Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analytical study of influence of boundary conditions on acoustic power transfer through an elastic barrier

In this paper, a fully coupled electromechanical model of wireless power transfer through an elastic barrier using piezoelectric transducers is established based on the theory of piezoelectricity. In this model, an elastic layer representing the elastic barrier is sandwiched by two piezoelectric layers attached by boundary mass and boundary constraint. The two piezoelectric layers act as input energy converter and output energy receiver, respectively. Using the electrical and mechanical boundary and continuous conditions, all the electrical and mechanical components of the system are derived. A simplification is performed and compared with a previous study and a preliminary experiment to valid the present study. Numerical studies are conducted to reveal the effects of circuit load resistance, barrier thickness, boundary mass and boundary constraint on the resonance frequency, output voltage, output power and transmission efficiency of the present model. With different circuit load resistance, the system resonance frequency is found between the short-circuit resonance frequency and open-circuit resonance frequency. With boundary mass applied to the piezoelectric transducers, the maximum resonance frequency response of both the output power and the transmission efficiency move toward the low-order resonance frequency. With boundary constraint applied to the boundary mass, a newly generated resonance frequency with high transmission efficiency at the low-frequency range is observed. A method to recognize the necessary input frequency range as well as the necessary circuit load resistance range respectively for large output power and large transmission efficiency is proposed.
Real-Time Sound Source Localization for Low-Power IoT Devices Based on Multi-Stream CNN

Voice-activated artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced rapidly and is being adopted in various devices such as smart speakers and display products, which enable users to multitask without touching the devices. However, most devices equipped with cameras and displays lack mobility; therefore, users cannot avoid touching them for face-to-face interactions, which contradicts the voice-activated AI philosophy. In this paper, we propose a deep neural network-based real-time sound source localization (SSL) model for low-power internet of things (IoT) devices based on microphone arrays and present a prototype implemented on actual IoT devices. The proposed SSL model delivers multi-channel acoustic data to parallel convolutional neural network layers in the form of multiple streams to capture the unique delay patterns for the low-, mid-, and high-frequency ranges, and estimates the fine and coarse location of voices. The model adapted in this study achieved an accuracy of 91.41% on fine location estimation and a direction of arrival error of 7.43° on noisy data. It achieved a processing time of 7.811 ms per 40 ms samples on the Raspberry Pi 4B. The proposed model can be applied to a camera-based humanoid robot that mimics the manner in which humans react to trigger voices in crowded environments.
Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Syzygium polyanthum (Wight) Walp.

Syzygium polyanthum has been used as folk medicine to treat ailments related to oxidative stress and inflammation. In this study, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of stem bark and root bark of the plant were investigated. The experiments that have been carried out were estimation of total phenolic and total flavonoid in the methanol extracts and fractions of both parts, isolation and structure elucidation of chemical compounds, anti-inflammatory activity evaluation based on inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production in the LPS-induced human whole blood using radioimmunoassay technique as well as antioxidant activity based on assays by using free radical scavenging DPPH and FRAP. Results showed high amounts of phenolics and flavonoids in both parts of S. polyanthum. Seven compounds were succesfully isolated from the stem bark and identified as stigmasterol (1), 8-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3-pentylisocoumarin (2), 3,3’-di-O-methylellagic acid (3), methylgallate (4), asiatic acid (5), arjunolic acid (6), and daucosterol (7). The ethyl acetate fraction of the root bark showed potent inhibitory activity on the production of PGE2 (IC50 3.03 ± 0.83 μg/mL). The methanol extract of the stem bark displaying promising DPPH scavenging activity (SC50= 2.82 ± 0.1 μg/mL) and FRAP activity (7.02 ± 0.1 μg/μg of equivalent trolox amount). Compounds 1, 5, 6 and 7 showed pronounced inhibitory activity on the PGE2 production with IC50ranging from 0.052 to 1.25 μM. Meanwhile, compound 4 exhibited antioxidant activity toward DPPH (SC5010.60 μM) and FRAP (20.5 ± 1.0 μg/μg). The study concluded that S. polyanthum as a potential source for therapeutic agents with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.
Associations Between Work–Family Conflict, Psychological Distress, and Well-Being Among Taiwanese Clergy

The study examined the associations between work–family conflict (WFC), psychological distress, and well-being in a sample of 336 clergy (mean age = 46.1 years, SD = 11.7 years) in Taiwan. Specifically, we examined how each of the four types of WFC (time-based work interference with family, time-based family interference with work, strain-based work interference with family, and strain-based family interference with work) were related to psychological distress (depression, anxiety, and burnout) and well-being (life satisfaction, flourishing, and spiritual well-being). Results from the bivariate analysis indicated that all four types of WFC were positively associated with psychological distress and negatively associated with well-being. However, when they were modeled simultaneously in the structural equation model, only strain-based WFC, but not time-based WFC, were related to the outcomes. Finally, younger, female, or single clergy, as well as clergy who work alone or who earn below the median income reported higher levels of psychological distress and lower levels of well-being compared with their counterparts. Practical implications of protecting and promoting clergy mental health were discussed in the article.
Shape formation of space trusses

This thesis is principally concerned with the shape formation of different forms of space trusses with non-zero Gaussian curvature by means of a post-tensioning technique. The space truss that is shaped and erected by a post-tensioning procedure, rather than by traditional techniques involving cranes and scaffolding, is called a post-tensioned and shaped space truss. The construction procedure for a post-tensioned and shaped space truss initially involves the assembly of a planar truss with a single-layer of chords, together with out-of-plane web members, at ground level. In proportion to the desired space shape, certain bottom chords are given gaps. The bottom chords comprise shorter tubes and strands that pass through the tubes and through the bottom joints. The initially too-short chords are used to create pre-defined gaps, while the tensioning strands are used to close the gaps. By means of post-tensioning, a planar layout can be deformed and erected to its desired space shape at the same time. In this thesis, the principles of the post-tensioned and shaped space trusses, together with the essential aspects that lead to shape formation and self-erection, are investigated theoretically and are verified by experimental models. In addition to theoretical work, seven domes and one hypar have been constructed by means of a post-tensioning method under laboratory conditions. Also, a pyramidal unit of a full-size practical space truss has been tested. After the shape formation tests, three post-tensioned and shaped domes and one hypar space truss have been loaded to failure in order to observe the ultimate load carrying capacity. The post-tensioned and shaped space trusses have satisfactory ultimate load capacity. The post-tensioning process may increase or reduce the ultimate load capacity of posttensioned and shaped space trusses, due to the resulted prestress forces in some critical members. Compared with the simplicity in construction and erection procedure, the post-tensioned and shaped space trusses still have evident advantages in economy, even if the ultimate load capacity is reduced. Furthermore, the ultimate load capacity of a posttensioned and shaped space truss can be improved by stiffening only a few critical members according to the test results.
From post-socialist transition to the COVID-19 crisis: cycles, drivers, and perspectives of subordinate financialization in Latvia

ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the specific features of financialization in peripheral and semi-peripheral contexts. To date, the majority of this research, however, consists of broad studies covering a number of countries, leaving a gap in the analysis of case studies, especially from east-central Europe. Therefore, the present article attempts to address this gap through an in-depth analysis of Latvia. The research shows that subordinate financialization is a changing and heterogeneous phenomenon that goes through uneven cycles of advance and retreat, which can lead to divergent dynamics between and within economies.
PRAPNet: A Parallel Residual Atrous Pyramid Network for Polyp Segmentation

In a colonoscopy, accurate computer-aided polyp detection and segmentation can help endoscopists to remove abnormal tissue. This reduces the chance of polyps developing into cancer, which is of great importance. In this paper, we propose a neural network (parallel residual atrous pyramid network or PRAPNet) based on a parallel residual atrous pyramid module for the segmentation of intestinal polyp detection. We made full use of the global contextual information of the different regions by the proposed parallel residual atrous pyramid module. The experimental results showed that our proposed global prior module could effectively achieve better segmentation results in the intestinal polyp segmentation task compared with the previously published results. The mean intersection over union and dice coefficient of the model in the Kvasir-SEG dataset were 90.4% and 94.2%, respectively. The experimental results outperformed the scores achieved by the seven classical segmentation network models (U-Net, U-Net++, ResUNet++, praNet, CaraNet, SFFormer-L, TransFuse-L).
Dynamic Reliability Management of Multigateway IoT Edge Computing Systems

The emerging paradigm of edge computing envisions to overcome the shortcomings of cloud-centric Internet of Things (IoT) by providing data processing and storage capabilities closer to the source of data. Accordingly, IoT edge devices, with the increasing demand of computation workloads on them, are prone to failures more than ever. Hard failures in hardware due to aging and reliability degradation are particularly important since they are irrecoverable, requiring maintenance for the replacement of defective parts, at high costs. In this article, we propose a novel dynamic reliability management (DRM) technique for multigateway IoT edge computing systems to mitigate degradation and defer early hard failures. Taking advantage of the edge computing architecture, we utilize gateways for computation offloading with the primary goal of maximizing the battery lifetime of edge devices, while satisfying the Quality of Service (QoS) and reliability requirements. We present a two-level management scheme, which work together to 1) choose the offloading rates of edge devices; 2) assign edge devices to gateways; and 3) decide multihop data flow routes and rates in the network. The offloading rates are selected by a hierarchical multitimescale distributed controller. We assign edge devices by solving a bottleneck generalized assignment problem (BGAP) and compute optimal flows in a fully distributed fashion, leveraging the subgradient method. Our results, based on real measurements and trace-driven simulation, demonstrate that the proposed scheme can achieve a similar battery lifetime and better QoS compared to the state-of-the-art approaches while satisfying reliability requirements, where other approaches fail by a large margin.
High gain dual-band millimeter wave antenna using flexible PET substrate

The article proposes a novel design for a high gain dual-band millimeter wave (mm-wave) antenna at 26.5 and 36.5 GHz frequency bands using flexible substrate and Co-planar waveguide (CPW) technology. The CPW is able to provide 1.2 GHz bandwidth at 26.5 GHz center frequency and 3 GHz bandwidth at 36.5 GHz with 7.2 and 9.7 dBi gain, respectively. The antenna is composed of a square patch and L-shape slots that are placed symmetrically with distances less than λ/4 (upper band) and the antenna has total dimensions of 16 mm×19 mm. The simulated antenna results are presented in terms of radiation patterns and return loss, and maximum gain as a function of frequency. The performance at millimeter wave and structure flexibility capability are demonstrated that the antenna has potential to implement in the upcoming 5G communication networks.
All Set before Flowering: A 16S Gene Amplicon-Based Analysis of the Root Microbiome Recruited by Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Its Centre of Domestication

Plant roots recruit most prokaryotic members of their root microbiota from the locally available inoculum, but knowledge on the contribution of native microorganisms to the root microbiota of crops in native versus non-native areas remains scarce. We grew common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) at a field site in its centre of domestication to characterise rhizosphere and endosphere bacterial communities at the vegetative, flowering, and pod filling stage. 16S r RNA gene amplicon sequencing of ten samples yielded 9,401,757 reads, of which 8,344,070 were assigned to 17,352 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Rhizosphere communities were four times more diverse than in the endosphere and dominated by Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Crenarchaeota, and Proteobacteria (endosphere: 99% Proteobacteria). We also detected high abundances of Gemmatimonadetes (6%), Chloroflexi (4%), and the archaeal phylum Thaumarchaeota (Candidatus Nitrososphaera: 11.5%): taxa less frequently reported from common bean rhizosphere. Among 154 OTUs with different abundances between vegetative and flowering stage, we detected increased read numbers of Chryseobacterium in the endosphere and a 40-fold increase in the abundances of OTUs classified as Rhizobium and Aeromonas (equivalent to 1.5% and over 6% of all reads in the rhizosphere). Our results indicate that bean recruits specific taxa into its microbiome when growing ‘at home’.
Life Satisfaction of Rural-To-Urban Migrants: Exploring the Influence of Socio-Demographic and Urbanisation Features in China

Objectives: China has experienced an ongoing urbanisation that associated with spatial transformation and personal changes, which are expected to have direct or indirect impacts on migrants’ health and well-being. This study aims to investigate their life satisfaction and the significant influences. Method: A quantitative research strategy was adopted, with the questionnaire survey towards 877 migrants across Hangzhou and Ningbo cities. Descriptive statistics showed migrants’ life satisfaction, socio-demographic characteristics and urbanisation features. Three logistic regression models examined key factors that influenced life satisfaction. Results: Over one third of migrants were unsatisfied with their life. They mainly received education lower than high school and had an annual household income less than 60k. Comparatively, migrants, who worked in formal sectors, moved into resettlement communities and adapted to city life, tended to have higher levels of life satisfaction. Conclusion: There should be an improvement in migrants’ life satisfaction. This could be achieved by building up their educational level and financial capability. Meanwhile, positive actions such as professional training are required to maximise their participation in formal sectors as well as community life.
MFAP2 contributes to the proliferation and motility of lung cancer cells via Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Purpose: To measure microfibrillar-associated protein 2 (MFAP2) expression levels in lung cancer and identify its role in lung cancer.Methods: Immunoblots and PCR were used to determine the expression of MFAP2 in lung cancer cell lines. The effects of MFAP2 on the viability and apoptosis of lung cancer cells were evaluated by CCK-8, colony formation, and flow cytometry (FCM) assays, while wound healing and Transwell assays were used to assess the effects of MFAP2 on the motility and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of lung cancer cells. Immunoblot assays were also performed to determine the effect of MFAP2 on the Wnt/β-catenin axis in lung cancer cells.Results: MFAP2 was highly expressed in lung cancer cells. Depletion of MFAP2 suppressed the viability and stimulated apoptosis in these cells (p < 0.01). In addition, knockdown of MFAP2 suppressed the motility and EMT of lung cancer cells (p < 0.01). MFAP2 mediated the Wnt/β-catenin axis and affected the viability and motility of lung cancer cells.Conclusion: MFAP2 is a promising target for lung cancer treatment.
Topology of Fibre Bundles

Fibre bundles, an integral part of differential geometry, are also important to physics. This text, a succint introduction to fibre bundles, includes such topics as differentiable manifolds and covering spaces. It provides brief surveys of advanced topics, such as homotopy theory and cohomology theory, before using them to study further properties of fibre bundles.
Antimicrobial Activity of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles from Syzygium aromaticum against the Five Most Common Microorganisms in the Oral Cavity

Syzygium aromaticum (clove) has been used as a dental analgesic, an anesthetic, and a bioreducing and capping agent in the formation of metallic nanoparticles. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect in oral microorganisms of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) formed with aqueous extract of clove through an ecofriendly method “green synthesis”. The obtained AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis (ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy), SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), TEM (transmission electron microscopy), and ζ potential, while its antimicrobial effect was corroborated against oral Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, as well as yeast that is commonly present in the oral cavity. The AgNPs showed absorption at 400–500 nm in the UV-Vis spectrum, had an average size of 4–16 nm as observed by the high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and were of a crystalline nature and quasi-spherical form. The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed inhibition zones of 2–4 mm in diameter. Our results suggest that AgNPs synthesized with clove can be used as effective growth inhibitors in several oral microorganisms.
World Decarbonization through Global Electricity Interconnections

The challenge of worldwide energy decarbonization is crucial to ensure sustainable development. The achievement of decarbonization encompasses not only a considerable exploitation of renewable energy sources, but also a paradigm shift in final energy uses towards their massive electrification. Electrification based on Global Energy Interconnections (GEI) is one of the possible pathways towards decarbonization in energy systems. In this paper, we critically discuss the idea of decarbonization through global interconnections in an ‘electricity based’ world, contrasting it against the typically desirable attributes for energy in terms of security, efficiency, sustainability, and affordability. We provide a comparative analysis of global interconnection with other internationally proposed visions of future energy scenarios. The analysis shows that the GEI option could be particularly beneficial from an environmental point of view; however, it requests deep and relevant modifications in the energy markets and regulations, in which a common framework based on the cooperation among different countries is needed.
Natural Disasters and Preferences for the Environment: Evidence from the Impressionable Years

Do generations aﬀected by natural disasters during the critical years of adolescence and early adulthood form diﬀerent preferences towards the environment than generations who are not? Consistent with the theories of social psychology, we show that an environmental shock experienced during the impressionable years (18-25 years old) help shape positive environmental preferences. Individuals tend not to change beliefs in response to natural disasters experienced in other age ranges. Using information from the General Social Survey and World Values Survey, we exploit yearly natural disasters variation both within the US and across countries to identify these eﬀects.
Cognitive disorders in patients with chronic kidney disease 
in pre-dialysis period

Objective: to study the cognitive status of patients in the pre-dialysis period depending on the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the category of cardiovascular risk (CVR). Materials and Methods. We examined 98 patients with CKD in the pre-dialysis period (mean age 47.1±11.2 years). The patients were divided into three groups according to the criteria of CVR stratification. Group 1 consisted of 32 patients with a low or moderate CVR, and CKD stage C1 or C2; Group 2 included 34 patients with a high CVR and CKD stage C3a or C3b; Group 3 comprised 32 patients with a very high CVR and CKD stage C4. We used the SAGE test (Self-Administered Gerocognitive Examination) to evaluate cognitive functions. Results. Cognitive impairment (CI) was detected in 57% of the patients: 37.5% in Group 1, 44.1% in Group 2, and 90.5% in Group 3. Dementia was diagnosed in 19% of patients with CI. A correlation was found between the severity of CI, the degree of decrease in glomerular filtration rate, and the education level of CKD patients in the pre-dialysis period (p≤0.001). We established that the examined subjects with CKD were characterized by memory, constructive, spatial and logical thinking disorders. Conclusion. Chronic kidney disease is an independent risk factor for the development of CI. The latter progressed with both CKD stage and the patient’s CVR category, and was detected in 37.5% of patients with a low or moderate CVR, 44.1% of patients with a high CVR, and 90.5% of patients with a very high CVR.
Scaling Laws for Energy-constrained Wireless Networks

Although there has been much interest in scaling laws for wireless networks, most work has focussed on characterizing throughput and delay in power-constrained networks. Energy-constrained networks have not received much attention. Previous work on energy-constrained networks was based on models that ignored interference. In this work energy-constrained networks are studied, taking interferences into account. The number of bits per unit energy is introduced, a quantity that measures performance of a wireless network in terms of energy consumption. Scaling laws for the number of bits per unit energy are analyzed on a extended random wireless network using the physical model. An upper bound is given and it is shown that it is achievable. The tradeoff between the number of bits per unit energy and the average bit delay is characterized. Finally, it is shown that there is no tension between the throughput and the number of bits per unit energy, i.e.\ they can be simultaneously optimized.