Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexural Stiffness Control of Multilayered Beams

This paper focuses on the ability to introduce change in the flexural bending stiffness of a niultilayered beam. The multilayered beam comprises a base layer with polymer layers on the upper and lower surfaces and stiff cover layers. The flexural stiffness can be reduced by effecting a reduction in the shear modulus of the polymer layers by heating through glass transition. Stiffer polymer layers strongly couple the cover layers to the base beam and the entire multilayered beam bends more as an integral unit On heating, a reduction in the shear modulus of the polymer layer results in its undergoing shear deformation as the base beam undergoes flexural bending and results in the cover layers decoupling from the base beam. This reduces the overall flexural bending stiffness. A finite element analysis is developed for the multilayered beam, and after experimentally verifying its ability to predict change in flexural bending deflection under load with a change in the polymer-layer shear modulus, it is used to conduct parametric studies. The results of the parametric studies provide broad insights into how the achievable change in flexural bending stiffness with a change in the polymer-layer modulus varies with design parameters such as the modulus and thickness of both the cover layers and the polymer layers. Changes in flexural bending stiffness by a factor of over 70 for a clamped-free beam and by a factor of over 130 for a pinned-pinned beam were observed for certain configuration designs.
The suitability of discretized fluid equations to describe breakdown at atmospheric pressure

Discretized solutions of fluid equations can fail to accurately predict breakdown of a plasma for several reasons. During breakdown, the initial density can grow very rapidly indeed. As a consequence, small errors, such as those produced by ‘numerical diffusion’, can be greatly magnified. We present results which demonstrate the effect of numerical diffusion in the presence of strong growth in density over time, and we propose a criterion which indicates when a discretized solution of fluid equations can be expected to describe breakdown accurately. We further discuss how fluid schemes which employ energy conservation should be limited in the size of the discreteness parameters, i.e. mesh size and time step (Δz, Δt), which can be employed. Unless (Δz, Δt) are very small, the energy is not typically calculated accurately. (Schemes which do not conserve energy exhibit dramatic failures in accuracy, however.) Throughout this work, we compare the results of the various fluid models to a semi-analytic ‘capacitor’ model of breakdown. The time-dependent capacitor model (TDCM) avoids the major sources of error which can occur in fluid models. The TDCM agrees well with energy-conserving schemes, when those schemes employ very small (Δz, Δt), whereas the TDCM can employ larger (Δz, Δt), well beyond values at which most fluid models fail. Finally, we investigate a class of fluid models which attempts to capture the same physics as the TDCM, to study whether the TDCM is distinct from standard fluid models, and we suggest a fluid model which overcomes some of the limitations of a standard energy-conserving scheme.
GENERALIZED THERMO ELASTIC WAVES IN A CYLINDRICAL PANEL EMBEDDED ON ELASTIC MEDIUM

In this paper the three dimensional wave propagation in a homogeneous isotropic thermo elastic cylindrical panel embedded in an elastic medium (Winkler model) is investigated in the context of the L-S (Lord-Shulman) theory of generalized thermo elasticity. The analysis is carried out by introducing three displacement functions so that the equations of motion are uncoupled and simplified. A Bessel function solution with complex arguments is then directly used for the case of complex Eigen values . This type of study is important for design of structures in atomic reactors, steam turbines, wave loading on submarine, the impact loading due to superfast train and jets and other devices operating at elevated temperature. In order to illustrate theoretical development, numerical solutions are obtained and presented graphically for a zinc material with the support of MATLAB.
International curriculum for undergraduate sonographer education in China during the COVID-19 era: International remote teaching mode vs. domestic on-site teaching mode

Background Sichuan University West China Medical School was the first institution in China to develop an undergraduate sonographer education program in 2016. This program was certificated by American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and students are qualified for the ARDMS credential verification test. In this 4-year program, the international curriculum of ultrasound physics and hemodynamics was set for students in the third year since 2018. This study is aimed to compare the teaching effect of international remote teaching mode and domestic on-site teaching mode of this international curriculum before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods All undergraduate sonographer students after completing ultrasound physics and hemodynamics in the academic years 2018–2019 (30 students; before the COVID-19 pandemic) and 2020–2021 (47 students; during the COVID-19 pandemic) were included in the study. The scores of 77 students were analyzed for their curriculum. Independent samples t-test or Mann–Whitney test was employed to compare students' scores before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Chi-square test was used to compare students' feedback about this curriculum through an online self-administered questionnaire. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Total scores were comprised of four parts: in-class tests, homework, mid-term, and final exam scores. The mean in-class test score for domestic on-site teaching mode during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly higher than that for international remote teaching mode before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there was no observed a statistically significant difference in homework, mid-term, final exam, and total scores between the two types of teaching modes. For questionnaire feedback, no significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the satisfaction toward teachers, class atmosphere, teaching mode, curriculum content, exam difficulty, scores, and knowledge students gained. For the overall evaluation of the curriculum, 73.3% (22/30) of students were very satisfied before the COVID-19 pandemic, while 44.7% (21/47) of students felt very satisfied during the COVID-19 pandemic (p = 0.02). Conclusion The general teaching effect of domestic on-site teaching mode during the COVID-19 pandemic was comparable to that of international remote teaching mode before the COVID-19 pandemic, and domestic on-site teaching mode may provide a better in-class teaching effect.
Torques Due to Acoustical Radiation Pressure

A general expression for the torque on an object due to acoustical radiation pressure is derived by an approach similar to that used by P. J. Westervelt to derive the general expression for the force.The general expression is then specialized to plane waves incident in an arbitrary direction. The simplification which is obtainable in the case of disks is also discussed.
Gonotrophic stages of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus and their relationships with climatic conditions in selected school dormitories in Benin City, Nigeria

Mosquito-borne pathogens are transmitted mainly during blood feeding by infective female mosquito vectors. Blood meals’ digestion stages reveal necessary entomological information for retrospective assessment and future plan for vector control. This study was done to assess the blood digestion stages of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes and their relationships with climatic conditions in school dormitories in Egor, Oredo and Ikpoba Okha Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benin City, Edo State. Indoor mosquitoes were collected between 08:00 and 11:00 hours from randomly selected dormitories bi-monthly for 6 months, using sweep net and mechanical aspirator. Female mosquitoes were identified and grouped into various blood digestion stages using relevant keys. A total of 439 adult female mosquitoes identified as An. gambiae (n=28) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (n=411) were examined for gonotrophic status. Total gonotrophic stages of both vector species in the collective LGAs were highly significant (p<0.01). Only Cx. quinquefasciatus revealed significant variation (p<0.01) in monthly mean percentage abundance of the gonotrophic stages across the study months in the combined LGA data. Regarding each LGA, there was significant variation in monthly mean percentage abundance of Cx. quinquefasciatus gonotrophic stages across the study months (p<0.05) in Egor and Ikpoba Okha except Oredo. As for An. gambiae, no significant difference (p>0.05) was observed per LGA. Correlations between gravid Cx. quinquefasciatus vs relative humidity, unfed Cx. quinquefasciatus vs rainfall and An. gambiae vs rainfall were the only associations that correlated significantly (p<0.05). The results indicate the need for deployment of thorough and effective vector management strategy
Virus-Like Cytosolic and Cell-Free Oxidatively Damaged Nucleic Acids Likely Drive Inflammation, Synapse Degeneration, and Neuron Death in Alzheimer’s Disease

Oxidative stress, inflammation, and amyloid-β are Alzheimer’s disease (AD) hallmarks that cause each other and other AD hallmarks. Most amyloid-β-lowering, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial AD clinical trials failed; none stopped or reversed AD. Although signs suggest an infectious etiology, no pathogen accumulated consistently in AD patients. Neuropathology, neuronal cell culture, rodent, genome-wide association, epidemiological, biomarker, and clinical studies, plus analysis using Hill causality criteria and revised Koch’s postulates, indicate that the virus-like oxidative damage-associated molecular-pattern (DAMP) cytosolic and cell-free nucleic acids accumulated in AD patients’ brains likely drive neuroinflammation, synaptotoxicity, and neurotoxicity. Cytosolic oxidatively-damaged mitochondrial DNA accumulated outside mitochondria dose-dependently in preclinical AD and AD patients’ hippocampal neurons, and in AD patients’ neocortical neurons but not cerebellar neurons or glia. In oxidatively-stressed neural cells and rodents’ brains, cytosolic oxidatively-damaged mitochondrial DNA accumulated and increased antiviral and inflammatory proteins, including cleaved caspase-1, interleukin-1β, and interferon-β. Cytosolic double-stranded RNA and DNA are DAMPs that induce antiviral interferons and/or inflammatory proteins by oligomerizing with various innate-immune pattern-recognition receptors, e.g., cyclic GMP-AMP synthase and the nucleotide-binding-oligomerization-domain-like-receptor-pyrin-domain-containing-3 inflammasome. In oxidatively-stressed neural cells, cytosolic oxidatively-damaged mitochondrial DNA caused synaptotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Depleting mitochondrial DNA prevented these effects. Additionally, cell-free nucleic acids accumulated in AD patients’ blood, extracellular vesicles, and senile plaques. Injecting cell-free nucleic acids bound to albumin oligomers into wild-type mice’s hippocampi triggered antiviral interferon-β secretion; interferon-β injection caused synapse degeneration. Deoxyribonuclease-I treatment appeared to improve a severe-AD patient’s Mini-Mental Status Exam by 15 points. Preclinical and clinical studies of deoxyribonuclease-I and a ribonuclease for AD should be prioritized.
A non-hydrostatic global spectral dynamical core using a height-based vertical coordinate

Most of the dynamical cores of operational global models can be broadly classified according to the spatial discretisation into two categories: spectral models with mass-based vertical coordinate and grid point models with height-based vertical coordinate. This article describes a new non-hydrostatic dynamical core for a global model that uses the spectral transform method for the horizontal directions and a height-based vertical coordinate. Velocity is expressed in the contravariant basis (instead of the geographical orthonormal basis pointing to the East, North and Zenith directions) so that the expressions of the boundary conditions and the divergence of the velocity are simpler. Prognostic variables in our model are the contravariant components of the velocity, the logarithm of pressure and the logarithm of temperature. Covariant tensor analysis is used to derive the differential operators of the prognostic equations, such as the curl, gradient, divergence and covariant derivative of the contravariant velocity. A Lorenz type grid is used in the vertical direction, with the vertical contravariant velocity staggered with respect to the other prognostic variables. High-order vertical operators are constructed following the finite difference technique. Time stepping is semi-implicit because it allows for long time steps that compensates the cost of the spectral transformations. A set of experiments reported in the literature is implemented so as to confirm the accuracy and efficiency of the new dynamical core.
Service Quality of Government Institution and Its Influence on Public Satisfaction (Study in Regency/City Government of North Sulawesi)

This study aims to empirically examine the influences of the service quality of government institutions on public satisfaction and the degree of influences of service quality among regencies/cities in the North Sulawesi Province. This study focuses on the performance measurement of One-Stop Integrated Service and Investment Service. Respondents of this research are a community in four regencies/cities in the province of North Sulawesi that is Manado City, Bitung City, Bolaang Mongondow Regency, and Kotamobagu City. The respondents are those who have experienced the services provided by One-Stop Integrated Service and Investment Service institutions in those regencies/cities. This study uses a survey method that distributes questionnaires to each region. The data analysis method uses multiple linear regression analyses. The results show that of the 6 (six) hypotheses, 5 (five) hypotheses were supported and 1 (one) hypothesis was not supported. Supported hypotheses are 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hypotheses. Meanwhile, the 6 hypotheses are not supported.
Kx -GROUPS, QUASIDIAGONALITY, AND INTERPOLATION BY MULTIPLIER PROJECTIONS

We relate the following conditions on a c-unital C*-algebra A with the "FS property": (a) KX(A) = 0 ; (b) every projection in M(A)/A lifts; (c) the general Weyl-von Neumann theorem holds in M(A) : Any selfadjoint element h in M (A) can be written as h = TJ~ i ¿,-P,- + a f°r some selfad-joint element a in A , some bounded real sequence {A¡} , and some mutually orthogonal projections {p,} in A with TJÍiP¡ = 1 ; (d) M (A) has FS; and (e) interpolation by multiplier projections holds: For any closed projections p and q in A** with pq = 0, there is a projection r in M (A) such that p<r< 1 -q. We prove various equivalent versions of (a)-(e), and show that (e) ■» (d) •»• (c) =► (b) <= (a), and that (a) «• (b) if, in addition, A is stable. Combining the above results, we obtain counterexamples to the conjecture of G. K. Pedersen " A has FS => M (A) has FS" (for example the stabilized Bunce-Deddens algebras). Hence the generalized Weyl-von Neumann theorem does not generally hold in L(HA) for c-unital C'-algebras with FS.
Factors Influencing the Intention to Use GrabPay Among Malaysians

This research study is about Malaysians view and their intention to use GrabPay. There are four variables selected in this research: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived security, and social influence. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed online to the respondents, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software. Through research, we found that these four variables are positively associated with the intention to use GrabPay among Malaysians. To conclude, it is believed that Malaysian's intention to use E-Wallet is gradually increasing. Thus, GrabPay needs to pay more attention to its security system, expand its service coverage, and make some optimization and simplifications on its application to strengthen its future status.
A Review of Food Texture Modification among Individuals with Cerebral Palsy: The Challenges among Cerebral Palsy Families

Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) frequently present with multiple feeding problems, which may require food texture modification to ensure safe feeding. This review aims to explore the challenges individuals with CP and their caregiver’s face and recommend modified food textures to ensure safety and improve the quality of life and nutritional status. A systematic search was carried out through four databases (i.e., EBSCO (Medline), PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science) between January 2011 and May 2022. Out of 86 articles retrieved, seven were selected based on keywords and seven other studies through manual search-five cross-sectional studies, two qualitative studies, one correlational study, one mixed method study, one case-control study, two sections of books, and two educational materials. The findings suggest that preparation and intake of food with modified texture play a necessary role in the safety of swallowing in addition to physical, social, and environmental aspects. Safety was found to be the crucial part of the food texture modification provision besides considering the stress of the caregivers and the nutritional status of individuals with CP. Currently, there are no standard guidelines available pertaining to food texture modification. This led to uncertainties in the dietary provision among caregivers, which may lead to undernourishment. Hence, standard guidelines relating to food texture modification that focuses on food preparation and menus with calorie and nutrient information are timely to be developed.
Hydroxychloroquine Mitigates Dilated Cardiomyopathy Phenotype in Transgenic D94A Mice

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether short-term and low-dose treatment with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an antimalarial drug, can modulate heart function in a preclinical model of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) expressing the D94A mutation in cardiac myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) compared with healthy non-transgenic (NTg) littermates. Increased interest in HCQ came with the COVID-19 pandemic, but the risk of cardiotoxic side effects of HCQ raised concerns, especially in patients with an underlying heart condition, e.g., cardiomyopathy. Effects of HCQ treatment vs. placebo (H2O), administered in Tg-D94A vs. NTg mice over one month, were studied by echocardiography and muscle contractile mechanics. Global longitudinal strain analysis showed the HCQ-mediated improvement in heart performance in DCM mice. At the molecular level, HCQ promoted the switch from myosin’s super-relaxed (SRX) to disordered relaxed (DRX) state in DCM-D94A hearts. This result indicated more myosin cross-bridges exiting a hypocontractile SRX-OFF state and assuming the DRX-ON state, thus potentially enhancing myosin motor function in DCM mice. This bottom-up investigation of the pharmacological use of HCQ at the level of myosin molecules, muscle fibers, and whole hearts provides novel insights into mechanisms by which HCQ therapy mitigates some abnormal phenotypes in DCM-D94A mice and causes no harm in healthy NTg hearts.
60 GHz sources using optically driven heterojunction bipolar transistors

Millimeter wave sources at 60 GHz have been demonstrated using optically driven heterojunction bipolar transistors configured as photodetectors. Two techniques were used to optically generate the millimeter waves; the mixing of two cw lasers and the mode locking of a semiconductor laser. The millimeter wave power generated from these two configurations was radiated into free space using integrated planar twin‐dipole antennas and heterodyne detected with signal‐to‐noise ratios ≳40 dB. As part of these experiments, the dc optical gains and quantum efficiencies of the heterojunction bipolar transistor photodetectors were determined.
Country/Region Level Pandemic Severity Moderates the Relationships among Risk Experience, Perceived Life Satisfaction, and Psychological Distress in COVID-19

Scholars and communications practitioners worldwide have sought novel resilience models amid heightened rates of psychological distress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined perceived life satisfaction as a determinant of resilience. Additionally, we investigated the assumption that perceived pandemic severity at the country/region level moderates structural relationships within our risk–resilience model. Analyzing more than 34,000 valid samples from 15 countries/regions, we found that (1) perceived life satisfaction alleviated psychological distress across all 15 countries/regions; and (2) country/region-level pandemic severity moderated the relationships among COVID-19 symptom experience, perceived life satisfaction, and psychological distress. The effects of COVID-19 symptom experience and perceived life satisfaction on psychological distress were conditional. We discuss possible mechanisms behind our findings and provide practical implications for mitigating psychological distress during public health crises.
The Effect of Specific Techniques of Nasal Breathing [Pranayama] on Intra-Ocular Pressure in Normal Individuals, a Randomized Trial

Purpose Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy where intraocular pressure is the only modifiable risk factor. Yoga is thought to adversely affect intra-ocular pressure (IOP) but we do not know if yogic breathing exercises can influence IOP. With this study, we aimed to determine the effect of specific nasal breathing techniques on intra-ocular pressure in normal individuals. Patients and Methods One hundred and sixty-four normal subjects were randomly assigned to one of four specific breathing groups - right nostril breathing (RNB), left nostril breathing (LNB), alternate nostril breathing (ANB), normal breathing (NB). The IOP was measured in both eyes at baseline and following the breathing exercise; and the change was analyzed. Results Eighty-five women and 79 men participated and there was no significant difference in baseline age or IOP between the groups. In RNB, IOP reduced significantly in both right and left eyes, from 14.3 ± 3.0mmHg to 13.9 ± 2.6mmHg, (p=0.022) and from 14.7 ± 3.2mmHg to 14.2 ± 3mmHg (p=0.016) respectively. In LNB, there was no significant IOP change in the right eye, whereas in the left eye, there was a significant reduction from 14.2 ± 2.7mmHg to 13.3 ± 2.5mmHg (p< 0.0001). There was no significant IOP change in ANB and NB. Conclusion Specific breathing techniques like right and left nostril breathing, alternate nostril breathing are safe and do not raise IOP in normal subjects. Additionally, right and left nostril breathing techniques have a beneficial effect of lowering IOP.
Social and Educational Consequences of Language Attitudes

I denna artikel diskuterar James Bradac och Howard Giles förhållandet mellan språkliga attityder och språkundervisning. Förf. , som båda är verksamma vid University of California at Santa Barbara, har publicerat ett stort antal arbeten inom områdena Communication Studies och The Social Psychology of Language. Bland Bradacs arbeten märks Language and Social Knowledge (1982; tills.m. C. Berger). Han är vidare redaktör för tidskriften Human Communication Research. Giles är tills.m. P.F. Powesland författare till den viktiga monografin Speech Style and Social Evaluation (1975) och, tills.m. W.P. Robinson, redaktör för den nya Handbook of Language and Social Psychology.