Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
New Findings of the Sporadic E (Es) Layer Development Around the Magnetic Equator During a High‐Speed Solar (HSS) Wind Stream Event

The equatorial (Esq) and blanketing (Esb) sporadic (Es) layers occur due to the Equatorial Electrojet Current (EEJ) plasma instabilities and tidal wind components, respectively. Both Esq and Esb layers can appear concurrently over some Brazilian equatorial regions due to the peculiar geomagnetic field configuration in this sector. Previous works indicate that the inclination angle limit for the Esq occurrence in ionograms is 7°. However, we found evidence that regions more distant can also experience such equatorial dynamics during disturbed periods. In this context, we deeply investigated this EEJ influence expansion effect by analyzing the Esq layers in regions not so close to the magnetic equator during a high‐speed solar wind stream event that occurred on May 05 and 06, 2018. To explain these atypical Esq layer occurrences, we considered the Es layer parameters obtained from digital ionosondes over the Brazilian regions, São Luís (dip: 9.5°), and Araguatins (dip: 10.5°). We use magnetometer data and a model named MIRE (E Region Ionospheric Model) to validate this mechanism. The results show that the eastward electric field of the Gradient Drift instability in the EEJ is effective during the magnetic storm main phase in the boundary equatorial magnetic sites, creating the Esq layers. Thus, the EEJ plasma irregularity superimposes the wind shear mechanism, changing the Es layer dynamics during disturbed periods over the magnetic equator boundary sites. Therefore, this work establishes new findings of the EEJ influence expansion dynamics in the Es layer formation over the Brazilian regions, which was considered in MIRE for the first time.
Enhancing Semantic Understanding with Self-Supervised Methods for Abstractive Dialogue Summarization

Contextualized word embeddings can lead to state-of-the-art performances in natural language understanding. Recently, a pre-trained deep contextualized text encoder such as BERT has shown its potential in improving natural language tasks including abstractive summarization. Existing approaches in dialogue summarization focus on incorporating a large language model into summarization task trained on large-scale corpora consist-ing of news articles rather than dialogues of multiple speakers. In this paper, we introduce self-supervised methods to compen-sate shortcomings to train a dialogue summarization model. Our principle is to detect incoherent information ﬂows using pretext dialogue text to enhance BERT’s ability to contextualize the dialogue text representations. We build and ﬁne-tune an abstractive dialogue summarization model on a shared encoder-decoder architecture using the enhanced BERT. We empirically evaluate our abstractive dialogue summarizer with the SAMSum corpus, a recently introduced dataset with abstractive dialogue summaries. All of our methods have contributed improvements to abstractive summary measured in ROUGE scores. Through an extensive ablation study, we also present a sensitivity analysis to critical model hyperparameters, probabilities of switching utterances and masking interlocutors.
Relationship between Cryptosporidium parvum in Water And Diarrheal Infections at Wasit Province

The present study aimed to identify the relationship between Cryptosporidium parvum in water and diarrhealinfections at Wasit province. One hundred stool samples were collected (male and female) from suspecteddiarrheal patients of parasitic infection who attended to Al-kut hospital and Al-karamah teaching hospitalat Wasit province and fifty water samples were collected from different points at Dijlah river; Householdwater supply and Kut Liquid water during the period from October 2020 to April 2021.The investigation ofoocysts of the Cryptosporidium parvum parasite carried out by staining with modified Ziel Neelson method.The results of our study revealed that 60(60%) was positive for C.paravum. The age group (1-5) monthsshowed the highest 12(12%) prevalence rate while the lowest prevalence was in patient with age group(>20) months reached to 1(1%).
Jewel: A Novel Method for Joint Estimation of Gaussian Graphical Models

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating multiple Gaussian Graphical Models from high-dimensional datasets. We assume that these datasets are sampled from different distributions with the same conditional independence structure, but not the same precision matrix. We propose jewel, a joint data estimation method that uses a node-wise penalized regression approach. In particular, jewel uses a group Lasso penalty to simultaneously guarantee the resulting adjacency matrix’s symmetry and the graphs’ joint learning. We solve the minimization problem using the group descend algorithm and propose two procedures for estimating the regularization parameter. Furthermore, we establish the estimator’s consistency property. Finally, we illustrate our estimator’s performance through simulated and real data examples on gene regulatory networks.
Behaviour of Ferritic Stainless Steel Bolted T‐stubs Under Tension‐Part 1: Experimental Investigations

Research on stainless steel structures has primarily focused on the structural response and design of individual members, whilst the response of joints has received far less attention to date. Recently, a series of experimental tests has been conducted on austenitic and duplex stainless steel moment resisting connections which highlighted both the excellent ductility and significant overstrength exhibited by such connections as well as the severe conservatism of current design rules specified in EN 1993‐1‐8 when applied to stainless steel joints. A comprehensive experimental study on the structural behaviour of stainless steel T‐stubs fabricated from EN 1.4003 ferritic stainless steel grade is reported in this paper. The tested configurations included both single and double bolt rows and have been assembled with A4‐80 stainless steel bolts. In order to determine the material characteristics of the T‐stubs and the connecting bolts, tensile coupon tests were performed and the material anisotropy exhibited by ferritic stainless steel has been quantified. The ultimate resistance, plastic deformation capacity and failure mode of each T‐stub were obtained and are reported herein. The obtained results are utilised to assess the accuracy of existing design rules and to validate the numerical model discussed in the companion paper.
A 32-Channel Time-Multiplexed Artifact-Aware Neural Recording System

This paper presents a low-power, low-noise microsystem for the recording of neural local field potentials or intracranial electroencephalographic signals. It features 32 time-multiplexed channels at the electrode interface and offers the possibility to spatially delta encode data to take advantage of the large correlation of signals captured from nearby channels. The circuit also implements a mixed-signal voltage-triggered auto-ranging algorithm which allows to attenuate large interferers in digital domain while preserving neural information. This effectively increases the system dynamic range and avoids the onset of saturation. A prototype, fabricated in a standard 180 nm CMOS process, has been experimentally verified <italic>in-vitro</italic> with cellular cultures of primary cortical neurons from mice. The system shows an integrated input-referred noise in the 0.5–200 Hz band of 1.4 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbf {\mu V_{rms}}$</tex-math></inline-formula> for a spot noise of about 85 nV <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mathbf {/\sqrt{Hz}}$</tex-math></inline-formula>. The system draws 1.5 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol{\mu}$</tex-math></inline-formula>W per channel from 1.2 V supply and obtains 71 dB + 26 dB dynamic range when the artifact-aware auto-ranging mechanism is enabled, without penalising other critical specifications such as crosstalk between channels or common-mode and power supply rejection ratios.
Affinely Adjustable Robust Volt/VAr Control Without Centralized Computations

This paper proposes a completely non-centralized Volt/VAr control (VVC) algorithm for active distribution networks which are faced with voltage magnitude violations due to the high penetration of solar photovoltaics (PVs). The proposed VVC algorithm employs a two-stage architecture where the settings of the classical voltage control devices (VCDs) are decided in the first stage through a distributed optimization engine powered by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). In contrast, the PV smart inverters are instructed in the second stage through linear Q(P) decision rules - which are computed in a decentralized manner by leveraging robust optimization theory. The key to this non-centralized VVC routine is a proposed network partition methodology (NPM) which uses an electrical distance metric based on node $Q-|V|^{2}$ sensitivities for computing an intermediate reduced graph of the network, which is subsequently divided into the final partitions using the spectral clustering technique. As a result, the final network partitions are connected, stable, close in cardinality, contain at least one PV inverter for zonal reactive power support, and are sufficiently decoupled from each other. Numerical results on the UKGDS-95 and IEEE-123 bus systems show that the non-centralized solutions match closely with the centralized robust VVC schemes, thereby significantly reducing the voltage violations compared to the traditional deterministic VVC routines.
Gender Differential Effects of Health Status on Growth Process in sub-Saharan Africa

This study examines the gender-disaggregated effect of health status on the growth trajectory of sub-Saharan Africa region. The renewed interest in the health status – economic growth nexus stems from the increasing recognition of the importance of health and gender roles in achieving economic growth and sustainable development, particularly in the developing regions of sub-Saharan Africa characterized by poor health, gender inequality and low growth. Health status is proxy by gender-disaggregated data on life expectancy at birth. The study employs the generalized method of moment (GMM) modelling technique, and the result shows that there is gendered differences in the effect of health status on the economic growth process of sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, we find that female life expectancy is positively associated with economic growth. Thus, the study recommends that efforts aimed at promoting health wellbeing in the region should be enhanced. In particular, policies geared towards bridging the gender gap in health should be enacted and implemented.
Quality of life following Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MIDCABG) versus Conventional Open-Heart Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): A 3-year data from a single centre

Introduction: In Malaysia, MIDCABG started in 3 centers developing the technique. As the technique is gaining traction in the country, this study aims to compare the quality of life following MIDCABG compared with conventional CABG in one of the centers actively developing this technique. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving 30 post CABG patients which consists of 15 MIDCABG and 15 conventional CABG from January 2015 to May 2018. 15 from 21 post-MIDCABG patients were included and selected, based on EuroSCORE II less than 5. Modified Post-Operative Quality of Recovery Scale was used to assess and compare the quality of life following respective approaches. Data were analyzed using SPSS version software and comparison using mean rank with p 0.05. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in quality of recovery following MIDCABG compared to conventional CABG. Modified PostOPQRS system can be a useful assessment tool to evaluate the impact of an intervention in relation of quality of life.
Of Bastions and Bulwarks: A Multi-Scalar Understanding of Local Bordering Practices in Europe

In recent years, local authorities in Europe have increasingly developed bordering practices that hinder or further migrant rights, such as the freedom of movement. They bypass national borders by facilitating refugee resettlement, they claim local space to welcome or shun certain migrants, and they develop or break down local impediments to migrant mobility. These local practices, we argue, can best be understood from a multiscalar perspective, which considers processes of placemaking as reproductive of power dynamics. Applying such a perspective to local bordering practices in Greece, Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany, we point out the importance of the multitude of the actors involved; legal pluralism; and the contextual role of social, economic, and spatial factors. This offers a theoretical foothold for understanding the power dynamics at play when local authorities become bastions or bulwarks, in which some migrants are welcomed, and others are not.
Brazilian disk compression testing of plastic-bonded idoxuridine mock explosive

ABSTRACT Recently, there has been increased interest in developing new inert surrogate materials, or “mocks,” for plastic-bonded explosives (PBX). Idoxuridine (IDOX) has similar density and mechanical behavior to the explosive HMX, and formulated plastic-bonded IDOX showed promise for emulating the HMX-based PBX 9501 in preliminary mechanical experiments. Several improvements to the manufacture of plastic-bonded IDOX have been made and are characterized here by Brazilian Disk testing. Compression tests were performed on these disk specimens under quasi-static loading conditions and at three different temperatures, , , and . The full-field deformation over the sample surface during the compression was obtained using the optical digital image correlation (DIC) technique. In this article, we summarize the Brazilian disk compression test results of the 2020 batch of IDOX mock specimens. We present the overall response, as well as the local deformation measurement. We discuss in detail, the sequence of deformation events occurring in the disk specimen during the compression process. Elastic constants, including shear modulus, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio, of the IDOX mock material, are extracted from the Brazilian disk compression test data. Finally, we compare the Brazilian disk compression test results with the data obtained from the baseline PBX 9501, tested in 2007, as well as the data from a previous batch of IDOX mock material tested in 2017. We hope that such comparisons would point out the path of improvement for the formulation and pressing of the new IDOX mock.
Saudi Special Educators’ Perceptions of Applied Behavior Analysis for Students with Autism

Students with disabilities, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, are more likely to display problem behaviors in the classroom for a variety of reasons. Applied Behavior Analysis is one of the most effective practices for managing such behaviors. This study aims to examine special education teachers’ perspectives of behavior management strategies such as those of ABA in Saudi Arabia. Five special education teachers teaching students with autism in Saudi Arabia were interviewed to ascertain their perspectives on behavior management strategies and Applied Behavior Analysis practices. This qualitative study investigated the challenges they faced coping with students with autism exhibiting problem behaviors and their understanding of the most common strategies used for behavior management. Finally, the study discusses the understanding of one of the most effective evidence-based practices—Applied Behavior Analysis—and the insight it provides into in-service teacher support programs from the teachers’ perspectives. Implications and directions for future research are provided as well.
Are Altruists Environmentally Responsible and Materialists Environmentally Irresponsible? An Analysis on the Moderation of Social Desirability and Mediation of Environmental Awareness

We investigated if altruism and materialism can explain attitudes related to the lower impact on the environment. This study aims to investigate the role of environmental awareness as a mediating variable between altruism and environmental responsibility, and if materialistic individuals can manifest environmental responsibility through social desirability. Also, we investigated the relations of altruism and materialism with environmental irresponsibility. Using the structural equations model, we analyzed the data from a survey with 339 individuals. The results conclude that altruism does not have a direct relationship with environmental irresponsibility, but has a relationship with environmental responsibility, not direct, but mediated by environmental awareness. Besides a direct relationship between materialism and environmental irresponsibility, we did not find a direct relationship with environmental responsibility, not even with the moderation of social desirability. This study shows values and attitudes that collaborate with proenvironmental behaviors, demonstrating the importance of environmental awareness for individuals to engage in actions favorable to sustainable consumption.
Preconditioning the rat heart with 5‐azacytidine attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury via PI3K/GSK3β and mitochondrial KATP signaling axis

5‐Azacytidine is well known for its clinical usage in cancer treatments. The present study investigates the role of 5‐azacytidine as a cardioprotective agent to ameliorate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The cardioprotective effect of 5‐azacytidine was evaluated in three experimental models: in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. The cardioprotective effect was evaluated via cell viability, hemodynamic indices, infarct size measurement, and assessment of histopathology, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function. The experiments were repeated in the presence of PI3K/GSK3β and mitochondrial KATP (mtKATP) cardioprotective signaling pathway inhibitors to understand the underlying mechanism. 5‐Azacytidine improved the cell viability by 29% in I/R‐challenged H9C2 cells. Both isolated rat heart and LAD ligation model confirmed the infarct sparing effect of 5‐azacytidine against I/R. It also provided a beneficial effect by normalizing the altered hemodynamics, reducing the infarct size and cardiac injury markers, reversing the perturbation of mitochondria, reduced oxidative stress, and improved the pPI3K and pAKT protein expression from I/R. In addition, it also augmented the activation of PI3K/AKT and mtKATP signaling pathway, confirmed by using wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor), SB216763 (GSK3β inhibitor), and glibenclamide (mtKATP channel closer). The effectiveness of 5‐azacytidine as a cardioprotective agent is attributed to its activation of the PI3K/GSK3β and mtKATP channel signaling axis, thereby preserving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.
Phoneme-to-Audio Alignment with Recurrent Neural Networks for Speaking and Singing Voice

Phoneme-to-audio alignment is the task of synchronizing voice recordings and their related phonetic transcripts. In this work, we introduce a new system to forced phonetic alignment with Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN). With the Connectionist Temporal Classiﬁcation (CTC) loss as training objective, and an additional reconstruction cost, we learn to infer relevant per-frame phoneme probabilities from which alignment is derived. The core of the neural architecture is a context-aware attention mechanism between mel-spectrograms and side information. We investigate two contexts given by either phoneme sequences (model P H A TT ) or spectrograms themselves (model S P A TT ). Evaluations show that these models produce precise alignments for both speaking and singing voice. Best results are obtained with the model P H A TT , which outperforms baseline reference with an average imprecision of 16.3ms and 29.8ms on speech and singing, respectively. The model S P A TT also appears as an interesting alternative, capable of aligning longer audio ﬁles without requiring phoneme sequences on small audio segments.
Development of a Psychoacoustic Loss Function for the Deep Neural Network (DNN)-Based Speech Coder

This paper presents a loss function to compensate for the perceptual loss of the deep neural network (DNN)-based speech coder. By utilizing the psychoacoustic model (PAM), we de-sign a loss function to maximize the mask-to-noise ratio (MNR) in multi-resolution Mel-frequency scales. Also, a perceptual entropy (PE)-based weighting scheme is incorporated onto the MNR loss so that the DNN model focuses more on perceptually important Mel-frequency bands. The proposed loss function was tested on a CNN-based autoencoder implementing the soft-max quantization and entropy-based bitrate control. Objective and subjective tests conducted with speech signals showed that the proposed loss function produced higher perceptual quality than the previous perceptual loss functions.
Ethnic Differences in Informal Caregiving After Stroke

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Background and Purpose: Informal (unpaid) caregiving usually provided by family is important poststroke. We studied whether the prevalence of informal caregiving after stroke differs between Mexican Americans (MAs) and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Methods: Between October 2014 and December 2018, participants in the BASIC (Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi) project in Nueces County, Texas, were interviewed 90 days after stroke to determine which activities of daily living they required help with and whether family provided informal caregiving. Ethnic differences between MAs and NHWs were determined by logistic regression. The logistic models were stratified by formal (paid) care status. Odds ratios (95% CIs) are reported with NHW as the referent group. Fisher exact tests were used to assess the association of ethnicity with relationship of caregiver and with individual activities of daily living. Results: Eight hundred thirty-one patients answered the caregiving questions. Of these, 242 (29%) received family caregiving (33% of MAs and 23% of NHWs), and 142 (17%) received paid caregiving (21% of MAs and 10% of NHWs). There were no ethnic differences in stroke severity. In logistic regression analyses, among those without formal, paid care, MAs were more likely to have informal caregiving (odds ratio, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.12–2.73]) adjusted for age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, prestroke modified Rankin Scale, and insurance. No ethnic differences in informal care were found among those who had formal care. There were no differences between ethnic groups in which family members provided the informal care. MAs were more likely to require help compared with NHWs for walking (P<0.0001), bathing (P<0.0001), hygiene (P=0.0012), eating (P=0.0004), dressing (P<0.0001), ambulating (P=0.0304), and toileting (P=0.0003). Conclusions: MAs required more help poststroke than NHWs for assistance with activities of daily living. MAs received more help for activities of daily living through informal, unpaid caregiving than NHWs if they were not also receiving formal, paid care. Efforts to help minority and low-resource populations provide stroke care are needed.