Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Decoupling and Cloaking of Rectangular and Circular Patch Antennas and Interleaved Antenna Arrays with Planar Coated Metasurfaces at C-Band Frequencies—Design and Simulation Study

An electromagnetic cloaking approach is employed with the intention to curb the destructive effects of mutual interference for rectangular and circularly shaped patch antennas situated in a tight spacing. Primarily, we show that by coating the top surface of each patch with an appropriately designed metasurface, the mutual coupling is considerably reduced between the antennas. Furthermore, the cloak construct is extended to a tightly spaced, interleaved linear patch antenna array configuration and it is shown that the coated metasurfaces successfully enhance the performance of each array in terms of their matching characteristics, total efficiencies and far-field realized gain patterns for a broad range of beam-scan angles. For rectangular patches, the cloaked Array I and II achieve corresponding peak total efficiencies of 93% and 90%, in contrast to the total efficiencies of 57% and 21% for uncloaked Array I and II, respectively, at their operating frequencies. Moreover, cloaked rectangular Array I and II exhibit main lobe gains of 13.2 dB and 13.8 dB, whereas uncloaked Array I and II only accomplish main lobe gains of 10 dB and 5.5 dB, respectively. Likewise, for the cloaked circular patches, corresponding total efficiencies of 91% and 89% are recorded for Array I and II, at their operating frequencies (uncloaked Array I and II show peak efficiencies of 71% and 55%, respectively). The main lobe gain for each cloaked circular patch array is approximately 14.2 dB, whereas the uncloaked Array I and II only achieve maximum gains of 10.5 dB and 7.5 dB, respectively.
VaBTFER: An Effective Variant Binary Transformer for Facial Expression Recognition

Existing Transformer-based models have achieved impressive success in facial expression recognition (FER) by modeling the long-range relationships among facial muscle movements. However, the size of pure Transformer-based models tends to be in the million-parameter level, which poses a challenge for deploying these models. Moreover, the lack of inductive bias in Transformer usually leads to the difficulty of training from scratch on limited FER datasets. To address these problems, we propose an effective and lightweight variant Transformer for FER called VaTFER. In VaTFER, we firstly construct action unit (AU) tokens by utilizing action unit-based regions and their histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) features. Then, we present a novel spatial-channel feature relevance Transformer (SCFRT) module, which incorporates multilayer channel reduction self-attention (MLCRSA) and a dynamic learnable information extraction (DLIE) mechanism. MLCRSA is utilized to model long-range dependencies among all tokens and decrease the number of parameters. DLIE’s goal is to alleviate the lack of inductive bias and improve the learning ability of the model. Furthermore, we use an excitation module to replace the vanilla multilayer perception (MLP) for accurate prediction. To further reduce computing and memory resources, we introduce a binary quantization mechanism, formulating a novel lightweight Transformer model called variant binary Transformer for FER (VaBTFER). We conduct extensive experiments on several commonly used facial expression datasets, and the results attest to the effectiveness of our methods.
Role of EVD Placement in Patients with Hydrocephalus Secondary to Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Need for Permanent Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement

Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), often caused by aneurysm rupture, is a critical neurosurgical condition frequently leading to hydrocephalus. Management typically involves the use of an external ventricular drain (EVD) to reduce intracranial pressure and drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The transition from EVD to permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement is a pivotal decision in patient management, influenced by various factors. Objective: This study aims to analyze the role of EVD placement in patients with hydrocephalus secondary to spontaneous SAH and the subsequent need for permanent VPS placement. Methods: Conducted at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, over six months, this retrospective study included 30 patients. After securing hospital ethical committee approval, several parameters were recorded: age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, aneurysm details (size and location), vasospasm occurrence, EVD placement in ICU, duration of EVD placement, CSF output, clamp trials, and wean failures. Results: Out of 30 patients, 8 (26.66%) required VPS placement. No significant difference was found in VPS placement regarding age, gender, GCS score, aneurysm treatment and location, vasospasm, and EVD placement in ICU. However, patients requiring VPS had statistically longer EVD duration (p=0.0001), larger aneurysm size, more wean trials, clamp trials, and instances of wean failure (p=0.0001). Conclusion: The study highlights the complexities in managing hydrocephalus post-SAH, particularly the significant association between the need for VPS installation and factors like EVD duration, aneurysm size, and wean trial outcomes. It underscores the need for future prospective studies with larger sample sizes to better identify patients who would benefit from shunt insertion post-SAH. Keywords: EVD, Hydrocephalus, SAH, Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt, Wean Trials.
EFFICIENCY MARKET HYPOTHESIS, RANDOM WALK THEORY, AND FINANCIAL RATIOS-STOCK RETURNS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BANKS IN INDONESIA, INDIA, AND CHINA IN THE POST-COVID ERA

This research aims to analyze how financial ratios affect firm value, utilizing the Efficiency Market Hypothesis and Random Walk Theory for analysis. It focuses on banking sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (XIDX), India Stock Exchange (XBOM), and China Stock Exchange (XSHG) from 2022 to 2023. This quantitative study employs purposive sampling, resulting in 184 firm- year samples, with data gathered from annual reports. Regression analysis using SPSS version 26 is the chosen method. The findings suggest that India has the most efficient market, while Indonesia aligns with the random walk theory, indicating weaker market efficiency. Notably, variables like "Return on Average Equity" in Indonesia and India and "Impairment Loans to Equity" in India and China significantly impact stock returns. These varying influences underscore the importance of considering country-specific factors in stock return predictions. However, it's essential to acknowledge tha the models explain only a portion of the variance in the dependent variable.
Development of a methodology for extreme flood estimations in alpine catchments for the verification of dam safety

Dams are critical infrastructures which may be endangered by natural hazards as extreme foods. The water release structures especially the spillways must be designed in such a way that they can ensure the safe passage of extreme floods. Uncontrolled overtopping of the dam cannot be accepted since it may result in its failure. The estimation of the design and the safety flood to take into account for the determination of the spillway capacity is a complex and difficult task in alpine regions. Dr. Franz Zeimetz proposes a new and validated methodology for the estimation of extreme floods in alpine catchment based on several scientific developments which could close some relevant gaps of knowledge. The first question addressed by Dr. Zeimetz concerns the temporal rainfall distribution based on the existing Swiss PMP maps. The candidate could show by a comprehensive analysis that a unique rainfall mass curve (RMC) can be adopted for the entire territory of Switzerland. Another open question is the temperature gradient in the atmosphere to take to into account for extreme flood simulations. Regarding a coherent combination of temperature and extreme precipitations, Dr. Zeimetz could develop linear relations between the duration of the precipitation event and the zero-degree isothermal altitude. When using hydrological modelling, the influence of the initial conditions for extreme flood simulations has to be assessed. Based on an extensive analysis of the model state variables, Dr. Zeimetz could develop methodological recommendations for the choice of the initial conditions for extreme flood simulations. Furthermore, he could define the maximum admissible area of the catchment area for which the PMP events derived from the Swiss PMP maps can be still applied. Dr. Zeimetz could also show that the combination of the simulation results with the approach of upper bounded statistical extrapolations has the advantage that the sample sensitivity can be reduced and that the plausibility of the extrapolations is enhanced compared to conventional statistical distributions. Finally, Dr. Zeimetz could formulate a new holistic methodology for extreme flood estimations which he illustrated with three application examples. Based on the PMP-PMF approach the methodology allows to estimate extreme flood hydrographs using hydrological simulation and to attribute a return period to the simulated peak discharge using deterministically determined upper discharge limit.
Opposite shores: a case study of environmental perception and social representations of public school teachers in Brazil

ABSTRACT This present study was aimed at analyzing the environmental perception of teachers from two Brazilian public schools located on opposite shores of a socio-environmentally vulnerable area by means of drawings as well as the data collected from questionnaires. The 2010 Brazilian Census reported that nearly 2.7 million people live in such conditions in the macrometropolis of São Paulo, including the municipalities of São Bernardo do Campo (SBC) and Diadema. Both schools included in this study are located in such cities as they are the most populated ones and surround a very important water reservoir called Billings dam. The SBC school is within a more environmentally preserved area, whereas the Diadema school is in a region with higher environmental impacts. In this sense, we formulated the following research question: “How will this influence the environmental perception of the teachers? ” The activity was attended by 41 teachers from different academic backgrounds. These teachers have mostly shown a naturalistic view of the environment, followed by an anthropocentric view.
Emerging trends in cloud computing security: a bibliometric analyses

Cloud Computing (CC) has gained popularity in industry and academia. CC is implemented by the industries on a large scale. Still, a lot of efforts in research for cloud computing are required. Improving security helps in abolishing the major problems of a domain. Therefore, research and development in security techniques are required. It is important to state the existing status of research. As publications are practically multiplying since 2008, a bibliometric analysis is a need of the hour. This study provides a comprehensive view of cloud security for a relevant time frame. Total 15,591 publications related to security of CC were investigated based on the Scopus database. This study analyses research publications on various parameters such as (i) publishing patterns (e.g. contributing authors, affiliations), (ii) analysis of common key terms, (iii) key term bunching to identify domain of interest, (iv) citation patterns, (v) publications medium, and (vi) researchers who aid in exploring research productivity in this specific domain. It analyses the literature based on the quantitative features and characteristics of cloud security based on meta-perspectives. The proposed analytical study will serve as an important tool for significant debate on future research schemas.
Smart City Middleware: A Survey and a Conceptual Framework

Smart city middleware serves as a foundational tool in the evolution of urban digitalization, acting as an intermediary software layer that simplifies the development, deployment, and management of applications tailored for smart urban environments. However, the development of effective middleware for smart cities is challenging. The present research embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the smart city middleware landscape, unraveling the intricacies of its development and the challenges faced therein. Rooted in the assessment of 20 distinct middleware solutions, our study highlights the pivotal technologies, features and functionalities that are imperative for a middleware to effectively support a city’s digital transformation. The functional and non-functional requirements form the nucleus of our evaluation. We also explore the architectural styles pivotal to middleware development and the programming paradigms shaping smart city application development. Our study highlights challenges in using middleware for smart city applications, such as interoperability, scalability, security amidst big data, context management, reliability, quality of service, energy efficiency, and compliance with technological standards and regulations. Based on the detailed analysis, we propose a conceptual framework for smart city middleware, shaped by the challenges and requirements identified in existing literature and middleware solutions. This framework is designed to reflect the diverse demands and complexities of urban digital transformation, and guide smart city middleware development accordingly. As a result, this research stands as a reference study for software developers, urban planners, and researchers, outlining the current state and future directions in the domain of smart city middleware.
Uptake of Electronic Medical Record System by Health Workers in Selected Public Hospitals in Kiambu County, Kenya

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are now exerting a more significant impact on healthcare industry than before. The objective of this study was to find out how public hospitals in Kiambu County were providing health care services using the health information technology. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select 359 participants who met the inclusion criteria out of the entire population of health workers in Kiambu county public facilities. Data was collected using structured and semi structured questionnaires. The study found that majority of respondents were using EMRs during the time of the study. Most of the respondents with internet connectivity utilized the EMRS. Further analysis showed that internet connectivity was 5.3 times more likely to utilize EMRS. The study found that most respondents aged between 40-44 years were utilizing EMRS followed by 30-34 years and 20-24 years. Additionally, more male healthcare workers were utilizing EMRS. Healthcare workers’ who perceived patients' information as secure while using electronic medical record system were more likely to utilize EMRS. Although most healthcare workers disagreed that EMRS takes less time retrieving patient information, the respondents who indicated that the speed in retrieving patient's information was very good were three times more likely to utilize electronic medical record system. Hospital having a power backup system in place or not did not influence the overall uptake of EMRS. The study revealed that at least 89.6% of the healthcare workers utilizing EMRS disagreed that they had adequate knowledge and skills on EMRS operation, this was not significantly associated with uptake of EMRS. In conclusion, most health facilities in Kiambu County are utilizing EMRs with the Ministry of Health at the national and county government required to facilitate continuous training for health workers to promote EMR uptake
Acoustic full-waveform inversion in an elastic world

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a technique used to obtain high-quality velocity models of the subsurface. Despite the elastic nature of the earth, the anisotropic acoustic wave equation is typically used to model wave propagation in FWI. In part, this simplification is essential to be efficient when inverting large 3D datasets but it has the adverse effect of reducing the accuracy and resolution of the recovered P-wave velocity models, as well as a loss in potential to constrain other physical properties such as S-wave velocity given that amplitude information in the observed dataset is not fully utilized. First, we apply conventional acoustic FWI to acoustic and elastic data generated using the same velocity model in order to investigate the effect of neglecting the elastic component in field data, and show that it leads to a loss in resolution and accuracy in the recovered velocity model. We then suggest a method to mitigate elastic effects in acoustic FWI using matching filters that transform elastic.
Civil Servants’ Perception Towards The Open University of Tanzania

The purpose of this study was to investigate the civil servants’ perceptions towards the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The study employed a qualitative research approach, guided by distance learning theory, self-perception theory and mathematical theory of communication, involving 81 sampled civil servants. A case study research design with interviews and focused group discussion (FGD) were employed in the study. The collected data were analyzed through thematic and discourse analysis. The findings revealed that there is both positive perception and negative perception from civil servants about OUT. The findings also revealed that civil servants had a good understanding of the term OUT although some of them used OUT and ODL interchangeably. It was further revealed that the number of civil servants enrolled in the ODL programmes offered by OUT was notably lower as a result of limited experiences and insufficient details about the OUT programmes and its mode of delivery. The nature, availability, and formats of information about OUT raised concerns among civil servants. The study recommended that OUT as the ODL flag bearer, should continue packaging, showcasing, sharing, and updating information on ODL in the society. This will improve understanding and eventually the participation of the community, particularly the civil servants, in ODL programmes at OUT.
Investigating the Role of Pretend Play in Developing Creativity among Preschoolers

This study aimed to investigate the role of pretend play in developing creativity among preschoolers in isolated, associative, and cooperative play. The participants of the study were preschoolers aged from 3.5 to 5 years. The qualitative research approach was employed to observe preschoolers during pretend play of their own choice. The play was observed through nine sessions, 45 minutes each for nine weeks, which was video recorded followed by an interview with a teacher. High and low-structure play objects were provided to the preschoolers to begin the pretend play. As a result of this, cognitive and affective processes were assessed through observation. The results showed that pretend play opens the path for preschoolers to develop creativity and the prospect of an imaginative world. They exhibited imitation, correct representation of toys, irrespective of gender-based selection of toys, and conversion from isolated to cooperative play with progressing sessions. The study concluded that plays are vital and significantly contribute to developing creativity among preschoolers. Further, it is recommended that play intervention programs be introduced and implemented across the country to develop creativity through play among preschoolers. Keywords: Early childhood development, Preschoolers, Pretend play, Creativity
Undrained face stability of tunnels in Bangkok subsoils

This paper presents the analysis of undrained face stability of tunnels in Bangkok subsoils. In this study, two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) finite element analyses were employed to analyse the 2D plane strain conditions of transverse (2DT) and longitudinal (2DL) sections as well as the full 3D geometry, respectively. The simplified geometry of 2DT corresponds to the circular face of tunnels subjected to a uniform face pressure, while that of 2DL correspond to the plane strain heading applied by a uniform face pressure at the front plane. For the 2D plane strain transverse and longitudinal sections, the tunnel lining was not considered in the analyses. For 3D cases, tunnel linings were included in the analysis and modelled as the rigid plate element with the fully rough surface along their lengths, while the tunnel face was subjected a face pressure. For all cases, the uniform surcharge was applied all over the ground surface. Strength reduction methods in conjunction with 2D and 3D finite element analyses were employed to determine the stability and the factor of safety of this problem. The stability analyses included ranges of tunnel face pressure measured during the tunnelling process. Effects of three-dimensional stability of tunnel face were also presented and discussed in this paper. Results of analyses were verified and compared with existing methods.
Evaluation of the durum wheat landrace genetic diversity using agro analysis and its benefit for human health

Ancient wheat and landraces (traditional varieties) are fascinating to the consideration of scientists who are re-evaluating the healthy and dietary properties attributed to them by popular tradition. Wheat (Triticum durum) is one of the most significant crops that is grown all over the world. In the present study, 19 landraces were analyzed for genetic diversity through morphological and SDS-PAGE analysis. The highest coefficient of variance (18.91%) was found for spike length, and the lowest for days to maturity (1.51%). The genotype Malakand and Dolram produced a maximum number of seeds (42 and 46 seeds per plant), and the genotypes Dogai and Rasool Banda were found to be the tallest (73 and 71 cm, respectively). The genotype Kamar Kotki was found to mature early (165 days) while Doagi was found to mature late (171 days). Spike length was found to be positively correlated with plant height, leaf width, and leaf length. Leaf width was significant with spike length and the internode distance. The cluster analysis divided all the genotypes into six sub-clusters where the Asban and the Shekhan were placed at the extreme of the dendrogram. Based on the total seed storage proteins analysis, 18 (85.71%) bands were polymorphic while 14.28% bands were found to be monomorphic. Using Ward’s methods, all the genotypes were divided into two main lineages at 25% Euclidian distance and five sub-clusters at 75% distance. Our findings have significance for understanding the variations and relationships between various durum wheat genotypes and could serve as a basis for local elite durum germplasm that has been regionally adapted.
Response of pearlmillet (Pennisetum glaucum) varieties to different levels of nitrogen under late-sown rainfed conditions

A field study was undertaken during kharif (rainy) season of 1992 and 1994 at Durgapura, to optimize the dose of nitrogen and evaluate suitable variety for late- sown, rainfed situations of semi-arid conditions of eastern Rajasthan. The crop was sown on 1 and 2 August during 1992 and 1994 respectively. Because of the good and well-distributed rainfall (456.5 mm and 378.2 mm) during the crop season up to mideeptember, all the varieties of pearlmillet matured successfully during 1992 and 1994. Pearlmillet HHB 60 outyielded other varieties and significantly increased the grain yield by 3.42, 5.19 and 7.96 qlha respectively over HHB 67, RHB 30 and Raj 171. Increasing levels of nitrogen from 30 to 90 kglha increased the grain yield of pearlmillet significantly. Application of 90 kg Nl ha increased the grain yield by 18.39 and 48.79% over 60 kg and 30 kg Nlha respectively.