Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Active Queue Management on the Tofino programmable switch: The (Dual)PI2 case

The excess buffering of packets in network elements, also referred to as bufferbloat, results in high latency. Considering the requirements of traffic generated by video conferencing systems like Zoom, cloud rendered gaming platforms like Google Stadia, or even video streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube, timeliness of such traffic is important. Ensuring low latency to IP flows with a high throughput calls for the application of Active Queue Management (AQM) schemes. This introduces yet another problem as the co-existence of scalable and classic congestion controls leads to the starvation of classic TCP flows. Technologies such as Low Latency Low Loss Scalable Throughput (L4S) and the corresponding dual queue coupled AQM, DualPI2, provide a robust solution to these problems. However, their deployment on hardware targets such as programmable switches is quite challenging due to the complexity of algorithms and architectural constraints of switching ASICs. In this study, we provide proof of concept implementations of two AQMs that enable the co-existence of scalable and traditional TCP traffic, namely DualPI2 and the preceding single-queue PI2 AQM, on an Intel Tofino switching ASIC. Given the fixed operation of the switch’s traffic manager, we investigate to what extent it is possible to implement a fully RFC-compliant version of the two AQMs on the Tofino ASIC. The study shows that an appropriate split between control and data plane operations is required while we also exploit fixed functionality of the traffic manager to support such solutions.
Heat and mass transfer of unsteady mixed convection flow of Casson fluid within the porous media under the influence of magnetic field over a nonlinear stretching sheet

Numerical outcomes for the steady and unsteady flow situations are investigated for the mixed convection flow of Casson nanofluid caused by the motion of a nonlinear stretching sheet in porous media with chemical reaction and magnetic effects. In the present study, the impact of convective boundary conditions on the thermal and concentration profiles as well as in the presence of Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects on the flow field are also examined. Highly non-linear and coupled partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by using suitable similarity transformations and subsequently portray numerical and graphical results with the help of bvp4c tool using MATLAB. The validity of numerical results are compared and checked with previously published results in the literature. For deliberating the physical nature of the investigation, graphical and tabulated results are provided. The Casson parameter helps to reduce the intensity of the skin friction, while Casson fluid has a converse impact on velocity and temperature field, but parallel results are seen in the case of concentration and temperature profile. The impacts for the magnetic parameter on velocity and temperature is revealed more effective than nanoparticle concentration. The impact of thermal and concentration buoyancy parameter on velocity, temperature and concentration profiles are observed and found that velocity profile increases with slight increase in thermal buoyancy parameter but decreases the other two profiles.
The Linear and Non-Linear Association between Trauma, Dissociation, Complex PTSD, and Executive Function Deficits: A Longitudinal Structural Equation Modeling Study

Abstract To longitudinally measure the relationship between trauma, dissociation, complex PTSD (CPTSD), and executive function (EF), we used a sample of 228 at two times with ten weeks in-between. We measured cumulative trauma, dissociation, CPTSD, and EF. We used two structural equation modeling with cumulative trauma and type III continuous trauma at time 1 as independent variables and dissociation, CPTSD, and EF at time two as dependent variables. Cumulative trauma and continuous traumatic had medium to large effect sizes on dissociation. Dissociation had a large effect size on CPTSD and EFD. However, the association between dissociation and EFD is more non-linear.
Factors Shaping the Cashless Payment Ecosystem: Understanding the Role of Participating Actors

Cashless payments have become increasingly popular around the world because of their numerous advantages. More so, the cashless payment adoption has been escalated during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, there is a lack of holistic studies on the adoption and contemporary practices of cashless payments. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to provide a comprehensive understanding by identifying the participating actors and their crucial role in the payment ecosystem. Thus, the paper aims to address two research questions: i) Who are the participating actors in the cashless payment ecosystem? and ii) What are the determinant factors for the actors to adopt the cashless payment ecosystem? Through scoping literature review of 63 articles published in the last seven years (2015-2021), six participating ecosystem actors are identified with their determinant factors. The study contributes towards addressing adoption issues and serves as a basis for future empirical investigation.
In Vitro Propagation of Tomato by Shoot Apical Meristem Culture1

A procedure has been developed to regenerate plants in high frequency from meristems of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Starfire). Shoot apical meristems isolated from 7-day-old seedlings were aseptically cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with varying concentrations of cytokinins and auxins under defined environmental conditions. Benzyladenine (BA) or zeatin (Z) at various concentrations from 0.1 to 10 µm induced shoot differentiation in high frequency. All levels of BA or Z in conjunction with indoleacetic acid (IAA) also induced shoot differentiation. Whole plant regeneration occurred in media with hormone concentrations as follows: 1) BA and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the range of 0.1 to 1.0 µm, 2) 10 µm Z in conjunction with 1.0 µm NAA or vice-versa and 3) 10 µm IAA.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE SECOND ZEUS CRITICAL EXPERIMENT WITH MCNP

The Zeus experiments have been designed to test the adequacy of U cross sections in the intermediate energy range. The detailed modeling of the second Zeus critical experiment with the MCNP Monte Carlo code is described, and calculated results are presented. The calculations employed cross sections derived from ENDF/B-V and ENDF/B-VI, and the results have standard deviations of only 0.0003 for keff. Those results indicate that both ENDF/B-V and release 4 of ENDF/B-VI underestimate the value of keff for Zeus by approximately 0.0015 )k. In addition, a series of modeling simplifications is described that transforms the detailed representation into a benchmark configuration, and the reactivity impacts of those simplifications are assessed. The end product of these simplifications is a relatively straightforward model with a keff that is only slightly different from that for the actual critical configuration.
Fruit Numbers, Fruit Size, and Yield Relationships in ‘McIntosh’ Apples1

In 3 ‘McIntosh’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchards, yield was positively related to fruit numbers, but negatively related to fruit size. Increases in fruit size from thinning were proportionately less than decreases in fruit numbers. Fruit thinning increased the percentage of larger fruits, but reductions in yield were such that the actual number of large fruits was either unchanged or reduced.
ABC Algorithm Based PID Controller Design for Higher Order Oscillatory Systems

This paper presents the results of an investigation based on the use of artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm to determine the optimum PID parameters for higher order oscillatory systems. For this aim, several oscillatory systems with different orders from the literature were selected. In order to achieve the desired closed loop system response, the PID parameters were tuned by the ABC algorithm using an appropriate objective function. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the considered approach, performance of the ABC algorithm was compared with that of the conventional PID tuning methods given in the literature and two popular heuristic optimization algorithms namely particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and genetic algorithm (GA). DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eie. 23.6. 19688
Curing and subsurface damage monitoring of epoxy-based composites

Multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymer composites that incorporate a suite of functionalities in addition to their load-carrying capability are receiving significant attention. One approach to realize multifunctional fiber-reinforced polymers is by infusing nanomaterials in the epoxy matrix to enhance their mechanical properties and to enable sensing functionality. However, fabrication of nanomaterial-enhanced epoxies remains challenging, since additives can hinder curing and affect their mechanical properties. Therefore, the objective of this study is to employ electrical capacitance tomography for monitoring curing and for quantifying subsurface damage in nanocomposite epoxies. The vision is that electrical capacitance tomography can be used as a portable, nondestructive evaluation tool for assessing composite curing during manufacturing or in the field (e.g. for repair patches). In short, electrical capacitance tomography uses a set of noncontact electrodes arranged to form a circle and interrogates a sensing area using different patterns of electric field excitations. Boundary capacitance measurements obtained simultaneously are used as inputs for solving the electrical capacitance tomography inverse problem to reconstruct the electrical permittivity distribution of the sensing area. The hypothesis is that the permittivity of nanocomposite epoxies would change during curing and due to damage. To test this hypothesis, this work focused on carbon nanotube–based epoxies, whose electrical properties are sensitive to strain. First, high-speed shear mixing and tip sonication were employed for dispersing carbon nanotubes in epoxy resin. Specimens were fabricated to confirm their strain-sensitive electromechanical properties. Second, electrical capacitance tomography was used to monitor nanocomposite epoxy curing, and the results confirmed the hypothesis that permittivity decreased with increasing curing time. Third, these results were then validated by directly measuring their electrical permittivity changes during curing and also using ultrasonic testing to estimate its elastic modulus at different curing times. Finally, nanocomposite epoxy specimens were damaged by drilling different-sized holes, and electrical capacitance tomography was able to identify the locations and sizes of the simulated damage.
Depicting the proton relay network in human aromatase: New insights into the role of the alcohol‐acid pair

Human aromatase is the cytochrome P450 catalyzing the conversion of androgens into estrogens in a three steps reaction essential to maintain steroid hormones balance. Here we report the capture and spectroscopic characterization of its compound I (Cpd I), the main reactive species in cytochromes P450. The typical spectroscopic transitions indicating the formation of Cpd I are detected within 0.8 s when mixing aromatase with meta‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The estrogen product is obtained from the same reaction mixture, demonstrating the involvement of Cpd I in aromatization reaction. Site‐directed mutagenesis is applied to the acid‐alcohol pair D309 and T310 and to R192, predicted to be part of the proton relay network. Mutants D309N and R192Q do not lead to Cpd I with an associated loss of activity, confirming that these residues are involved in proton delivery for Cpd I generation. Cpd I is captured for T310A mutant and shows 2.9‐ and 4.4‐fold faster rates of formation and decay, respectively, compared to wild‐type (WT). However, its activity is lower than the WT and a larger amount of H2O2 is produced during catalysis, indicating that T310 has an essential role in proton gating for generation of Cpd 0 and Cpd I and for their stabilization. The data provide new evidences on the role of threonine belonging to the conserved “acid‐alcohol” pair and known to be crucial for oxygen activation in cytochromes P450.
China’s influence and local perceptions: the case of Pacific island countries

ABSTRACT Traditional powers have growing concerns about China’s influence in the Global South derived from its fast-growing outreach in the past two decades. However, how stakeholders in developing countries perceive China’s engagement and influence remains largely unknown. Drawing upon a survey of 210 participants and 30 follow-up interviews in the Pacific region with a focus on Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Tonga, this paper examines Pacific civil society stakeholders’ perceptions about China. It suggests that these perceptions are nuanced at best and reveals concerns about the Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese foreign aid and China-Pacific relations. It argues that China’s influence on Pacific civil society is weak, but this may be different in the political, government and business sectors. More similar research is required to develop a comprehensive understanding.
Hepatoprotective potentials of methanolic extracts of Roselle and beetroots against carbon tetrachloride and Escherichia coli induced stress in Wistar rats

ABSTRACT Roselle and Beetroots are essential plants used individually for hepatoprotective abilities. This study investigated the preventive potentials of the combinations of Roselle and beetroots against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced and Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced hepatic stress. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), 1,1-diphenyl-picrylhydrazin (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were evaluated. Oxidative stress was induced in rats with CCl4 and E. coli. Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) and histopathology were evaluated in the liver. Roselle had the highest TPC and TF of 274.4 and 1140.9 GAE mg/mL, respectively. Roselle and beetroots inhibited DPPH and FRAP by (95.7% and 73.8%) and (887.6 and 662.6 µmol/L), respectively. In the extract-treated animal groups, a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the GSH, SOD and CAT was observed with a decrease in the MDA and histology indicates preserved hepatocellular architecture. The investigated plant extracts combination therefore exhibited antioxidant activities and hepatic cell protection. The results confirmed the combined functionalities of these plants as protective against oxidative stress induced in the liver, which can be incorporated as a dietary strategy to combat hepatic stress after due clinical trials. Graphical abstract
Questionnaire Survey on Vaccination Willingness and the Status of COVID-19 Vaccination Among Patients with Rheumatic Disease: A Single-Center Survey in China

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic. Patients with rheumatic disease are more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than the general population, and they should be vaccinated against COVID-19 for protection. This study aimed to understand the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among these patients. Methodology Patients who came to the Rheumatology and Immunology Department of our hospital from July 3–20, 2021, were randomly selected for a self-designed survey via an online questionnaire platform. Four hundred seventeen questionnaires were validated. Results Males were more likely to underestimate the risk of COVID-19 infection than females, and medical workers had a higher perception of COVID-19 infection risk than nonmedical workers (both P <0.05). Among the included patients, 149 (35.73%) patients were hesitant to be vaccinated, while 268 (64.27%) patients are willing to accept vaccination. Logistic regression analysis showed that men were more willing to be vaccinated than women, and nonmedical workers were more willing to be vaccinated than medical workers (both P <0.05). A total of 55.40% of the patients did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The incidence of adverse reactions for the 167 patients who received the COVID-19 vaccine was 8.98%. Conclusion The vaccination rate of the patients with rheumatic disease was relatively low, as was their vaccination willingness. Patient sex, whether the patient was a medical worker, and the patient’s level of knowledge about the risk of COVID-19 infection and the impact of vaccination on the disease were key factors.
Effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.)

The field study was carried out at the Department of Agronomy, Eastern Block Farm in Tamil Nadu Agriculture University Coimbatore, to study the effect of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) on yield attributes and yield of hybrid maize. Total fourteen treatment were followed out of which twelve treatments were of ZnONPs at 50,100,200 and 300 ppm treatment were administered in two stages viz . , knee height stage (30-35 DAS) and tasseling stage (46-56 DAS) and one treatment of foliar spray of 0.5% ZnSO 4 and one treatment of control water spray with three replications. Among the different treatment foliar application of ZnONPs @ 300 ppm at knee height and tasselling stage give the significantly recorded higher yield attributes viz . , cob length ( 20.21cm), cob weight (217.17 g), cob girth (16.8 cm) as well as the grain yield (5,213 kg ha -1 ) and stover yield (13,417 kg ha -1 ).
Is it good to be bad? An evolutionary analysis of the adaptive potential of psychopathic traits

Abstract Abstract Although psychopathy is widely conceptualised as a mental disorder, some researchers question the maladaptive nature of psychopathy, and argue that it might be advantageous from an evolutionary point of view. According to this view, psychopathy can be seen as an evolutionary adaptative strategy that relies on deception and manipulation to gain short-term reproductive benefits. Psychopathy is also identified as a fast life strategy in response to early life stress and an adaptation to harsh environments. This paper investigates the evidence that psychopathic traits are adaptive, while also addressing the limitations of current evolutionary models of psychopathy based on frequency-dependent selection and life history theory. We review recent studies on the fitness correlates of psychopathy and find that psychopathic traits present potential adaptive trade-offs between fertility and mortality, and offspring quantity and quality. On a proximate level, individual differences in stress reactivity and environmental risk factors in early development predispose to psychopathy through gene–environment interactions. We propose that environmental, developmental, social and cultural factors can mediate the relationship between psychopathic traits and fitness and therefore should be considered to make accurate predictions on the adaptive potential of psychopathy. We end by outlining gaps in the literature and making recommendations for future evolutionary research on psychopathy.
Beyond Political Connections: A Measurement Model Approach to Estimating Firm-Level Political Influence in 41 Economies

This paper considers the political influence of private firms. While such influence is frequently discussed, there is limited analysis of how firms combine political interactions, and under what conditions, to gain influence. The exception is the large literature on firms with political connections, with findings generally showing large gains to firms with those direct relationships. This paper extends the discussion of influence beyond political connections alone and uses a rich firm-level dataset from 41 economies, which includes information on several interactions with political actors. Using a Bayesian item response theory (IRT) measurement model, an index of Political Influence is estimated, with the prior assumption that political connections yield more influence. Membership in a business associa-tion is found to enhance influence, while such influence is offset by bribes, state ownership, firm size, and a reliance on collective lobbying. Political Influence is found to be broadly higher in economies with poorer governance but more disperse in those with better governance. Within economies, higher influence is associated with a higher likelihood of reporting a small number of competitors, higher sales, and lower labor inputs relative to sales. These findings are robust across several models that incorporate high-dimensional fixed effects, incorporating measurement error in the index, and varying these relationships over several governance measures.
Treatment of ecological connectivity in environmental assessment: A global survey of current practices and common issues

ABSTRACT Ecological connectivity should be an important consideration in environmental assessment (EA). How often and how thoroughly the analysis of ecological connectivity is integrated in the EA process is, however, unknown. We surveyed EA actors and stakeholders regarding their perceptions of, and experiences with, connectivity analysis in the context of EA. 134 practitioners, regulators, consultants, researchers, and interest groups from all inhabited continents participated. Over 72% of respondents stated that ecological connectivity should always be considered; however, it is often considered too late in the EA process, at a scale of analysis often unsuitable for capturing landscape-scale effects, and relying on overly simplistic metrics or qualitative approaches. This disparity between the availability of a range of quantitative tools and the poor consideration of connectivity in EA raises major concerns about current practice and the feasibility of connectivity analysis in project-based EA. Connectivity consideration will need to be required explicitly and supported by best-practice guidance to address the conditions that should trigger a connectivity analysis, the required types of approaches, and the kind of information required to inform decision-making.
Sieve Methods, Exponential Sums, and their Applications in Number Theory: Representations by the Determinant and Mean Values of L -Functions

A car apparatus for transporting a workpiece carrier tray between separate work processing units and transferring the tray into and out of the units laterally with respect to the direction of car travel. The apparatus includes a push-pull means having a head assembly for engaging the tray. The head assembly comprises a frame slidable mounted upon a four wheeled carriage for relative movement between forward and rearward positions on the carriage. A hook member pivotally mounted on the frame is moved from a tray depositing mode to a tray withdrawing mode by shifting the frame into these alternate positions. The frame is shifted to the rearward position during a push stroke by the forward movement of the head assembly in combination with the resistance to this movement encountered when a bumper on the slidable frame engages a heavily laden tray to be charged into a processing unit. The frame is reset to its forward position during a pull stroke when a depending lug on the frame is pushed against a resiliently mounted abutment located on the car.