Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis of CBDC Narrative OF Central Banks using Large Language Models

Central banks are increasingly using verbal communication for policymaking, focusing not only on traditional monetary policy, but also on a broad set of topics. One such topic is central bank digital currency (CBDC), which is attracting attention from the international community. The complex nature of this project means that it must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences, such as financial instability. We propose the use of different Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to better understand central banks’ stance towards CBDC, analyzing a set of central bank discourses from 2016 to 2022. We do this using traditional techniques, such as dictionary-based methods, and two large language models (LLMs), namely Bert and ChatGPT, concluding that LLMs better reflect the stance identified by human experts. In particular, we observe that ChatGPT exhibits a higher degree of alignment because it can capture subtler information than BERT. Our study suggests that LLMs are an effective tool to improve sentiment measurements for policy-specific texts, though they are not infallible and may be subject to new risks, like higher sensitivity to the length of texts, and prompt engineering.
Spatial distribution of microwave device harmonic electrical variables through T-dependent TCAD simulations

TCAD simulations of electron devices operated in the periodic large-signal regime are implemented in the frequency domain, thus allowing extracting all internal physical variables, such as the carrier concentration and electric field, in terms of their harmonic content. Therefore, these simulation tools offer a unique insight into the device operating conditions typical of microwave applications, e.g. highlighting the regions of the device affecting each harmonic of the terminal currents. In particular, Conversion Green's Functions, allow for a simple and direct way to inspect the response of each harmonic to variations in the device operating condition, structure, material and technological parameters with respect to the nominal values. In this paper, we provide a discussion of the internal quantities for a silicon FinFET device, exploited into a power amplifier for small-cells transceiver applications at 70 GHz. The temperature dependent analysis highlights e.g. the impact of carrier mobility degradation in the FinFET access regions and of the inversion channel charge including DC, fundamental and harmonics of the drain current.
Use of dead tree-fern trunks as oviposition sites by the terrestrial breeding frog Leiopelma archeyi

: While most anurans lay their eggs in or near water, there is a wide diversity of species that lay their eggs on the ground, under rocks, or in burrows. For these terrestrial-breeding species, identifying the habitat requirements of oviposition sites is particularly useful for conservation and management planning, given that oviposition in anurans is strongly related to the environmental characteristics in which they live. Leiopelma archeyi is an endemic New Zealand frog that reproduces on moist substrates. Males brood eggs and carry larvae within retreats until metamorphosis is complete. Two previous observations (in November 2014) reported frogs attending eggs inside dead, hollow trunks of tree-ferns (ponga, Cyathea spp. or Dicksonia spp.). We examined whether these observations were random or whether ponga was a breeding resource consistently used by L. archeyi . We used a non-disturbance protocol and focussed on searching inside ponga systematically during three consecutive breeding seasons. This monitoring allowed us to corroborate the reproductive mode previously known for this species and confirm ponga as a recurring oviposition site for L. archeyi . Around 10% of the oviposition sites monitored during the parental-care period were observed with more than one adult inside. Furthermore, we selected three individual ponga known to be used as oviposition sites to mark the centre of a plot from which we measured all ponga trunks. We fitted a mixed-model logistic regression to examine whether the use of ponga as an oviposition site by L. archeyi was predicted by length and/or diameter at the opening of the trunk. However, neither of these trunk characteristics were useful predictors for the use of ponga as an oviposition site. Our observations raise questions about the reproductive mode of this species such as oviposition site fidelity, and interactions within a community level between two ancestral lineages (Leiopelmatidae and tree ferns).
Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) Derived from CAR-T Cells

Authors: Maria Margarita Labastida Arzate Submitted: 24. July 2023 Published: 7. August 2023 Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Germany Languages: English
A Comparative Evaluation of Propagation Characteristics of Vehicular VLC and MMW Channels

Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication is an underlying key technology to realize future intelligent transportation systems. Both millimeter wave (MMW) communication and visible light communication (VLC) are strong candidates to address V2V connectivity. Most of the earlier literature focuses on an individual technology. In an effort to better highlight the differences and relative advantages of these two competing technologies, we provide a comprehensive one-to-one comparison between vehicular VLC and MMW channels in this article. For this purpose, we utilize ray tracing simulations which enable the consideration of three-dimensional modeling of the propagation environment and allow the study of various system parameters and road conditions in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight conditions. Under the same settings, we present the received signal strengths for both systems and investigate the channel characteristics for communication between two vehicles in the same lane as well as in different lanes with a lateral shift. We also analyze the impact of low, medium, and high density of neighbor vehicles as well as partial and complete blockage.
Robotics for Autistic Children

A range of chronic difficulties known as autism spectrum disorders interfere with social interactions and communication. The state of the art shows how robots in particular can provide potential methods to advance ASD research and treatment. This review aims to investigate how robot-assisted therapy techniques support children with autism in increasing social contact and in imitating, recognizing, and expressing their feelings. If robots appear to be useful tools for assistive therapies was one of the paper's main questions. The study team behind this publication came to the conclusion that robots are extremely effective in the intervention process and provide ASD youngsters with a predictable and secure setting. In addition to the aforementioned, this project also discusses ethical concerns that therapists and researchers should keep in mind while human-robot interaction is taking place.
Efficacy of UTAUT model in continuation of usage of broadband in the rural areas of Northern region of Malaysia

Admittedly, the internet users in the remote and rural areas are less in embracing broadband usage due to the technology and economic factors leading them in continuously using low-speed dial up access in lieu of demanding for higher services. There is no exception in the rural areas of northern region of Malaysia as their rate of development is quite low when compared with the rest of the regions in Malaysia, causing backwardness or stagnant in the usage of broadband. Therefore, this research intends to examine the fitness of UTAUT model on the broadband continuous usage in the rural areas. A quantitative survey technique is employed by distributing 200 questionnaires to secondary school students that are residing in the rural areas of northern region of Malaysia. The result shows that UTAUT model is best fit in determining continuous usage of broadband in the rural areas.
Effect of thermal ageing on electrical, mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer and its impact on service life

Abstract The mechanical and electrical properties of polymer composites often degrade due to environmental factors and shorten their service life. This article presents the effect of high temperatures on the mechanical and electrical characteristics of glass fiber reinforced composites and from the measurements, an attempt is made to predict the service life. Electrical conductivity, impedance and resistance are studied with a short-term temperature effect at 30, 60, 120, and 180 °C. The effect of temperature exposure at 120 and 160 °C for 1000, 2000, and 3000 h has been investigated to assess the changes in flexural, compressive, and tensile properties and for prediction of service life. Morphological studies are carried out to support some of the experimental results. The mechanical properties of composites are observed to deteriorate with the duration of aging. Flexural, tensile, and compressive strengths reveal a reduction of 8, 10, and 9%, after aging at 3000 h at 160 °C. The tensile strength and tensile modulus at 120 °C aged for 3000 h exhibit minimal changes as compared to unaged composites. However, with an increase in temperature to 160 °C, there is a reduction in tensile strength and modulus of composites by less than 10%, and 6% compared to composites with nanofillers. The variations in compression strength at 120 and 160 °C is not significant. Based on the reduction of tensile strength with temperature, the service life of composites has been estimated. For a predicted service life of 20 years, composites with nanofillers would be able to retain tensile strength of 90% of tensile strength.
Role of Differential Nutrient Management on Growth and Yield Attributes of Cashew (Anacardium occidetale L.) in Maidan Tracts of Karnataka

The research on Nutrient Management for yield maximization in Cashew was conducted under Crop management, All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Cashew at Horticulture Research and Extension Centre, Hogalagere, Kolar district, Karnataka state, India during the period of 2020–21. There were six treatments imposed in the experiment, among the treatments, treatment-5 (T5) i.e . , cashew trees imposed with 100% RDF (500:250:250 g)+10 kg FYM along with foliar spray of major nutrients (3% Urea+0.5% MAP+1% K2SO4), secondary and micronutrients (0.5% ZnSo4+0.1% solubor as boron+0.5% MgSo4) was found significantly superior over remaining treatments in terms of growth parameters like Stem girth (17.91 cm), Canopy height (2.66 m), Canopy spread (E-W : 7.08 m except T4 and N-S : 7.12 m), Mean canopy diameter (7.10 m), Canopy surface area (158.55 m2 ) and ground area covered by plant canopy (61.99%). Whereas, T5 was also recorded significantly superior over other treatments and followed similar trend as in growth attributing parameters, such as Nut yield per tree (14.50 kg), Yield per hectare ( 18.87 q), Cumulative nut yield for six years of harvest (56.82 kg) and Cumulative yield per hectare (88.64 q). However the treatment-5 was also numerically elevated higher values in remaining all parameters and the lowest observation values were found in T6 (control). When look at the overall performance, treatment-5 (T5) was found to be best treatment.
Methane Catalytic Combustion under Lean Conditions over Pristine and Ir-Loaded La1−xSrxMnO3 Perovskites: Efficiency, Hysteresis, and Time-on-Stream and Thermal Aging Stabilities

The increasing use of natural gas as an efficient, reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy source, compared with other fossil fuels, has brought the catalytic CH4 complete oxidation reaction into the spotlight as a simple and economic way to control the amount of unconverted methane escaping into the atmosphere. CH4 emissions are a major contributor to the ‘greenhouse effect’, and therefore, they need to be effectively reduced. Catalytic CH4 oxidation is a promising method that can be used for this purpose. Detailed studies of the activity, oxidative thermal aging, and the time-on-stream (TOS) stability of pristine La1−xSrxMnO3 perovskites (LSXM; X = % substitution of La with Sr = 0, 30, 50 and 70%) and iridium-loaded Ir/La1−xSrxMnO3 (Ir/LSXM) perovskite catalysts were conducted in a temperature range of 400–970 °C to achieve complete methane oxidation under excess oxygen (lean) conditions. The effect of X on the properties of the perovskites, and thus, their catalytic performance during heating/cooling cycles, was studied using samples that were subjected to various pretreatment conditions in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the structure–activity/stability correlations. Large (up to ca. 300 °C in terms of T50) inverted volcano-type differences in catalytic activity were found as a function of X, with the most active catalysts being those where X = 0%, and the least active were those where X = 50%. Inverse hysteresis phenomena (steady-state rate multiplicities) were revealed in heating/cooling cycles under reaction conditions, the occurrence of which was found to depend strongly on the employed catalyst pre-treatment (pre-reduction or pre-oxidation), while their shape and the loop amplitude were found to depend on X and the presence of Ir. All findings were consistently interpreted, which involved a two-term mechanistic model that utilized the synergy of Eley–Rideal and Mars–van Krevelen kinetics.
Comparative Study of Conclusion Section of Aerospace Research Article (RA) in the Use of Interactional Metadiscourse

This study provides a comparative corpus-based analysis of interactional metadiscourse between Chinese scholars and English native speakers’ conclusion section of aerospace research articles. For this purpose, based on Hyland’s (2005) interactional metadiscourse taxonomy, 52 aerospace conclusions writing pieces from two high-profile journals were selected for analysis. Results indicate that the discrepancy in total number and frequency lies in the use of hedges, boosters, and attitude markers. Linguistic features, sociocultural factors, and rhetoric functions are responsible for these discrepancies. This work may shed lights on academic writing and pedagogy.
Alexithymia and asthma: a systematic review

Growing evidence from scientific research elucidates the important role of alexithymia in chronic immune diseases. This Review aims to explore the presence of alexithymia in patients affected by asthma and clarify its associations with other involved psychological and physical factors. In January 2023, according to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search using PubMed and Scopus was conducted. Twenty-six studies were eligible based on inclusion criteria. Alexithymia was significantly present in asthma patients, with most studies reporting a higher prevalence (from 9 to 62.8%) than in control groups (approximately 10%). The coexistence of asthma and alexithymia was associated with a worse quality of life, psychiatric comorbidity, poor symptom control, and difficulty in recognizing exacerbations of the disease. These results suggest that alexithymia can negatively impact the management of asthma. For this reason, we recommend an accuracy assessment in clinical settings and the implementation of psychological interventions to promote the emotional and physical wellbeing of asthmatic patients.
Clinical Efficiency and Acceptability of EMDR and MOSAIC Therapy for PTSD

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is one of the therapies recommended by the World Health Organization (2013) to treat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although efficient, repeated exposure to the traumatic memory may reduce its acceptability to patients. The therapy “eye movement and alternate stimulation for brain integration” (MOSAIC in French) was developed to improve acceptability and reduce pain by drawing on the patient’s internal resources. MOSAIC therapy focuses on the body sensations that the patient wants to experience and avoids having to relive the traumatic memories. This observational study aimed to compare the clinical efficiency of EMDR and MOSAIC therapy for PTSD and to measure the well-being generated by both therapies. Twenty-six PTSD patients (17 females and 9 males, mean age 37.01 years, SD = 13.06) received treatment by psychiatrists and/or psychologists trained with EMDR or MOSAIC therapy. Both patient groups achieved a significant decrease in PTSD symptoms as measured with the PCL-5. However, fewer sessions were required with the MOSAIC therapy than with EMDR therapy. As expected, the level of well-being experienced by the patient during the therapy, assessed using the Lickert scale, was higher with MOSAIC than with EMDR therapy from the first session. These findings provide the first evidence of the efficacy of MOSAIC therapy treatment, which now needs to be corroborated in a larger randomized clinical trial.
Shining through the clouds: An historical case study of Dunbar, a segregated school in Tucson, Arizona

This dissertation is an historic, ethnographical case study of Dunbar School, a segregated elementary and junior high school in Tucson, Arizona, established in 1913 in accordance with de jure segregation policies in the United States. It comprehensively examines the school's organizational culture and leadership from 1940-1951 through the voices of former teachers and students supported by scholarly literature. Educational philosophies that impacted the segregated school, the sociopolitical climate that ushered it into being, and the impact of desegregation on Black education are also addressed. The purpose of the study was to uncover Dunbar's inner culture and tap into contributing factors that led to its success. The gap in the research on the school called for an integration of empirical data with scholarly research. Answers about perceptions and characteristics of the school's membership and the leadership philosophy that guided Dunbar are sought principally by drawing from the theoretical lens of organizational culture. Three other theoretical frameworks are also used to understand the school's inner workings: code, resiliency, and leadership theories. The underlying themes of this study are: the critical importance of demonstrable care in schools, the need to invest in students' cultural capital, the value of congruency among faculty, and an emphasis on academic excellence. Data were collected from primary and secondary sources. Open-ended and semistructured questions characterized the interviewing methodology, and governed the data collection process. A review of newspaper articles, published and unpublished archival sources, and current school documentation unearthed the historical development.
Determinants of Customer Loyalty toward Mobile Wallet Services in Post-COVID-19: The Moderating Role of Trust

One of the highly acclaimed innovations is the mobile wallet. Mobile wallets ensure that customers can make purchases even if they forget their wallets at home. The use of these wallets has increased significantly with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as a preventive measure. However, with COVID-19 restrictions lifted and adaptation to the pandemic, customers are no longer forced to use mobile wallets. That is, things have returned to normal as before the pandemic, where the customer is left free to choose the method of payment. In this regard, businesses need to retain their customers and make sure that those customers will reuse their own mobile wallets even during this period (post-COVID-19). Hence, it is critical to explore customer loyalty determinants toward mobile wallet services in such a period. Therefore, using the Indian context, this paper sought to explore the determinants of customer loyalty toward mobile wallet services post-COVID-19. This study also investigated the role of trust as a moderator. Based on a sample size of 243 customers in India, the relationships in the proposed model were tested using SmartPLS statistical technology. The results revealed that service quality, privacy and security, and trust are the key determinants in gaining customer loyalty toward mobile wallets. Yet, the results did not support perceived usefulness and ease of use as determinants of customer loyalty. As for trust as a moderator, the results supported only one of the four proposed hypotheses. Specifically, the results supported that “trust has a significant moderating impact on the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty”. The results offer a more precise comprehension of the relationships between customer loyalty and customer loyalty determinants in post-COVID-19 and enable managers to make better management decisions.
POWER SPECTRAL DENSITY OF DUAL RANDOMIZED DISCONTINUOUS PULSE WIDTH MODULATION

This paper addresses the spectral characteristics of a carrier-based dual randomized discontinuous pulse width modulation (DRDPWM) technique for reducing conducted EMI and switching losses in three-phase voltage source inverters. It combines two simple random schemes, random carrier frequency modulation (RCF-DPWM) and random pulse position modulation (RPP-DPWM). First, the modulating principle of the DRDPWM is presented. Then, the analytical expressions of power spectral density (PSD) that characterize the output voltage of the three-phase inverter are derived. Analytical and simulation results show the effectiveness of PSD spreading of the DRDPWM. Finally, experimental results verify the analytical and simulation results and prove the effectiveness of the DRDPWM scheme in spreading the spectrum compared to simple schemes (RPP-DPWM and RCF-DPWM) and conventional scheme DPWM.
The computational power of the human brain

At the end of the 20th century, analog systems in computer science have been widely replaced by digital systems due to their higher computing power. Nevertheless, the question keeps being intriguing until now: is the brain analog or digital? Initially, the latter has been favored, considering it as a Turing machine that works like a digital computer. However, more recently, digital and analog processes have been combined to implant human behavior in robots, endowing them with artificial intelligence (AI). Therefore, we think it is timely to compare mathematical models with the biology of computation in the brain. To this end, digital and analog processes clearly identified in cellular and molecular interactions in the Central Nervous System are highlighted. But above that, we try to pinpoint reasons distinguishing in silico computation from salient features of biological computation. First, genuinely analog information processing has been observed in electrical synapses and through gap junctions, the latter both in neurons and astrocytes. Apparently opposed to that, neuronal action potentials (APs) or spikes represent clearly digital events, like the yes/no or 1/0 of a Turing machine. However, spikes are rarely uniform, but can vary in amplitude and widths, which has significant, differential effects on transmitter release at the presynaptic terminal, where notwithstanding the quantal (vesicular) release itself is digital. Conversely, at the dendritic site of the postsynaptic neuron, there are numerous analog events of computation. Moreover, synaptic transmission of information is not only neuronal, but heavily influenced by astrocytes tightly ensheathing the majority of synapses in brain (tripartite synapse). At least at this point, LTP and LTD modifying synaptic plasticity and believed to induce short and long-term memory processes including consolidation (equivalent to RAM and ROM in electronic devices) have to be discussed. The present knowledge of how the brain stores and retrieves memories includes a variety of options (e.g., neuronal network oscillations, engram cells, astrocytic syncytium). Also epigenetic features play crucial roles in memory formation and its consolidation, which necessarily guides to molecular events like gene transcription and translation. In conclusion, brain computation is not only digital or analog, or a combination of both, but encompasses features in parallel, and of higher orders of complexity.