Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
WORKING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION DESIGN APPROACHES

This paper presents differing points of view surrounding consumption patterns in relation to sustainable development and how design can support lifestyle changes. The potential for designers to incite change is discussed, along with the following conflicting consumption theories in relation to design: consuming less vs. consuming efficiently, policy vs. consumer choice, status-seeking goods vs. symbolism in identity and trend vs. longevity. Two companies: TOMS Shoes and SIGG are examined within the context of these theories. Understanding conflicting ideas surrounding sustainable consumption may help designers develop a more balanced vision for the future and invoke change through design.
Wildfire Smoke, Air Quality, and Renewable Energy—Examining the Impacts of the 2020 Wildfire Season in Washington State

The 2020 wildfire season was devastating, setting negative records in many states and regions around the world, especially in North America. Five of the six largest fires in California’s recorded history burned in 2020. In the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, Oregon and eastern Washington almost doubled their 10-year average of burnt acres recently. Depending on wind speed and direction conditions, the smoke from wildfires may significantly impact the air quality and reduce solar photovoltaic (PV) generation even in regions located hundreds of kilometers away from high-risk zones. Thus, during those periods, power system operators must ensure reliability and resilience across power generation, transmission, and distribution, while minimizing carbon emissions that can harm the air quality of the affected communities during wildfire events even more. This paper analyzes the impact of the 2020 wildfire season in the state of Washington, verifying the wind speed and solar irradiance data, and correlating these with the particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) concentration and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) through a multi-variable regression model. The results show that PV production may be significantly reduced during the periods of high concentration of wildfire smoke and reduced wind speeds, thus highlighting the need for efficient and sustainable power system operations during wildfire events.
Formal Modeling and Validation of ReDy Architecture Intended for IoT Applications

 Abstract — Internet of Things (IoT) faces different architectural challenges to meet the large scale application issues, the heterogeneity, and the self-adaptivity. Many IoT applications require a dynamic construction of the system and should ensure a high degree of reliability. To this end, we propose the ReDy architecture [1], which is a reusable solution for reliable and dynamic distributed IoT applications. In this paper we propose a formalization and validation of the ReDy architecture. For this end, we propose a formal model using LNT language [2]. We propose also a suitable algorithm to implement a reliable and dynamic membership management. Then we give a formal validation of this critical part based on formal modeling and model checking techniques [3].
Vibration-Based Condition Monitoring of Wind Turbine Gearboxes Based on Cyclostationary Analysis

Wind industry experiences a tremendous growth during the last few decades. As of the end of 2016, the worldwide total installed electricity generation capacity from wind power amounted to 486,790 MW, presenting an increase of 12.5% compared to the previous year. Nowadays wind turbine manufacturers tend to adopt new business models proposing total health monitoring services and solutions, using regular inspections or even embedding sensors and health monitoring systems within each unit. Regularly planned or permanent monitoring ensures a continuous power generation and reduces maintenance costs, prompting specific actions when necessary. The core of wind turbine drivetrain is usually a complicated planetary gearbox. One of the main gearbox components which are commonly responsible for the machinery breakdowns are rolling element bearings. The failure signs of an early bearing damage are usually weak compared to other sources of excitation (e.g., gears). Focusing toward the accurate and early bearing fault detection, a plethora of signal processing methods have been proposed including spectral analysis, synchronous averaging and enveloping. Envelope analysis is based on the extraction of the envelope of the signal, after filtering around a frequency band excited by impacts due to the bearing faults. Kurtogram has been proposed and widely used as an automatic methodology for the selection of the filtering band, being on the other hand sensible in outliers. Recently, an emerging interest has been focused on modeling rotating machinery signals as cyclostationary, which is a particular class of nonstationary stochastic processes. Cyclic spectral correlation and cyclic spectral coherence (CSC) have been presented as powerful tools for condition monitoring of rolling element bearings, exploiting their cyclostationary behavior. In this work, a new diagnostic tool is introduced based on the integration of the cyclic spectral coherence (CSC) along a frequency band that contains the diagnostic information. A special procedure is proposed in order to automatically select the filtering band, maximizing the corresponding fault indicators. The effectiveness of the methodology is validated using the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) wind turbine gearbox vibration condition monitoring benchmarking dataset which includes various faults with different levels of diagnostic complexity.
Nighttime Image Dehazing Based on Variational Decomposition Model

Most of existing dehazing algorithms are unable to deal with nighttime hazy scenarios well due to complex degraded factors such as non-uniform illumination, low light and glows. To obtain high-quality image under nighttime haze imaging conditions, we present an effective single nighttime image dehazing framework based on a variational decomposition model to simultaneously address these undesirable issues. First, a variational decomposition model consisting of three regularization terms is proposed to simultaneously decompose a nighttime hazy image into a structure layer, a detail layer and a noise layer. Concretely, we employ ℓ1 norm to constrain the structure component, adopt ℓ0 sparsity term to enforce the piece-wise continuous of the detail layer, and use ℓ2 norm to separate the noise layer. Next, the structure layer is recovered by means of inversing the physical model and the detail layers are revealed in a multi-scale gradient enhancement manner. Finally, the dehazed structure layer and the enhanced detail layers are integrated into a haze-free image. Experimental results show that the proposed framework achieves superior performance on nighttime haze removal and noise suppression compared with several state-of-the-art dehazing techniques.
A Dynamic Correlation Modelling Framework with Consistent Stochastic Recovery

This paper describes a ﬂexible and tractable bottom-up dynamic correlation modelling framework with a consistent stochastic recovery speciﬁcation. The stochastic recovery speciﬁcation only models the ﬁrst two moments of the spot recovery rate as the higher moments of the recovery rate have almost no contribution to the loss distribution and CDO tranche pricing. Observing that only the joint distribution of default indicators is needed to build the portfolio loss distribution, we argue that the default indicator copula should be used instead of the default time copula for the purpose of CDO tranche calibration and pricing. We then deﬁned a generic class of default indicator copula with the “time locality” property, which makes it easy to calibrate to index tranche prices across multiple maturities. This correlation modelling framework has the unique advantage that the joint distribution of default time and other dynamic properties of the model can be changed independently from the loss distribution and tranche prices. After calibrating the model to index tranche prices, existing top-down methods can be applied to the common factor process to construct very ﬂexible systemic dynamics without changing the already calibrated tranche prices. This modelling framework therefore combines the best features of the bottom-up and top-down models: it is fully consistent with all the single name market information and it admits very rich and ﬂexible spread dynamics. Numerical results from a non-parametric implementation of this modelling framework are also presented. The non-parametric implementation achieved fast and accurate calibration to the index tranches across multiple maturities even under extreme market conditions. A conditional Markov chain method is also proposed to construct the systemic dynamics, which supports an efﬁcient lattice pricing method for dynamic spread instruments. We also showed how to price tranche options as an example of this fast lattice method.
Soft-rigid interaction mechanism towards a lobster-inspired hybrid actuator

Soft pneumatic actuators (SPAs) are intrinsically light-weight, compliant and therefore ideal to directly interact with humans and be implemented into wearable robotic devices. However, they also pose new challenges in describing and sensing their continuous deformation. In this paper, we propose a hybrid actuator design with bio-inspirations from the lobsters, which can generate reconfigurable bending movements through the internal soft chamber interacting with the external rigid shells. This design with joint and link structures enables us to exactly track its bending configurations that previously posed a significant challenge to soft robots. Analytic models are developed to illustrate the soft-rigid interaction mechanism with experimental validation. A robotic glove using hybrid actuators to assist grasping is assembled to illustrate their potentials in safe human-robot interactions. Considering all the design merits, our work presents a practical approach to the design of next-generation robots capable of achieving both good accuracy and compliance.
Detecting Fake News in URDU using Classical Supervised Machine Learning Methods and Word/Char N-grams

In this paper, we describe our submissions for the UrduFake 2021 track. We tackled the task entitled “Fake News Detection in the Urdu Language". We developed different models using three classical supervised machine learning methods: Support Vector Classifier, Random Forest, and Logistic Regression. Our machine learning models were applied to various sets of character or word n-gram features. Our best submission was an SVC model using 7,500 char trigrams. This model was ranked in 11 th place out of 34 teams that participated in the discussed track.
Study of SRAM Standby Leakage Reduction Techniques for Deep-submicron CMOS Technology

With scaling down of the technology, share of leakage is increasing in total power consumption of Static Random Access Memories (SRAMs). This paper presents the detailed study of conventional and proposed 6T SRAM standby leakage reduction techniques for advanced technology node. A 6T SRAM bitcell, in 45 nm technology with size 0.38 μm 2 , has been designed. This study shows that the performance of these leakage reduction techniques depends on the composition of cell standby leakage in terms of its components, and the composition of cell standby leakage itself depends on technology as well as temperature. Finally, efficient combination of SRAM standby leakage reduction techniques for advanced technology, have been proposed here.
enzymatic processing of dystroglycan by MMP-2 is controlled by two anchoring sites distinct from the active

Dystroglycan (DG) is a membrane receptor, belonging to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) and formed by two subunits, α -dystroglycan ( α -DG) and β -dystroglycan ( β -DG). The C-terminal domain of α -DG and the N-terminal extracellular domain of β -DG are connected, providing a link between the extracellular matrix and the cytosol. Under pathological conditions, such as cancer and muscular dystrophies, DG may be the target of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, contributing to disease progression. Previously, we reported that the C-terminal domain α -DG (483–628) domain is particularly susceptible to the catalytic activity of MMP-2; here we show that the α -DG 621–628 region is required to carry out its complete digestion,
Tourism 2021 01EN 001-156.indd

In a context of increasing concern with environmental factors, hotels show a tendency to respond with passivity to eco-innovation. Furthermore, the literature is scarce about the way hotels adopt and integrate ecoinnovation changes in their internal processes. As such, this article intends to present an integrative perspective of the dimensions that infl uence the adoption of eco-innovation, starting from the external dimension, which incorporates the context and drivers of eco-innovation. Th e internal dimension is divided into two levels: ordinary and dynamic capabilities. Based on a survey of a sample of hotels, the data were analyzed using partial least squares. Th e results indicate a positive and signifi cant relationship between context and drivers in both dynamic and ordinary capacities. Th e infl uence of context on the green behaviour of hotels was only found in the technological dimension, while external drivers show a strong correlation with eco-innovation. Th e results also indicate that the two dynamic capacities and the three ordinary capacities studied have a positive and signifi cant relationship with eco-innovation. Th e role of knowledge is highlighted, not only by its role in establishing a link with the external dimension, but also in the reconfi guration of the set of implementation capabilities that triggers eco-innovation.
Organic optoelectronics for lab-on-chip fluorescence detection

Abstract We present two designs of organic optoelectronics for compact lab-on-chip fluorescence detection. In the first configuration, organic light emitting diode (OLED) and organic photo diode (OPD) are fabricated Zusammenfassung Wir präsentieren zwei Designs organischer Optoelektronik für ein kompaktes Lab-on-Chip System zur Fluoreszenzdetektion werden kann. In dem ersten Ansatz werden organische Leuchtdiode (OLED) und organische Fotodiode (OPD) auf separaten Substraten hergestellt. Fluoreszenzmessungen werden in Transmission unter Verwendung eines dichroitischen Farbfilters durchgeführt. Durch diesen Filter werden Teile des OLED Spektrums unterdrückt, die mit der OPD Sensitivität überlappen. Die Fluoreszenz von Acid Yellow 73 in Wasser wird für Konzentration bis 0.52 μM gemessen. Im dem zweiten Ansatz werden OLED und OPD in einer zylindrischen Geometrie zusammen auf ein Substrat für ein noch kompakteres System prozessiert, das in Reflektion betrieben wird.
Behaviour of normally consolidated clay containing

This paper examines the compression and strength characteristics of soils in relation to the presence of isolated solid inclusions such as colluvium and glacial till. Investigations were carried out on samples of kaolin with solid inclusions of angular crushed basalt and steel ball bearings (to represent rounded particles). It was observed that the presence of solid inclusions has a significant effect on the compression and strength characteristics of these composite soils and it is postulated that this behaviour is related to the formation of strong arches between the individual solid inclusions. This phenomenon was found to be subdued when the surface of the solid inclusion is smooth, suggesting that particle shape has also considerable influence on the mechanical behaviour of composite materials. of one-dimensional consolidation that granular inclusions have an influence on the pressure-void ratio characteristics of the clay matrix. It is hypothesized that the zone surrounding the solid inclusions experiences intense shear deformation, leading to the formation of arches between inclusions. As this arching/bridging mechanism develops, the clay matrix enclosed by the inclusions full of externally applied and it becomes under-consolidated consequently heterogeneous void distribution in the clay validated and water void ratio
Surface State Dynamics of Topological Insulators Investigated by Femtosecond Time- and Angle-Resolved Photoemission Spectroscopy

Topological insulators (TI) are known for striking quantum phenomena associated with their spin-polarized topological surface state (TSS). The latter in particular forms a Dirac cone that bridges the energy gap between valence and conduction bands, providing a unique opportunity for prospective device applications. In TI of the BixSb2−xTeySe3−y (BSTS) family, stoichiometry determines the morphology and position of the Dirac cone with respect to the Fermi level. In order to engineer specific transport properties, a careful tuning of the TSS is highly desired. Therefore, we have systematically explored BSTS samples with different stoichiometries by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (TARPES). This technique provides snapshots of the electronic structure and discloses the carrier dynamics in surface and bulk states, providing crucial information for the design of electro-spin current devices. Our results reveal the central role of doping level on the Dirac cone structure and its femtosecond dynamics. In particular, an extraordinarily long TSS lifetime is observed when the the vertex of the Dirac cone lies at the Fermi level.
Evaluation and spatial characteristics of arable land multifunction in southern Jiangsu

: Based on the theory of arable land multifunction and development demands of China, we created an analytical framework and classification evaluation system to evaluate arable land multifunction. We also created a spatial grid at a resolution of 1 km × 1 km covering arable land of southern Jiangsu based on survey data of land use change. We quantitatively evaluated arable land multifunction and analyzed spatial characteristics in southern Jiangsu using Fuzzy Optimization Modeling. We found that in the context of the new normalcy of economic development, the connotation of arable land multifunction is richer. Arable land function is not mono-functional (i. e. , foundational production function) but composed of multiple functions, containing a production function, living function, ecological function, barrier function and culture function. In southern Jiangsu, grain production guarantee function is generally weak and the social living guarantee function is inferior in the western region. The ecological security maintenance function in southern Jiangsu is generally weak. The urban space barrier function is generally strong. The eastern region is of a high native culture bearing function. The regional differentiation of arable land multifunction was significant in southern Jiangsu. Overall, southern Jiangsu can be divided into five subareas: agricultural production dominance area, urban agriculture demonstration area, characteristic agriculture development area, efficiency agriculture construction area and green agriculture tourism area. These results provide a reference for land use practice, formulating regulatory rules of land use zoning, selecting key areas for land consolidation, and delineating permanent basic farmland.
Quadratic buck–boost converter with positive output voltage and minimum ripple point design

This study presents a novel topology of a buck-boost converter that features: (i) quadratic voltage gain; (ii) positive output voltage with respect to the input; (iii) continuous input current. Moreover, as the main contribution, (iv) it features a minimum ripple design, for which input current and output voltage ripples are simultaneously cancelled at the desired operating point. It is also shown that even though the duty cycle deviates from a nominal minimum ripple point, the converter exhibits a significantly low switching ripple percentage within a full operation range. The operation mechanism, steady-state equations and overall analysis are presented. Furthermore, simulations and experiments were performed to validate the theory.
The T X P Motif in the Second Transmembrane Helix of CCR5 A STRUCTURAL DETERMINANT OF CHEMOKINE-INDUCED ACTIVATION*

CCR5 is a G-protein-coupled receptor activated by the chemokines RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted), macrophage inflammatory protein 1 a and 1 b , and monocyte chemotactic protein 2 and is the main co-receptor for the macrophage-tropic human immunodeficiency virus strains. We have identified a sequence motif (T X P) in the second transmembrane helix of chemokine receptors and investigated its role by theoretical and experimental approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations of model a -helices in a nonpolar environment were used to show that a T X P motif strongly bends these helices, due to the coordinated action of the proline, which kinks the helix, and of the threonine, which built the Thr and Ser side chains in either g 1 or g 2 and the Cys side chain in g 1 . The hydrophobic Val side chain built in the t conformation. Starting structures placed in a rectangular box (59 3 37 containing methane molecules at a density approaching half that of hydrocarbons in lipid bilayer, in order to mimic the plasma membrane environment. The peptide-methane systems were subjected to 500 iter- ations of energy minimization and then heated to 300 K in 15 ps. This was followed by an equilibration period (15–500 ps) and a production run (500–1500 ps). The simulations were carried out at constant volume and constant temperature (300 K), with the latter maintained through coupling to a heat bath. The particle mesh Ewald method was employed to compute electrostatic interactions Structures were collected for analysis every 10 ps during the last 1000 ps of simulation. The molecular dynamics simulations were run with the Sander module of AMBER5 (44), using an all atom force field (45), the SHAKE bond constraints on all bonds, and a 2-fs integration time step. Bending of the Pro containing peptides was measured as described above using backbone atoms of helical segments comprising residues 2–11 (before the Pro) and 16–24 (after the Pro). One-way analysis of the variance plus a posteriori one-sided Dunnett’s t tests were performed to determine if the bend angles of the helices containing the TAP, SAP, CAP, and VAP motifs are greater than the bend angle of the helix containing the AAP motif, taken as reference. To choose representative structures for each trajectory, the structures saved during the produc- tion run were clustered on the basis of their relative backbone root mean square deviation using the NMRCLUST program (46) with a cut-off of 3 Å. CCR5 Mutants— Plasmids encoding the CCR5 mutants studied here were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis using the QuickChange method (Stratagene). Following sequencing of the constructs, the mu- tated coding sequences were subcloned into the bicistronic expression vector pEFIN3 as previously described for generation of stable cell lines (12). All constructs were