i.e., interleukin (IL) 1 alpha (IL-1α), IL-17A, IL-22, oncostatin M (OSM), and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)) at a calcium (Ca2+) concentration (i.e., 2 mM) in an applied medium, which best mirrored the in vitro Ps-like inflammatory model. In addition, based on waste skin material, the method has the potential for extensive experimentation, both in detailed molecular studies and preclinical tests.
Measuring the occupational health and safety performance of construction companies in Australia

Many facility managers are now required to deal directly with small firms engaged in the maintenance, alteration and cleaning of physical infrastructure. Increasingly the performance of small firms reflects on the manager of the facility, and so an understanding of their operation is required. It is mandatory for all firms to provide a safe working environment for their workers and subcontractors. Consequently, occupational health and safety (OHS) is a major issue for companies mainly due to the fear of prosecution. The introduction of Zero Tolerance by the Victorian government WorkCover Authority in 1999 provided even higher OHS safety standards for the construction industry. This has placed an increased burden on construction and maintenance companies especially small firms that are not in a position of financial strength. The size of the company has been found to be a major contributing factor to the OHS performance of construction contractors. This research is based on a benchmarking study of 44 construction companies in Victoria, Australia. The results show that the major factors influencing safety performance were; company size, and management and employee commitment to OHS.
Tank Crew Performance: Effects of Speech Intelligibility on Target Acquisition and Subjective Workload Assessment

Thirty tank crews were tested in the Ft. Knox COFT tank simulator. The COFT simulator is a gunnery training facility. The crew's task was to shoot specified enemy targets. Each crew consisted of a tank commander and a gunner. The commander told the gunner, via an intercom system, which enemy object was the next target. Performance and subjective workload were measured as a function of the speech intelligibility transmitted by the intercom system. Five levels of intelligibility were tested. The measures of operational effectiveness were the number of targets correctly fired upon and the gunner's latency. Subjective workload was measured using the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT). Gunner performance and subjective workload covaried across intelligibility levels. Performance was not significantly affected until intelligibility levels fell to 50%. However, SWAT ratings increased linearly with decreasing intelligibility level.
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION, ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF PHYTOLACCA AMERICANA L. FRUITS AND LEAVES EXTRACTS

The study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of alcoholic extracts obtained from Phytolacca americana leaves and berries. The total phenols, flavonoids (spectrophotometric method, HPLC), carotenoids, betalains, saponins, antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH methods) and antimicrobial activity of P. americana were assayed. The highest content of phenols (323.80 µg/mL extract), flavonoids (9.27 µg/mL extract) and saponins (1.61mg/mL extract) was obtained for P. americana leaves extract. The HPLC analysis performed in this study fills an important knowledge gap regarding the profile of Phytolacca phenolic compounds. The P. americana extracts exhibited a selective antimicrobial effect against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains and yeasts ( Candida sp). Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 25 - 200 µL/mL, the fruits extracts proving to be the most active, probably due to higher amount of betacyannins (76.11% from the total betalains content). mai mare de betacianine (76,11% din total de betalaine).
Cardiac Structural Remodeling and Hemodynamic Patterns Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Background Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly utilized for most patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. TAVR is linked to enhanced long-term cardiac hemodynamics, reversal of left ventricle (LV) hypertrophy, and improved aortic valve gradients. We present a retrospective observational study assessing cardiac remodeling and valvular flow patterns post-TAVR. Methods Retrospective echocardiographic data were collected, evaluating cardiac function and valvular flow patterns before and after TAVR at a single institution. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using a paired t-test evaluating variations at approximately 30 days and one-year post-TAVR. Results On echocardiogram 30 days and one-year post-TAVR, there was a reduction in LV mass index from 132 g/m² to 110 g/m² (95%CI: 98-122; p=0.01) and 118 g/m² (95%CI: 102-133; p=0.03), and a reduction in relative wall thickness from 0.54 to 0.49 (95%CI: 0.46-0.52; p=0.05) and 0.44 (95%CI: 0.38-0.49; p=0.03), respectively. Doppler velocity indices (DVI) increased from 0.24 to 0.61 (95%CI: 0.49-0.73; p<0.001) and 0.57 (95%CI: 0.48-0.65; p<0.001). Expected improvement in aortic valve velocities and gradients were observed post-TAVR. Conclusions Following TAVR, LV remodeling can be observed as early as 30 days. This is demonstrated by a reduction in LV mass index and relative wall thickness in conjugation with an anticipated improvement in valvular flow patterns and flow across the aortic valve.
Perceived Efficacy of Virtual Leadership in the Crisis of the COVID-19 Pandemic

As a crisis response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies quickly established virtual leadership systems and enabled employees to continue their work from home. This cross-sectional research addresses virtual leadership efficacy assessed by the leaders and by their employees. The findings suggest that leaders evaluate themselves significantly better than their employees, and their leadership efficacy mainly depends on their previous experience of working from home and ability to use communication technologies. This research contributes to the understanding of the factors that have the biggest influence on the belief in leadership efficacy in the context of a rapidly evolving system of remote work.
Prosody training benefits in perception vs. production skills in simultaneous interpreting: an experimental study

The present study investigates the prosody training benefits for interpreter trainees in perception vs. production skills in simultaneous interpreting. Two groups of student interpreters were formed. Participants were assigned to groups at random. The control group received routine instruction in interpreting skills. The experimental group spent 20 minutes less time per session on the routine curriculum and instead re­ceived awareness training on prosodic features of English. The total instruction time was the same for the students in two groups, i.e., 15 hours. Students then took a posttest in interpretation skills. The results showed that the experimental group performed better than the control group in simultaneous interpretation performance. Moreover, the study revealed that prosody training enhances the students’ perception skills more than that of the production skills. These results have pedagogical implications for curriculum designers, interpreter training programs, and all who are involved in language study and pedagogy.
Evaluating a Multimodal Interface for Firefighting Rescue Tasks

Firefighters searching for victims work in hazardous environments with limited visibility, obstacles and uncertain navigation paths. In rescue tasks, extra sensor information from infrared cameras, indoor radar and gas sensors could improve vision, orientation and navigation. A visual and tactile interface concept is proposed that integrates this sensor information and presents it on a head-mounted display and tactile belt. Sixteen trained participants performed a firefighting rescue task with and without the prototype interface, measuring task performance, mental effort, orientation and preference. We found no difference in task performance or orientation, but a significantly higher preference for the prototype compared to baseline. From participants’ remarks, it appears the interface overloaded them with information, reducing the potential benefit for orientation and performance. Implications for the design of the prototype are outlined.
Effect of Contact Lenses on Contrast Sensitivity under Various Lighting Conditions

Abstract Purpose To assess contrast sensitivity in clear and colored soft contact lenses under different lighting conditions. Methods This study was performed on 34 medical students. Visual acuity was measured using a tumbling E chart at a distance of 6 m, and contrast sensitivity was determined by Pelli Robson chart at a distance of 1 m. These tests were repeated in mesopic (3 lux) and glare (2000 lux) conditions. Then, a clear contact lens was applied to one eye and a colored contact lens was applied to the other. After 2 hr, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured for each individual. The results were compared with and without contact lenses under normal, mesopic, and glare conditions. Results The mean refractive error was 0.44 ± 0.20 diopters. Repeated measures ANOVA showed a decline in contrast sensitivity with colored and clear contact lenses as compared to no-lens condition (P < 0.001). Additionally, lighting conditions had a significant impact on contrast sensitivity (P < 0.001); contrast sensitivity was lower in mesopic and glare conditions than under normal lighting condition. Conclusion In addition to the drop in contrast sensitivity under unusual lighting conditions (e.g., glare and mesopic), wearing soft contact lenses can further reduce contrast sensitivity in different lighting conditions. Therefore, people who wear contact lenses should be aware of this reduction in visual performance in conditions like driving at night or in the fog.
Perceived Deprivation and Voter Turnout in Austria: Do Views on Social Inequality Moderate the Deprivation—Abstention Nexus?

Socioeconomic resources are important predictors of electoral participation, yet to understand their impact, we argue it is essential to examine the interaction of income dissatisfaction (egocentric dimension) with someone’s view of societal conditions (sociotropic dimension). Drawing on pooled national election surveys, we find that deprivation indeed depresses voting, but more importantly also that there is significant variation among those who experience economic difficulties: those who disconnect their personal misfortune from broader grievances are significantly more likely to abstain (Relative Power Hypothesis), while embedding one’s situation in a context of societal disparities leads to a desire for change and participation levels nearly as high as among the better off (Conflict Hypothesis). Our findings speak to inequality and turnout research but also have direct political implications, as it seems that responsiveness to campaigns focused on distributional injustices hinges on voters’ perception of themselves in relation to society.