Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A hybrid finite-element-modal-expansion method with a new type of curvilinear mapping for the analysis of microwave passive devices

A hybrid finite-element-modal-expansion procedure for the three-dimensional analysis of passive microwave devices exploiting higher order vector basis functions and an innovative class of curved elements is presented. If modal expansions on ports are not analytically known, they can be numerically obtained via a preliminary two-and-one-half-dimensional finite-element analysis; curved triangular and tetrahedrical elements are defined by a rational Bezier mapping, which provides a remarkable increase in accuracy and flexibility over the conventional polynomial mapping without a significant increase in computational burden. Numerical results are provided to illustrate the efficiency and feasibility of the proposed technique.
Common Variation in EDN1 Regulatory Regions Highlights the Role of PPARγ as a Key Regulator of Endothelin in vitro

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease caused by the obliteration of the pulmonary arterioles, increasing pulmonary vascular resistance and eventually causing right heart failure. Endothelin-1 is a vasoconstrictor peptide whose levels are indicators of disease progression and its pathway is one of the commonest targeted by current treatments. We sequenced the EDN1 untranslated regions of a small subset of PAH patients, predicted the effect in silico, and used a luciferase assay with the different genotypes to analyze its influence on gene expression. Finally, we used siRNAs against the major transcription factors predicted for these regions (PPARγ, KLF4, and VDR) to assess Endothelin-1 expression in cell culture and validate the binding sites. First, we detected a SNP in the 5’UTR (rs397751713) and another in the 3’regulatory region (rs2859338) that increased luciferase activity in vitro depending on their genotype. We determined in silico that KLF4/PPARγ could be binding in the rs397751713 and VDR in rs2859338. By using siRNAs and luciferase, we determined that PPARγ binds differentially in rs397751713. PPARγ and VDR Knock-Down, increased EDN1 mRNA levels and Endothelin-1 production in PAECs, while PPARγ and KLF4 Knock-Down increased the Endothelin-1 production in HeLa. In conclusion, common variants in EDN1 regulatory regions could alter Endothelin-1 levels. We were able to validate that PPARγ binds in rs397751713 and is key to regulate Endothelin-1. Also, KLF4 and VDR regulate Endothelin-1 production in a cell-dependent manner, but for VDR this interaction does not happen by binding directly to the regions we studied.
Lean Six Sigma and digitize procurement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the lean Six Sigma method can be applied to procurement, processes where there is an extensive use of information technology and communication (ICT) systems. The paper defines a method to streamline, digitize and reduce waste in procurement processes by using the “lean Six Sigma and digitize” methodology.Design/methodology/approach – A framework was developed and applied to the procurement processes, based on the analysis of best practices and on several implementations.Findings – It was found that the digitization of a procurement process which is not streamlined can generate problems. A process must be mapped to highlight waste and low quality. Only when the new process is improved, taking into account also that it will be possible to use ICT supports, can it be digitized. The new process will digitize only value‐added activities recognized by the users and by the organization.Practical implications – The paper should be of interest to the academ.
Effect of mineral-energy supplementation on the performance of young bulls from different genetic groups on pasture

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of young bulls from three genetic groups, ½ Brangus x ½ Nellore (BRN), Nellore (NEL) and ½ Canchim x ½ Nellore (CAN), reared on pasture and supplemented with mineral (MS) or energy-mineral (MES) supplement. Eighty-one bulls, with a mean age of 12 months and mean body weight of 252 ± 33 kg were used. The experiment was conducted in a 3x2 factorial completely randomized design. Each genetic group was subdivided into six experimental plots, three received MS and three received MES. Animals were managed in a rotational stocking system in a Tifton 85 grass pasture. The consumption of MS was similar between the genetic groups with an average of 0.073 kg animal-1 day-1, whereas the consumption of MES was higher for BRN, 2.10 kg animal-1 day-1, followed by CAN, with 1.57 kg animal-1 day-1, and lower for NEL, with 1.28 kg animal-1 day-1. The average daily weight gain (ADG) was greater for animals that received MES compared to those that were given MS. For animals that received MS, the BRN group had ADG of 0.64 kg animal-1, while the NEL and CAN groups were similar with a mean of 0.46 kg animal-1. For animals that received MES, the CAN group had higher ADG, 0.97 kg animal-1, while the NEL and BRN groups were similar, with an average of 0.86 kg animal-1. Blood levels of total protein, albumin, creatinine, glucose and cholesterol did not change depending on the types of supplements used or between genetic groups. Higher serum urea levels were observed in NEL and CAN animals that received MS. Serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher in BRN and CAN animals that received MES. Gains in rump height, height at the withers, body length, rump width and chest perimeter were greater in animals that received MES. Mostly, the gains in morphometric measurements were greater for crossbred animals than for the NEL group. The supply of mineral-energy supplement in Tifton 85 grass pasture during the rainy season is recommended only for Nellore and ½ Canchim x ½ Nellore young bulls. Crossbred young bulls show greater gains in morphometric measurements than Nellore young bulls during rearing.
DETERMINANTS OF THE BOX OFFICE PERFORMANCE OF MOTION PICTURES

This paper examines the determinants of box office revenue in the motion picture industry. The sample consists of 362 films released during 2001-2002. Regression results indicate the primary determinants of box office earnings are critic reviews, award nominations, sequels, Motion Picture Association of America rating, and release exposure.
Cognitive consequences of COVID-19: results of a cohort study from South America

ABSTRACT Background: Neurological and psychiatric manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been reported throughout the scientific literature. However, studies on post-COVID cognitive impairment in people with no previous cognitive complaint are scarce. Objective: We aim to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on cognitive functions in adults without cognitive complaints before infection and to study cognitive dysfunction according to disease severity and cognitive risk factors. Methods: Forty-five post-COVID-19 patients and forty-five controls underwent extensive neuropsychological evaluation, which assessed cognitive domains such as memory, language, attention, executive functions, and visuospatial skills, including psychiatric symptomatology scales. Data were collected on the severity of infection, premorbid medical conditions, and functionality for activities of daily living before and after COVID-19. Results: Significant differences between groups were found in cognitive composites of memory (p=0.016, Cohen’s d= 0.73), attention (p<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.2), executive functions (p<0.001, Cohen’s d=1.4), and language (p=0.002, Cohen’s d=0.87). The change from premorbid to post-infection functioning was significantly different between severity groups (WHODAS, p=0.037). Self-reported anxiety was associated with the presence of cognitive dysfunction in COVID-19 subjects (p=0.043). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the presence of cognitive symptoms in post-COVID-19 patients may persist for months after disease remission and argue for the inclusion of cognitive assessment as a protocolized stage of the post-COVID examination. Screening measures may not be sufficient to detect cognitive dysfunction in post-COVID-19 patients.
Functional complementarity of seed dispersal services provided by birds and mammals in an alpine ecosystem

Endozoochory is an important ecosystem function that, in temperate and boreal regions, is carried out mainly by birds and mammals. Due to their different quantitative and qualitative contributions to seed dispersal, these animals usually differ in their effectiveness as seed dispersers. However, there is still little information about how spatio‐temporal differences in frugivory between birds and mammals may create complementarity in their seed dispersal services. We investigated the complementarity of seed dispersal services provided by avian and mammalian seed dispersers of bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus in an alpine ecosystem, the Tatra Mountains (Poland). We collected bird droppings and mammal scats containing bilberry seeds in coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Birds were identified by DNA barcoding techniques while mammals were visually assigned in the field. We analysed the effects of habitat, microhabitat and timing of seed dispersal on the quantitative contributions of each species to the total seed rain and conducted ex situ germination experiments to assess the quality of the seed dispersal services. At least 13 bird and three mammal species dispersed bilberry seeds in the Tatra Mountains. Two species of thrushes—song thrushes Turdus philomelos and fieldfares T. pilaris, brown bears Ursus arctos and red foxes Vulpes vulpes were the most effective dispersers. Quantitative and qualitative contributions to seed dispersal differed between birds and mammals. Mammals, particularly brown bears, dispersed the majority of bilberry seeds in both habitats. The total seed rain provided by birds and mammals differed according to the habitat, microhabitat and timing of seed dispersal. Birds dispersed most seeds in the middle of the fruiting season and within the forest, while seed dispersal by mammals peaked in the upper meadows and at the end of the season. Seeds defecated by birds had higher probability to germinate as their droppings contained less seeds and were defecated in more suitable microhabitats than seeds defecated by mammals. Synthesis. Despite differences in the quantity and quality of seed dispersal, both bird and mammal species are effective bilberry dispersers. Complementary seed dispersal by these two groups guarantees the arrival of bilberry seeds to different microhabitats suitable for germination and during the entire fruiting season, maximizing the chances of bilberry seedling recruitment.
International Undergraduates’ Academic Performance During Onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic

How did international undergraduates perform academically during onset of the coronavirus pandemic’s educational disruptions? The present study addressed this question by testing the hypothesis that an American public university’s entire population of international undergraduates who were enrolled throughout academic year 2019–2020 would struggle academically (term grade point averages [GPA] below 2.0) to a greater extent in spring 2020 term (coinciding with the pandemic’s onset) than in fall 2019 and winter 2020 terms (pre-pandemic). Five different analyses of GPAs yielded disconfirmatory, counterintuitive evidence; for example, whereas the hypothesis leads to the prediction that the number and percentage who struggled academically should increase from fall 2019 and winter 2020 terms to spring 2020, the values instead decreased. This report’s results are consistent with these international undergraduates’ resilience and their institution’s beneficial support. Reasons for ruling out alternative explanations (widespread cheating, instructors’ leniency, and grade inflation) are discussed.
Synthetic aperture radar imaging by one bit coded signals

Processing of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data coded with one bit is considered. The one bit coding operation amounts to the retention of only the information about the sign of the signals involved (signum coding or SC). The paper reviews the theory of signum coding and evaluates its performance by computing some quality measures for real images. Numerical results, which are in accord with theory, show that only a slight degradation in the quality of the images obtained is introduced by the SC operation if the signal is sampled at a rate consistent with the original bandwidth. If the sampling frequency is increased, the quality obtained can be further improved. Since the data involved in the processing are binary sequences, the processing can be carried out in real time, on-board the moving platform carrying the SAR antenna, and by using dedicated hardware consisting of simple, small, low-cost devices, which can be on motherboards of small dimensions and absorb very little power.
Profile of Forensic State Patients Admitted to Zébé Psychiatric Hospital (Togo)

Introduction: Zébé Psychiatric Hospital is the only psychiatric hospital able to receive forensic mentally ill patients in Togo. The aim of this study was to describe the socio-demographic, clinical and forensic aspects of forensic mentally ill patients. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from August 16th to September 16th, 2021 among forensic patients admitted to the Zébé Psychiatric Hospital. Results: During the study period, we recorded 28 forensic mentally ill patients. Fifty-seven point one percent (57.1%) of the forensic patients came from rural areas. The mean age of these patients was 37.3 years, and ranged from 13 to 82 years. Males predominated
From a Methodology Exercise to the Discovery of a Crisis: Serendipity in Field Research

Although serendipity is commonly encountered during research activities, it has not received as much attention as it deserves. Through a case study on a case study, which evolved from a methodology exercise into a rare case study of a project crisis, we mobilize the notions of serendipitous events and serendipity patterns to demonstrate how chance was cultivated using sagacity within the serendipity equation. Thereby, we contribute to a better understanding of the process of discovery through serendipitous creativity, especially in the dynamic and volatile project management research field where tensions between planned and unplanned are multiple.
Challenges & Prospects of Digitization of Library Resources in Nigeria Universities: The Experience of Kashim Ibrahim Library

This study basically examines the challenges and pr ospects of digitization of resources of academic libraries in Nigerian Universities. The paper discu ssed the benefits of digitization of resources in the library, issues and challenges in creating digital repositories, types of resources to be digitized, criteria for selection of resources for digitization, intellectual property, effective access, digitization services in Kashim Ibrahim Library, reasons for cre ating organizations digital repository, objectives of organizational digital repositories. The researc h method adopted was a descriptive survey type designed to investigate the challenges and prospect s of digitization of library resources in Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Th e research design includes a purposive sampling technique that comprises of population of seven (7) staff of the unit. Instruments used for data collection were questionnaire, oral interview and observation. Data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science Data A nalysis and Findings were discussed. The paper recommends that library management should as a matt er of urgency acquire the relevant model of hardware resources needed to enable staff of the un it to efficiently carry out their duties.
Segregated in Social Space: The Spatial Structure of Acquaintanceship Networks

With deepening cleavages on several social dimensions, social fragmentation has become a major concern across the social sciences. This article proposes a spatial approach to study the segregation pattern of acquaintanceship ties across multiple social dimensions simultaneously. A Bayesian unfolding model is developed and fitted to the 2006 General Social Survey. Results suggests that the segregation pattern of reported acquaintanceship ties reflect consolidated socioeconomic inequalities. Furthermore, among the 13 analyzed social groups, gay and lesbian people were the least segregated group in 2006, implying that individuals with very different network compositions had similar probabilities to know someone who is gay or lesbian. Lastly, contradicting previous findings that ideology and religiosity segregate acquaintanceship networks to an extent that rivals race, it is found that race stands out as the dominant dimension that shapes the distribution of these relationships.
A fuzzy-logic-based controller for active rectifier

This paper presents a current-sensorless active rectifier specifically designed for low-cost applications. Both the control and the modulation use fuzzy logic. A simple model of the system is given in order to explain the current feedforward control using fuzzy logic and the fuzzy-logic-based modulation, then, the new algorithm is analyzed looking for high performance even using small passive elements and low switching frequency. Performance are compared with those of a closed-loop proportional-plus-integral (PI)-based rectifier with space-vector modulation (SVM). This comparison has been carried out either considering the whole systems or a combination of their components (PI control + fuzzy modulation or fuzzy feedforward control + SVM). The results show that even without current sensors, the low-frequency distortion of the line currents and the DC voltage oscillations produced by the proposed system are very limited, ensuring performance similar to those of PI-based closed loop active rectifiers.
Managerial capabilities of information technology and firm performance: role of e-procurement system type

Firms need to find a proper fit between their own information technology (IT) capabilities and IT systems in order to enhance performance. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effect of certain e-procurement system types on the relationship between IT capabilities and firm performance. Moderated regression analysis is used to test for interaction effects of IT capabilities, including collaboration capability and dynamic capability, and e-procurement system types including, E-market and Extranet. Data of 142 Korean manufacturing firms are collected and used in the analysis. There is a stronger effect when relationships between IT capability and firm performance are considered with the involvement of other resource such as e-procurement system type. When e-procurement has a minimum-information sharing function and a high market-making function, collaboration capability had a greater contribution on financial performance. On the other hand, when an e-procurement system has limited search functions, the dynamic capability shows a greater contribution to financial performance. The result of this paper gives a strategic view by providing a new perspective regarding the suitability between e-procurement being used by itself and the IT capability necessary for this.
Ant Colony Optimization for Jointly Solving Relay Node Placement and Trajectory Calculation in Hierarchical Wireless Sensor Networks

Given the locations of the Sensor Nodes in a Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), finding the minimum number of Relays required and their locations such that each sensor is covered by at least one relay is called the Relay Node Placement (RNP) problem. Given the locations of the relays, finding an optimized trajectory for the Mobile Data Collector (MDC) is another important design problem of the WSN domain. Previous researchers have shown that jointly solving different design problems in the WSN domain often leads to better overall results. In recent years, Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) have emerged as an effective tool for solving complex optimization problems. An ACO based approach for solving the joint problem of Relay Node Placement & Trajectory calculation(RNPT) is presented in this thesis. We also present a deterministic, and a Continuous Ant Colony Optimization ([Special characters omitted.] ACOR ) approach for refining the trajectory produced by the ACO approach.
ANALYSIS OF FIELD SEAGRASS PERCENT COVER AND ABOVEGROUND CARBON STOCK DATA FOR NON-DESTRUCTIVE ABOVEGROUND SEAGRASS CARBON STOCK MAPPING USING WORLDVIEW-2 IMAGE

Abstract. Remote sensing can make seagrass aboveground carbon stock (AGCseagrass) information spatially extensive and widely available. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a rapid approach to estimate AGCseagrass in the field to train and assess its remote sensing-based mapping. The aim of this research is to (1) analyze the Percent Cover (PCv)-AGCseagrass relationship in seagrass at the species and community levels to estimate AGCseagrass from PCv and (2) perform AGCseagrass mapping at both levels using WorldView-2 image and assess the accuracy of the resulting map. This research was conducted in Karimunjawa and Kemujan Islands, Indonesia. Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification was used to map seagrass species composition, and stepwise regression was used to model AGCseagrass using deglint, water column corrected, and principle component bands. The results were a rapid AGCseagrass estimation using an easily measured parameter, the seagrass PCv. At the community level, the AGCseagrass map had 58.79% accuracy (SEE = 5.41 g C m−2), whereas at the species level, the accuracy increased for the class Ea (64.73%, SEE = 6.86 g C m−2) and EaThCr (70.02%, SEE = 4.32 g C m−2) but decreased for ThCr (55.08%, SEE = 2.55 g C m−2). The results indicate that WorldView-2 image reflectance can accurately map AGCseagrass in the study area in the range of 15–20 g C m−2 for Ea, 10–15 g C m−2 for EaThCr, and 4–8 g C m−2 for ThCr. Based on our model, the AGCseagrass in the study area was estimated at 13.39 t C.
Sloped multi‐roller isolation devices for seismic protection of equipment and facilities

The rolling motion of mutually orthogonal rollers respectively sandwiched between two bearing plates in which one or both have V‐shaped sloping surfaces makes the sloped rolling‐type isolation device have an excellent in‐plane seismic isolation performance. In this study, the sloped rolling type isolation device in which a single roller moves between two V‐shaped sloping surfaces along each principle horizontal direction is refined by incorporating multi‐roller, built‐in damping, and pounding prevention mechanisms. The associated dynamic behavior is further clarified, and a simplified twin‐flag hysteretic model, which can be easily applied in most commercial computational tools is then proposed. Seismic simulation tests on the refined isolation devices (i.e. the sloped multi‐roller isolation devices) with different design parameters such as sloping angles of bearing plates and built‐in damping capabilities, together with a raised floor system by employing the sloped multi‐roller isolation devices, were conducted. Not only is the efficiency of the sloped multi‐roller isolation devices in seismically protecting the important objects, but also the practicability and accuracy of the proposed simplified numerical model in predicting the seismic responses of the sloped multi‐roller isolation devices is experimentally verified. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.