Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perceived facial happiness during conversation correlates with insular and hypothalamus activity for humans, not robots

The somatic marker hypothesis posits that perceiving emotions entails reenacting markers of self emotions, in particular in the autonomous nervous system. Well studied in decision-making tasks, it has not been tested in a social cognitive neuroscience framework, and in particular for the automatic processing of positive emotions during natural interactions. Here, we address this question using a unique corpus of brain activity recorded during unconstrained conversations between participants and a human or a humanoid robot. fMRI recordings are used to test whether activity in the most important brain regions in relation to the autonomic system, the amygdala, hypothalamus and insula, is affected by the level of happiness expressed by the human and robot agents. Results indicate that for the hypothalamus and the insula, in particular the anterior agranular region strongly involved in processing social emotions, activity in the right hemisphere increases with the level of happiness expressed by the human, but not the robot. Results indicate that perceiving positive emotions in social interactions induces the local brain responses predicted by the somatic marker hypothesis, but only when the interacting agent is a real human.
Chebyshev Approximation for Nonrecursive Digital Filters with Linear Phase

An efficient procedure for the design of finite-length impulse response filters with linear phase is presented. The algorithm obtains the optimum Chebyshev approximation on separate intervals corresponding to passbands and/or stopbands, and is capable of designing very long filters. This approach allows the exact specification of arbitrary band-edge frequencies as opposed to previous algorithms which could not directly control pass- and stopband locations and could only obtain (N - 1)/2 different band-edge locations for a length N low-pass filter, for fixed \delta_{1} and \delta_{2} . As an aid in practical application of the algorithm, several graphs are included to show relations among the parameters of filter length, transition width, band-edge frequencies, passband ripple, and stopband attenuation.
Comparing Multimodal Pilot Pitch Control Behavior Between Simulated and Real Flight

In order to improve the tuning process of flight simulator motion cueing filters and support the development of objective simulator motion cueing requirements, a better understanding of how multimodal pilot control behavior is affected by simulator motion fidelity is required. To this end, an experiment was performed where seven pilots performed a pitch target-following disturbance-rejection task in a simulator under four different motion cueing settings, in addition to performing the task in a real aircraft, which served as the baseline condition. Differences between the simulator and aircraft experiment setup were minimized. Small remaining differences in the display and the sidestick setup slightly affected the experiment dependent measures. However, the effects introduced by the motion cueing settings were far more apparent. When motion fidelity was increased to full aircraft motion, pilots were able to increase performance in attenuating the disturbance signal significantly. In addition, for increased motion fidelity, a change in multimodal pilot control behavior was observed by a decrease in pilot visual lead, while visual and vestibular perception delays increased. Pilot performance and control behavior in the simulator condition with full pitch motion and filtered pitch and c.g. heave motion was most similar to the in-flight condition.
Externally Prestressed Members: Evaluation of Second-Order Effects

The deterioration of bridges due to increased traffic loading, progressive structural aging, and reinforcement corrosion from severe weathering conditions has become a major problem around the world. External prestressing is considered one of the most powerful techniques used for strengthening or rehabilitation of existing structures and has grown to occupy a significant share of the construction market. This paper presents the results of an analytical investigation of the strength and structural behavior of concrete members prestressed with external tendons. The behavior at both the serviceability and ultimate limit states is evaluated. A nonlinear analysis model, based on the incremental deformation method, is developed to predict the entire response of concrete members originally designed with or strengthened by external prestressing. The proposed analysis reproduced experimental results of deflection and tendon stress responses with remarkable accuracy. A parametric study was undertaken to evaluate the behavior of concrete beams either designed using external prestressing or strengthened by it. The analytical results demonstrated that the second-order effect, associated with the progressive change in eccentricity of the tendons with increasing member deformation, is the main factor that distinguishes the behavior of external tendons from an internal unbonded tendon system. Because of this effect, undeviated external tendons mobilized lower nominal flexural resistance and inelastic deflections than did deviated tendons. When used for strengthening concrete flexural members, providing a moderate amount of external prestressing steel leads to significant deflection recovery, some reduction in the live load deflection, and a substantial increase in the yield load and ultimate flexural capacity of the members.
Parameter Estimation and its Sensitivity Analysis of the MR Damper Hysteresis Model Using a Modified Genetic Algorithm

The recently developed magnetorheological (MR) dampers serve as an ideal candidate for diverse applications including structural vibration suppression, shock absorption, and vibration control in vehicle systems. Previous research indicates that they are characterized with non-linear hysteresis and this was further testified in the present study. Various models have been proposed to interpret the complex characteristic, but they are plagued by certain limitations. In view of this, the present study sets out to propose a more efficient genetic algorithm (GA) and a simplified Bouc—Wen model. And it moves to adopt and improve the GA by some effective methods including effective selection methods, adaptive genetic operators and appropriate termination criteria. Then the simplified Bouc—Wen model is obtained by fixing the values of the insensitive parameters in the original model based on the sensitivity analysis theory. Finally, the experimental data of the MR damper responses verify that the proposed approaches are capable of efficient computations and accurate parameter estimation. Also suggested are the implications of the present study on other novel smart dampers.
Identification and Classification of Libyan Rosmarinus Officinalis Essential Oil Components by GC-MS and Predication of Its Antioxidant Activity

The aim of this investigation is identification and classification of Rosmarinus Officinalis essential oil components by GC-MS and prediction of their antioxidant activity. GC-MS analysis of Libyan Rosemary essential oil indicated that in total, 44 compounds were detected comprising 98.3% of compounds in the oil. The results also revealed that the oil contained some constituents with great antioxidant activity such as eugenol, (0.04%), diethylphalate (0.28%), myrtenol (0.46%), γ-Terpinene (2.2%), α – Terpenolene (1.96%), with total percentage of (4.94%) which was considered to be very small. However, about the half of the essential oil contained of constituents with very weak antioxidant activity. These include trans-β-caryophinen (2.2%), α- humulene (0.34%), 1.8- cineol (6.15%), 1.8 – cineol isomer (11.8%), linalool (3.29%), 4-terpinol (5.65%), 1-α – terpine (7.93%), isoborneol (0.29%), perillaldehyde (0.09%), β- citronellal (0.03%), α – pinene (3.4%), comphen (3.04%) and β- pinene(4.21 %), our result shows that the essential oil of Libyan Rosemary might have a weak antioxidant activity.
Unilateral Biportal Endoscopic Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Technical Note and an Outcome Comparison with the Conventional Minimally Invasive Fusion

Background In the past few decades, the minimally invasive technique for spine surgery has developed extensively from the scope of decompression until fusion surgeries to reduce damages to the normal anatomical structure. Unilateral biportal endoscopic lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) is one of the fusion options which is readily available without a sophisticated minimal invasive instrument. Our aim is to introduce ULIF experience in our center and comparing the result with conventional minimally invasive lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF). Methods This is a retrospective cohort study of 145 lumbar spondylolisthesis cases that underwent fusion surgery with either ULIF or the conventional MIS-TLIF. All of the patients were observed within a 12-month follow-up period to evaluate the back pain and leg pain Visual Analogue Score (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and fusion rate. Results The leg pain VAS was similarly improved in both groups. ULIF has a significant back pain improvement on direct post operation and at the 3-months follow-up (p value 0.032 and 0.046 respectively). ULIF group also had a significantly better improvement of ODI scores on the early post-operative period (p=0.045). However, both groups similarly showed improvement of ODI score and the SF-36 at the 3-, 6-, and 12- months follow up. Conclusion Full endoscopic fusion surgery with ULIF offers a comparable long-term outcome and a significantly better back pain VAS reduction in short-term follow up compared to the conventional MIS-TLIF. ULIF, with further improvement, can be the next gold standard in managing degenerative lumbar spine conditions.
How Baltic Russian-speaking audiences outmaneuver securitization, essentialization, and polarization in times of crisis?

ABSTRACT This article addresses transnational media use of Baltic Russian-speaking audiences that is often problematized in the public discourse as an inhibiting factor of their local integration and a threat to the national security of Estonian and Latvian societies. The authors operationalize a theoretical model of synergistic and antagonistic relationship between transnationalism and local integration drawing on the media use of Baltic Russian speakers. The findings suggest that the synergy between transnationalism and local integration is protected against discursive suppression via mundane balancing acts. Furthermore, the securitization of transnational media practices of the Russian-speaking population may not always lead to the rise of diasporic identities as reported in earlier studies.
Effect of Imipenem and Amikacin Combination against Multi-Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Combination of antibiotics has been found to combat multi-drug resistant or extensively drug resistance P. aeruginosa. In this study we investigate the in vitro and in vivo effect of amikacin and imipenem combination against resistant P. aeruginosa. The checkerboard technique and time-killing curve have been performed for in vitro studies showed synergistic effect for combination. A peritonitis mouse model has been used for evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy of this combination which confirmed this synergistic effect. The in vitro and in vivo techniques showed synergistic interaction between tested drugs with fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of ≤0.5. Conventional PCR and quantitative real-time PCR techniques were used in molecular detection of bla IMP and aac(6′)-Ib as 35.5% and 42.2% of P. aeruginosa harbored bla IMP and aac(6′)-Ib respectively. Drug combination viewed statistically significant reduction in bacterial counts (p value < 0.5). The lowest bla IMP and aac(6′)-Ib expression was observed after treatment with 0.25 MIC of imipenem + 0.5 MIC of amikacin. Morphological changes in P. aeruginosa isolates were detected by scanning electron microscope (SEM) showing cell shrinkage and disruption in the outer membrane of P. aeruginosa that were more prominent with combination therapy than with monotherapy.
Fully adaptive temporal regression smoothing in gated cardiac SPECT image reconstruction

A data-driven weighted polynomial regression estimator with variable bandwidth and adaptation of the order of the polynomial can enhance the diagnosis of both ventricular function and myocardial perfusion in gated cardiac SPECT. The authors propose a temporal approach which estimates a mean regression function of either time frame projections or reconstructed images. They investigated several implementations of the regression estimation procedure: (a) prior to the reconstruction, applied on the projection data, (b) iteratively, as a semi-parametric reconstruction method, and (c) applied as a post-reconstruction regression smoother. Implementation of the regression method in step (a) and (c) is independent from the algorithm used to reconstruct the projection data; (b) requires an iterative image reconstruction algorithm. Monte Carlo simulated projection data as well as clinical data have been processed to evaluate the technique. Unique regression smoothing of projection data, (a), or reconstructed images, (c), improves markedly the image statistics while preserving spatial and temporal resolution. Iterative application, (b), without the use of a relaxation parameter may result in over-smoothed time activity curves.
The influence of lateral pressure upon anchorage bond

Synopsis This paper examines the effect of lateral pressure upon the anchorage bond behaviour of both plain and deformed reinforcing bars in lightweight-aggregate concrete. Two common bond tests, the cube pull-out and the semi-beam tests, were modified that lateral pressures could be applied to the bond specimens. The major variables studied were the magnitude of the lateral pressure, the bar diameter. the length of embedment and the concrete strength. The results of over 200 bond tests show that for plain bars the application of lateral pressure can result in an increase in pull-out load of over 250%, whilst for deformed bars of similar size the corresponding increase is about 75%. The different bond mechanisms for plain and deformed bars were highlighted by the failure modes of the bond specimens; this difference in behaviour is rejected in the theoretical work by a frictional bond strength criterion for plain bars and a splitting or shearing criterion f or deformed bars.
Discussion of “Drought assessment in a south Mediterranean transboundary catchment”

Gader et al. (2020) studied the variability of precipitation and drought patterns over a southern Mediterranean transboundary river basin shared between Algeria and Tunisia in Northern Africa. A dataset from a sufficiently high number of meteorological stations was compiled for a statistically long enough period of time. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was used for drought analysis together with the aridity index. Statistical tests were performed by Mann-Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator tests, spatial data treatment was made by geostatistical analysis, and data reduction and gauge classification were carried out by K-means and principal component analysis. Among various results of the study, drought was found to be significantly variable over the river basin, thus resulting in fluctuating wet and dry extremes. The study is important to improve the knowledge of rainfall and drought variability in the river basin shared by two countries in Northern Africa, and understanding factors affecting this variability which is needed to take actions to manage and mitigate water-related risks under climate change. We therefore consider the research efforts of Gader et al. (2020) on the drought issue significantly important, as this is now a part of daily life everywhere, particularly in droughtprone dry-climate regions. The location of the study area in a transboundary river basin across two countries in Northern Africa– both needing water, a limited resource – brings extra significance and importance. It seems possible that the basin-level outcomes of the study can be presented to decision makers or stakeholders to implement such that the society can benefit from it. This increases the value and significance of the research study. However, despite its value and significance in terms of the topic and study area, we found that the paper had some points to be discussed, corrected or clarified in terms of the methodology used for drought analysis. 2 Problem to be discussed
Full-Scale Mesophilic Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Municipal Solid Waste and Sewage Sludge: Methane Production Characteristics

The methane production characteristics of a full scale anaerobic biogas digester processing the putrescible fraction of municipal solid waste (PFMSW) and sewage sludge (SS) were studied by using the operation data of the digester and laboratory experiments. The batch assays indicated methane yields of 3001 kg volatile solids (VS) -1 for PFMSW and 2201 kg VS-1 for SS. The full scale digester showed methane production yields up to 90% of the methane yield potential of the added feed. The rates of methane production and the specific methanogenic activities varied during the cycle of feeding. Apparently, the methanization in the digestion process was substrate-limited, especially during weekends when no feed was added. The batch studies indicated that the propionate and butyrate conversions were no more limiting than acetate methanization. The sludge from the digester was more active than the sludges from digesters processing sewage sludge alone. © 1996 ISWA
The Rate of Fast-Food Consumption among Teenagers in Derna City\ Libya

The purpose of this study is to find out about the fast-food consumption of adolescents between the ages of 13-25 years old in Derna city and its effect on health. The samples included 100 adolescents from both sexes, a descriptive cross-sectional study of teenagers was conducted. The questionnaire was divided into two parts: the first part was related to socio-demographic information and part two to junk food patterns and inﬂuencing factors of junk food consumption. A value of P < 0.05 was interpreted as statistically significant. The findings revealed that more girls (67.0%) consumed fast food than boys, and approximately half (49.0%) of participants were consuming fast food as an alternative to the main meal, and more than half of participants (63.0%) were consuming soft drinks every day. The results concludes that adolescents consumed a greater amount of junk food, which subsequently led to a majority of ill effects.
Millimeter-Wave Proximity-Coupled Microstrip Antenna on an Extended Hemispherical

A low-cost, high-gain, millimeter-wave antenna is presented. The antenna is composed of a proximity-coupled microstrip patch mounted on the back surface of a substrate lens. The antenna utilizes low dielectric constant, low-cost materials and is therefore suitable to many commercial millimeter-wave systems. A full-wave analysis was developed to analyze the performance of the printed antenna and a prototype was developed for operation at 38 GHz. The impedance bandwidth of the prototype was 8% and the gain was approximately 30 dBi across this frequency span with a front-to-back ratio greater than 60 dB. Index Terms—Antennas, microstrip antennas.
Heart Rate Variability is an Independent Predictor of Lymph Node Metastasis in Patients with Cervical Cancer

Purpose Heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported as a useful biomarker for prognostic factors in a variety of cancers. The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive value of preoperative HRV for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with cervical cancer (CC). Patients and Methods A total of 77 patients with CC were included, including 18 LNM and 59 non-LNM patients. A five-minute resting electrocardiogram (ECG) was collected before surgery for the analysis of HRV time domain, frequency domain and Poincaré plot parameters (ie, SDNN, RMSSD, LF, HF, LF/HF, SD1, SD2 and SD2/SD1). Student’s t-tests and logistic regression were performed to determine the relationship between HRV and LNM. Results The LNM group had significantly lower SDNN, LF, and SD2 than the non-LNM group (all p < 0.05; all Cohen’s d > 0.5). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that SDNN, LF and SD2 were still significantly associated with LNM. Specifically, for each 1 ms decrease in SDNN and SD2 and each 1 logarithmic unit decrease in ln (LF), the odds of LNM increased by 12%, 9%, and 86%, respectively (all p < 0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest an association between HRV and CC LNM, and HRV could be a potential noninvasive biomarker for the prediction of LNM in CC patients.
Domestic Constitutional Oversight and International Courts

Does a domestic constitutional court within a state encourage greater acceptance of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)? This question is particularly relevant in Islamic law states (ILS). One might expect that ILS, which embrace the rule of law domestically, might do so internationally. However, this expectation paints an overly simplistic picture of the constitutional court’s role and its relationship with domestic and international politics. Employing original data on constitutional references to constitutional courts (1946–2012), we show that in the context of ILS, acceptance of the ICJ’s jurisdiction is conditional on an independent constitutional court.
Application of fuzzy logic stabilisers in a multimachine power system environment

Application of fuzzy logic based power system stabilisers (FLPSS) in a multimachine environment is described. A five-machine power system representing two generation areas is used. The proposed FLPSS uses machine speed deviation and accelerating power as the inputs. The performance of the FLPSS when the system exhibits multimode oscillation phenomenon is illustrated. Simulation tests and results for different operating conditions and disturbances are discussed.
Vibration Frequencies of Woodframe Residential Construction

Different methods of vibration measurement, such as ambient and forced vibration techniques, have been used in existing woodframe houses to determine fundamental frequency, but because of the highly nonlinear nature of this type of structural system, the reported results vary significantly. This paper discusses some of the differences of frequency values observed in various experimental studies, and identifies the source of these differences by relating the measured fundamental period to the level of shaking. The experimental results from different full-scale tests of woodframe houses and single wood shear walls are used in this paper to gain an improved understanding of the dynamic characteristics of this type of construction and to help explain the differences in results from ambient and forced vibration techniques. A simple equation to estimate forced vibration periods from ambient vibration periods is presented, and its possible application in engineering practice is discussed.