Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transmit Beamforming Design for Multiuser Multi-IoT-Device Symbiotic Radios

Symbiotic radio (SR) is envisioned to support both Internet-of-Things (IoT) and cellular networks by forming a mutualistic relationship between them. In this paper, we propose a multiuser multi-IoT-device SR system where the base station (BS) transmits information to multiple users, and a number of IoT devices simultaneously backscatter their information to the users via the BS signal. Since the IoT information changes rather quickly compared to the channel variation, the IoT transmission introduces channel uncertainty when the users decoding the cellular information. To leverage the channel uncertainty, we apply the robust design method to design the beamforming vector at the BS. To be specific, the transmit power at the BS is minimized under the cellular transmission outage probability constraints and IoT transmission rate constraints. S-lemma is then utilized to transform the challenging probability constraints into a convex semi-definite programming (SDP) form. To deal with the non-convex rank-one constraint in SDP, we exploit successive convex approximations to transform the SDP problem into a difference-of-convex (DC) problem and solve it iteratively with DC programming. Simulation results have substantiated the multiuser multi-IoT-device symbiotic radio system and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
An Approach to Consensus-Based Time Synchronization Based on Dynamic Consensus

This paper deals with consensus-based time synchronization. Existing algorithms assume a (time-invariant) linear, two-parameter model for the local clocks. Synchronization is then achieved by exchanging information regarding these parameters and agreeing to a set of parameters for a common clock based on a static consensus. Given the inevitable variations of the clock-driving oscillators, the assumption of time-invariance is hardly met in reality. Such variations could be compensated for if the consensus would directly use the clock signals. This idea coincides with dynamic consensus, which uses local signals as reference inputs in addition to the feedback from the neighboring agents. Thus, in this paper, a conceptual algorithm for consensus-based time synchronization using dynamic consensus is discussed, which does not require the assumption of time-invariant parameters. The focus is on the basic algorithm and, hence, the aspects of delays and asynchronous operation are not within the scope of the presented algorithm. Possible approaches to theses issues are addressed together with aspects of quantized consensus and switching topologies. Simulations show the viability of this approach.
Cannabidiol Modulates Emotional Function and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Middle-Aged Female Rats Exposed to Social Isolation

Aging is associated with changes in cognitive and emotional function. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to attenuate stress and anxiety in human and animal studies. In this study, we aimed to assess the therapeutic potential of CBD among middle-aged female rats exposed to social isolation (SI) and the potential involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in these effects. Thirteen-month-old female rats were group-housed (GH) or exposed to social isolation (SI) and treated with vehicle or CBD (10 mg/kg). CBD restored the SI-induced immobility in the forced swim test and the SI-induced decrease in the expression of BDNF protein levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). CBD also increased the time that rats spent in the center in an open field, improved spatial training, and increased BDNF expression in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). BDNF expression was found to be correlated with an antidepressant (in the NAc) and an anxiolytic (in the mPFC, BLA, NAc) phenotype, and with learning improvement in the PFC. Together, our results suggest that CBD may serve as a beneficial agent for wellbeing in old age and may help with age-related cognitive decline.
MIMO Radar Waveform Synthesis Using Generative Adversarial Networks

Modern radars such as MIMO and multifunction radars may launch multiple waveforms simultaneously to perform different radar tasks or resolve more targets. As existing radar code families are limited in size and number, novel waveform synthesis methods are needed. Machine learning methods offer an alternative to traditional code design approaches. We propose a deep learning method for the synthesis of diverse waveform families for MIMO radars, with an emphasis on orthogonality properties. To this end, a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) method and associated penalty terms promoting diversity are developed. GANs are generative deep learning models that can learn a variety of data distributions without explicit formulation. We structure the GAN latent space using input labels and proposed penalty terms to promote orthogonality among the generated waveforms. Promoting diversity properties such as orthogonality makes the developed approaches applicable to modern radar applications, such as MIMO systems, fully digital antenna arrays and multifunction radars. The proposed system is trained using Oppermann codes, and diversity properties of the synthesized codes are studied. The proposed penalty term is demonstrated to successfully produce varying batch sizes of waveforms that are close to orthogonal with each other.
Determinants of School Success of Polish Primary School Pupils: Teachers’ Opinion

The concept of success has been known to a man since the dawn of time, and even more so today, but it can be understood in different ways. Success applies to people of all ages, genders and locations. Although the concept of success is understood in different ways, it can be assumed that most people strive in their lives to achieve the goals they have set for themselves, and therefore to succeed. It is worth noting that it is not only adults who have the opportunity for success, but also children. Therefore, paying scientific attention to pupils' school success is a need, as it pays off in adulthood with self-confidence, increased motivation to take on challenges and a sense of empowerment. For this reason, the focus of the designed research was to investigate the factors that, in the opinion of teachers, determine the achievement of school success by pupils in primary school grades I-III in eastern Poland. The main research objective was to determine the factors that condition the school success of pupils attending primary school grades I-III. The research sample consisted of 180 teachers. All the respondents worked with pupils in grades I-III and had at least 5 years of work experience in the teaching profession. A non-standardised survey questionnaire was used to obtain research data. The research was conducted at the beginning of 2023. The results from the surveys identified the most important determinants of school success for pupils in primary school grades I-III in eastern Poland. Teachers did not find that gender differentiated attitudes to learning among pupils at younger school ages or achievement of school success. The key to school success is the way the teacher works with students. It is important to choose working methods that are tailored to children's developmental levels, aptitudes and interests. Some of the interviewees indicated actions to be improved in terms of cooperation with the pupils' family environment. Knowing the relationships indicated, actions can be taken to optimise them, which will certainly be the subject of scientific reflection.
The Communication from Immune Cells to the Fibroblasts in Keloids: Implications for Immunotherapy

Keloids are a type of fibrotic disease characterized by excessive collagen production and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. The symptoms of pain and itching and frequent recurrence after treatment significantly impact the quality of life and mental health of patients. A deeper understanding of the pathogenesis of keloids is crucial for the development of an effective therapeutic approach. Fibroblasts play a central role in the pathogenesis of keloids by producing large amounts of collagen fibers. Recent evidence indicates that keloids exhibit high immune cell infiltration, and these cells secrete cytokines or growth factors to support keloid fibroblast proliferation. This article provides an update on the knowledge regarding the keloid microenvironment based on recent single-cell sequencing literature. Many inflammatory cells gathered in keloid lesions, such as macrophages, mast cells, and T lymphocytes, indicate that keloids may be an inflammatory skin disease. In this review, we focus on the communication from immune cells to the fibroblasts and the potential of immunotherapy for keloids. We hope that this review will trigger interest in investigating keloids as an inflammatory disease, which may open up new avenues for drug development by targeting immune mediators.
Detection of multidrug resistant Vibrio parahaemolyticus and anti-Vibrio Streptomyces sp. MUM 178J

The growing global population has increased the demand for seafood, making the aquaculture industry a vital food source. However, climate change has negatively impacted the industry as natural inhabitants of aquatic environments such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus are thriving in the warming waters. These foodborne pathogens can cause disease in marine animals, resulting in lowered production rates and substantial economic losses. V. parahaemolyticus is transmitted from these marine animals in aquaculture to humans via raw or undercooked seafood, resulting in gastroenteritis outbreaks. In addition, the extensive use of antibiotics in aquaculture to treat infections within marine animals has led to the development of multidrug-resistant (MDR) V. parahaemolyticus, which threatens the effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments. Thus, it is vital to explore the alternatives of antibiotics in aquaculture to manage the spread of antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MDR V. parahaemolyticus to provide insight into the current antibiotic resistance patterns of this pathogen and to determine potential anti-Vibrio properties of Streptomyces MUM 178J which was previously isolated from the soils of a mangrove forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. Colony morphology and toxR-assay indicated that all samples tested positive for V. parahaemolyticus. Further identification with genomic analyses confirmed that 64% (64/100) of the isolates were V. parahaemolyticus. The multiple antibiotic resistance index (MAR) of the isolates ranged between 0.07 and 0.57, with 81% (52/64) of the isolates resistant to more than one antibiotic. The isolates were most resistant to ampicillin (98.4%), followed by ceftazidime (53.1%). In contrast, the isolates were highly susceptible to nalidixic acid (98.4%), tetracycline (93.8%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (90.6%). They also demonstrated susceptibilities of 89.1% to levofloxacin, oxytetracycline, and gentamicin. Streptomyces sp. MUM 178J exhibited antagonistic effects on select V. parahaemolyticus strain, RP0132, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 mg/mL and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 50 mg/mL.
Study of MgO Under Pressure Structural and Electronic Properties

In this study, the Density Function Theory (DFT), Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) and Local Density Approximation (LDA) were used, based on the Siesta code, in order to study the magnesium oxide compound (MgO) and focus on the (B4) Wurtzite phase. This is to find the primary cell constants and energy gap at 0 pressure, which are consistent with previous results. The effect of pressure on the energy gap and the size of the primary cell as well as the dielectric constant were studied. The study also revealed that the (B4) phase can move to the (B2) phase at the pressure of 45.86 GPa and from the h-MgO phase to the (B2) phase at 70 GPa.
Exploring Challenges of Peer Feedback in an EFL Micro Teaching Class

For English as a Foreign Language learners, peer feedback is a useful tool that fosters autonomous learning. Allowing students to give and receive feedback from their peers during Micro Teaching sessions offers an alternative in addition to the input from teachers. It also helps in developing students’ evaluating skill which is a prerequisite of being future teachers. However, if students are still facing difficulties in giving and receiving feedback, the quality of the peer feedback activity cannot be guaranteed. The objective of this study was to investigate the challenges and their underlying factors associated with peer feedback which revealed potential for improvements in the quality of the feedback and the students’ evaluating skills. Data collection was conducted using a case study approach and involved the use of a questionnaire and interviews. A total of eighteen participants partook in the study, with six of them also engaging in interviews. Hesitation in giving comments, changes in power relations, lack of time, and quality differences of the feedback were shown to be the four main challenges in peer feedback. Three primary aspects, which are lack of confidence, ambiguous feedback, and differences in proficiency levels, had an impact on these difficulties. The study's findings indicate that peer feedback should take place within a supportive environment, highlighting the importance of academics providing clear instructions to enhance the effectiveness of the peer feedback process.
Lossless Clamp Circuit With Turn-OFF Voltage and Current Reduction in High Step-Up DC–DC Converter With Coupled Inductor

A high power density, high voltage gain soft-switching pulsewidth modulation dc–dc converter with a tapped inductor is proposed in this article as a front-end for low-voltage sources in energy generation systems. The leakage inductance is incorporated into the resonant tank, decreasing the component count. The use of the boost capacitor connected in series with the secondary windings of the tapped inductor causes high voltage gain at the low turn ratio of the coupled inductor. By incorporating a resonant passive clamp circuit, not only the voltage spikes on the transistor are restrained, but zero-voltage switching of the transistor and zero-current turning-off of the diodes are obtained. The resonant operation results in low power losses in the switches, providing high efficiency in a wide output power range. Owing to soft-switching operation, the transistor can be driven with a high switching frequency, providing a consolidated design of the high power density converter. The principles of operation of the converter were also analyzed theoretically. Finally, the converter is validated through a laboratory model with a power rating of 300 W and a switching frequency of 200 kHz.
An investigation of the assumed efficacy of methionine hydroxy analogue compared to DL-methionine by measuring growth performance, carcass traits, and GHR and IGF-I expression in broilers

Abstract This experiment was conducted to investigate the assumed efficacy of 65% on the product basis of methionine hydroxy analog (OH-Met, 88% aqueous solution of DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid) relative to DL-methionine (DL-Met) in broiler chickens. A total of 792-day-old male chickens were randomly allotted to 7 dietary treatments consisting of a methionine deficient-basal diet based on corn-soybean meal and 6 different diets obtained by supplying the basal diet with methionine at 3 levels (25, 100 and 125%; levels of addition relative to the required amount of additional Met to meet SID Met + Cys requirements) from either DL-Met or OH-Met at a ratio of 65:100 (DL-Met to OH-Met on a product basis) in the corresponding treatments. Regardless of the source, methionine supplementation enhanced (p < .05) growth performance, carcase and breast meat yield. Supplemental level and the source of Met had no significant effect on the proximate chemical composition of breast meat (p > .05). Comparison of effects of OH-Met and DL-Met supplemented at 100–65% weight ratio revealed no differences at any Met + Cys level and for performance criterion confirming the applied concept. Expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) mRNA, which showed a positive correlation with body weight gain, carcase yield and breast percentage, in broiler liver significantly increased with 100% and 125% relative addition of DL-Met, while only 100% of OH-Met addition did (p < .05) when compared to the basal diet. The expression of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene was not significantly affected by either Met source or supplementation level. In conclusion, our data indicated that DL-Met can be substituted with a 1.54 times higher amount of OH-Met in corn-soybean meal based broiler diets. HIGHLIGHTS Methionine supplementation enhanced growth performance, carcase and breast meat yield of broiler chickens fed corn-soybean meal based diets. DL-Met and OH-Met showed similar growth performance, carcase and cuts yields and breast meat traits when a 1.54 times higher amount of OH-Met, on a product basis, was added. DL-Met can be substituted with a 1.54 times higher amount of OH-Met in corn-soybean meal based broiler diets.
Resource Allocation in Multi-Cell Integrated Sensing and Communication Systems: A DRL Approach

Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) has been seen as a promising technology to satisfy the dual requirements of communication and sensing for the emerging applications in the next-generation wireless networks. In this paper, we research one down-link multi-cell orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) ISAC system, in which a group of collaborative ISAC base stations send signals to their corresponding communication users, and concurrently work with multiple sensing receivers to estimate locations of multiple targets. Specifically, we investigate the joint sub-channel assignment and power allocation for users and targets to maximize the sum-rate, while ensuring the minimal signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) constraint for each user and the maximal Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) requirement for each target. We propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach to address the above sub-channel assignment and power allocation problems. In our approach, we adopt the dueling deep Q network (DDQN) and the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) network to output the sub-channel assignment policy and power allocation policy separately. Simulation results aim to prove the effectiveness of our proposed algorithm.
Social networking and subjective well-being among Sri Lankan youth immigrants in South Korea

Labor migration is often seen as a means to offer economic stability to prospective migrants, especially in developing countries. However, the desire for migration becomes less favorable in the absence of the supportive framework fostered by social networks among immigrants. Sri Lankan youth from rural areas who frequently experience financial hardships are being encouraged to migrate to South Korea. This article investigates how social networking influences the subjective well-being of those Sri Lankan labor immigrants in South Korea. In-depth interviews, case studies, and the retrieval of social media data were used to collect data. According to the analysis, the capacity for social networking influences the outcomes of migration. In addition, migration to South Korea has been promoted not as an alternative to existing financial stability solutions, but as a mainstream strategy for enhancing life satisfaction, particularly for young rural men in Sri Lanka. In addition, it is discovered that the host country must provide an environment conducive to the operation of migrant networks. Overall, the article demonstrates that having access to migrant networks is a fundamental element in ensuring the well-being of immigrants.
InSAR maps and time series observations of surface displacements of rock salt extruded near Garmsar, northern Iran

Abstract: A large allochthonous sheet of Eocene rock salt is forming the Eyvanekey plateau west of Garmsar along the northern periphery of the Great Kavir basin. This salt extruded over the central plains of Iran, where the southward advancing front of the Alborz Mountains is offset by the NE–SW-trending Zirab–Garmsar strike-slip fault. Based on nine descending Advanced Synthetic Aperture Radar images, produced by the European Space Agency's ENVISAT satellite from 2003 to 2006, we used interferograms to map the displacement over 22 increments ranging in time from 2 to 18 months. To study the surface deformation at high temporal and spatial resolution, a small subset of interferograms was used to map the mean velocity of surface deformation. The results suggest that the top of the salt is subsiding continuously at rates that depend on the season. The surface displacement rate throughout the region ranges from subsidence of −40 to −50 mm a−1 to uplift of 20 mm a−1. The agricultural lowlands, where groundwater extraction for irrigation exceeds recharge, are subsiding faster than the salt sheet. Correlation of surface displacements with active folds and seismic faults around the salt sheet also suggests that the study area is undergoing active deformation. Supplementary material: Interferogram for the period 19.08. 2003–14.02. 2006 is available at http://www.geolsoc. org.uk/SUP18383.
Changes in the epidemiological pattern of chronic B hepatitis amongst inmates in Catalonia: current prevalence and predictive variables

Abstract Background: The epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Spain has changed due to migratory movements and the implementation of vaccination programs. The objective is to determine if prevalence has also changed amongst in Catalonia and the potential predictive variables of the infection. Material and method: Observational cross-sectional multi-centre study of CHB prevalence. Epidemiological and clinical variables were included, and their predictive capacity is analysed by means of a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: A total of 6508 prisoners were studied. CHB prevalence was 1.7%, much less than in studies carried out in previous years. In inmates from North Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa the CHB rate was 2.8, 4.2, 4.9 and 16.2 times higher, respectively, than amongst those born in Spain, which was 0.6%, the same as in the general population. CHB was associated with: a) being an immigrant [2.6%; OR: 4.18 (CI: 2.50-6.90; P <0.001); b) being unvaccinated (3.1%; OR: 0.13; CI: 0.06-0.26; P <0.001); and c) being infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [3.9%; OR: 3.23; CI: 1.24-8.40; P = 0.016]. Conclusion: Vaccination against HBV (hepatitis B virus) has greatly reduced CHB prevalence in inmates over the past 30 years but remains high in immigrants and those with HIV. We recommend: a) maintaining HBV screening amongst inmates; b) continuing with vaccination programmes; and c) referring CHB cases to specialized programs for further study and treatment if needed.
A study on the spatial sound propagation characteristics of the Argentina Theater in Rome

The "sound" of cultural heritage is often neglected and fragile, but it has the same historical value and research significance as tangible cultural heritage. The current study was driven by investigating and preserving the acoustic characteristics of the Teatro Argentina, one of Rome's historic theaters. In this paper, the impulse response (IR) of several of the main auditory parameters identified by ISO 3382-1 during the investigation was first recorded using standard methods. Secondly, an innovative acoustic research methodology was used to show the direction of the arrival of the sound rays and to visualize the sound intensity. This methodology improves understanding of the early and late reflections of sound-hitting elements of architecture.