Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does memory help optimise fruit fly foraging at the landscape level?

Remembering a good quality diet or patch generally has positive implications for fitness for animals, though there may be circumstances where memory could become detrimental. In the polyphagous pest insect Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) recent research indicates that memory contributes to their foraging strategy. When presented with a good quality host in which to lay eggs they will remember that host for a longer time than a poor host. Though when presented a poor host, the preference the following day will be for the poor host even if the good host is present, but this memory will decay quickly if they do not receive continual exposure. We wanted to know how optimal foraging strategy with and without memory would influence population and time spent in three host quality types: good, average, and poor in a local heterogeneous landscape context. An individual-based population model was developed to examine how these behaviours respond in four heterogeneous landscapes with host proportions of 30% and 60%, fragmented or aggregated. There were also three fruiting scenarios: simultaneous, or sequential with good host type fruiting first, or poor host type fruiting first. The mean daily population was similar between the different landscapes, except when fruit was available simultaneously and fragmented with 60% proportion of the landscape hosts where optimal foraging fly population was much higher than fly agents with memory. When fruits were available simultaneously the fly agents that had memory spent more time in poor and average hosts than the fly agents with optimal foraging behaviour. When hosts were fruiting sequentially there was little difference between the time spent in each host type. This is an interesting first look into incorporating memory mechanisms into an individual-based model using data from a polyphagous pest.
Viscoelastometric versus standard coagulation tests to guide periprocedural transfusion in adults with cirrhosis: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Due to rebalanced haemostasis in cirrhosis, viscoelastometric testing (VET) is more accurate than standard coagulation tests (SCTs) in preprocedural haemostatic evaluation, resulting in decreased unnecessary transfusion. We aimed to determine the impact of VET‐guided strategy on postprocedural bleeding, periprocedural transfusion rates and quantities, transfusion‐related adverse events (TRAEs), lengths of stay (LOS) and mortality from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cirrhotic patients.
Finite element modeling of a deteriorated R.C. slab bridge: lessons learned and recommendations

The test results from non-destructive and destructive field testing of a three-span deteriorated reinforced concrete slab bridge are used as a vehicle to examine the reliability of available tools for finite-element analysis of in-situ structures. Issues related to geometric modeling of members and connections, material models, and failure criteria are discussed. The results indicate that current material models and failure criteria are adequate, although lack of inelastic out-of-plane shear response in most nonlinear shell elements is a major shortcoming that needs to be resolved. With proper geometric modeling, it is possible to adequately correlate the measured global, regional, and local responses at all limit states. However, modeling of less understood mechanisms, such as slab-abutment connections, may need to be finalized through a system identification technique. In absence of the experimental data necessary for this purpose, upper and lower bounds of only global responses can be computed reliably. The studies reaffirm that success of finite-element models has to be assessed collectively with reference to all responses and not just a few global measurements.
Wireless power transmission using dipole rectennas made on flexible cellulose membrane

This study reports a wireless power transmission technology using dipole rectenna arrays made on a flexible cellulose membrane. Three flexible dipole rectenna arrays are designed, fabricated and characterised. A rectenna array with nine rectenna elements generates a maximum power of 75 mW with a conversion efficiency of 56%. Detailed fabrication and characterisation of the flexible dipole rectenna arrays are described. This flexible dipole rectenna can be used for biomedical applications.
3D bioprinting of photo-crosslinkable silk methacrylate (SilMA)-polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) bioink for cartilage tissue engineering.

Articular cartilage damage poses huge burden on healthcare sector globally due to its extremely weak inherent regenerative ability. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting for development of cartilage mimic constructs using composite bioinks serves as an emerging perspective. However, difficulty in development of suitable bioink and chemical crosslinking associated inherent toxicity hamper widespread adoption of this technique. To circumvent this, a photo-polymerizable hydrogel-based bioink which helps in recapitulation of the complex cartilage microenvironment is pertinent. Herein, a photo-crosslinkable bioink containing different concentrations of silk methacrylate (SilMA) and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was mixed with chondrocytes for biofabrication of 3D bioprinted cartilage constructs. The rheological properties, printability of bioink and physico-chemical characterization of printed hydrogel constructs were examined along with cartilaginous tissue formation. The printed SilMA-PEGDA hydrogel constructs possessed proper internal porous structure and demonstrated most reliable rheological properties, printability along with good mechanical, and degradation properties suitable for cartilage regeneration. Live/dead staining showed cytocompatibility of the 3D-bioprinted SilMA-PEGDA constructs. Moreover, a marked increase in cell number and DNA content was observed within the cartilaginous tissue as indicated by cell viability and DNA content quantitation. Biochemical evaluation confirmed the neocartilage formation within SilMA-PEGDA bioprinted constructs as revealed by enhanced deposition of cartilage specific extracellular matrix-sulphated GAG (sGAG) and collagen type II (>2-fold increase, p < 0.001) with time. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis indicated expression of collagen type II and aggrecan which corroborated with cartilaginous tissue formation. Taken together, we conclude that SilMA-PEGDA bioink could be suitable candidate for bioprinting chondrocytes to support cartilage tissue repair and regeneration.
Experimental modal analysis of high-speed railway carriage

Experimental modal analysis of high-speed railway carriage Body in White (BIW) with 7 meters long is presented in this paper. The validity of modal testing is verified by comparing mode shapes of the entire carriage with that of beam structures assembled at the bottom floor. Results show that, the demarcation frequency between low frequency vibration and high frequency vibration is 100 Hz. As below 100 Hz, all 6 global modes are included; while above 100 Hz, the mode count within a 1/3 octave frequency bandwidth is higher than 5, which means it could be regarded as high frequency range in statistic energy analysis. Results of modal testing can be provided to modify the finite element model of the carriage structure.
User Centric Android Application Permission Manager

Mobile malware has become a very hot research topic in the last few years, and this was due to the widespread usage of mobile devices all over the world. Like other systems, mobile devices are prune to different attacks that might invade user’s privacy and lead to private data leakage. Millions of Mobile application have been developed and used Worldwide, most of them are requiring permissions to work properly. The permission management problem is more apparent on Android systems rather than other mobile systems such as iOS. Some of these permissions might lead to successful security attacks on Android systems and hence lead to privacy leakage. To reduce the possibility of such attacks, many researchers have proposed mobile applications that help users to manage access permissions for their mobile applications. Most of the proposed systems lack the ability to profile users according to their preferences and do not provide automatic follow up with temporary granted permissions. In this research, we propose a User Centric Android Application Permission Manager tool called (UCAAPM), that provides an efficient and flexible way for managing permissions and profiling these permissions for each user, these profiles can be used on any Android device. UCAAPM will automatically follow up users permissions and grant/deny the permission on a scheduling basis defined by the user’s profile and according to his preferences. Experimental results showed that the tool works efficiently in terms of CPU, RAM, and power consumption, furthermore users are highly satisfied with using it.
Post-Sensationalism: Catastrophism and Fight Paradigm in Romanian On-Line Media

In traditional journalism, sensationalism was a characteristic of tabloid press. The main instruments used in sensationalistic headlines were bombastic epithets (awesome, amazing, greatest etc), and exaggerations used to increase the impact by curiosity. In the last decade, transformation with society and online media consumption behaviour have triggered a change of paradigm: we believe that we are facing a post-sensationalism media narrative, defined by catastrophism and the fight paradigm. In the context of a huge news feed overloaded with information, in the purpose of increasing the number of views of online media, the journalistic discourse has transformed radically and switched from informative to a more aggressive approach. The study shows that in Romania, the pursuit for clicks has generated a new discursive paradigm, a sort of post-sensationalism era, which we referred to as catastrophism and fight paradigm. This conclusion is based on quantitative and qualitative research that analysed Romanian online press headlines and content in approximately the same period of time both in 2018 and 2019. The research followed the frequency and context of usage of a few hashtags and keywords connected with our main concepts of concern: sensationalism, catastrophism, fight paradigm. In other words, we selected a few words that are, in our opinion, the most representative for the aforementioned concepts, and, with the use of professional instruments of press monitoring, we analysed their frequency and dynamics.
Status and Perspective of Chalcogenide PCM in the Semiconductor Industry

At the beginning of last decade, in early 2000, few disruptive technologies had been proposed to replace the standard Non-Volatile Memory technology in the semiconductor industry and to enlarge the memory application. As a fact any new technology takes long time to be accepted; after the concept demonstration and the technology validation it must enter into the production phase, demonstrating to be solid for manufacturing and strongly reliable for the product specification. Another key aspect of a new technology is the medium-long term scalability with the perspective to realize a memory cell and array that can be miniaturized following the leading edge roadmap. PCM technology is demonstrating the capability to enter the broad memory market and to be a mainstream memory thanks to a new set of features interesting for novel applications, combining components of NVM and DRAM and being at the same time a sustaining and a disruptive technology. Moreover there are intense efforts on the PCM technology development. On one side the industry is focused on the increase of the memory density through the scalability and the 3-dimensional integration. On the other side the chalcogenide material research may facilitate the scaling path and especially enlarge and open new application field. In this paper we will show the status of the Phase Change Memory (PCM) in the semiconductor industry and the perspectives of the most important research lines for the near future.
A Model for Service Life Control of Selected Device Systems

Abstract This paper presents a way of determining distribution of limit state exceedence time by a diagnostic parameter which determines accuracy of maintaining zero state. For calculations it was assumed that the diagnostic parameter is deviation from nominal value (zero state). Change of deviation value occurs as a result of destructive processes which occur during service. For estimation of deviation increasing rate in probabilistic sense, was used a difference equation from which, after transformation, Fokker-Planck differential equation was obtained [4, 11]. A particular solution of the equation is deviation increasing rate density function which was used for determining exceedance probability of limit state. The so-determined probability was then used to determine density function of limit state exceedance time, by increasing deviation. Having at disposal the density function of limit state exceedance time one determined service life of a system of maladjustment. In the end, a numerical example based on operational data of selected aircraft [weapon] sights was presented. The elaborated method can be also applied to determining residual life of shipboard devices whose technical state is determined on the basis of analysis of values of diagnostic parameters.
Development of three-dimensional unconditionally stable finite-difference time-domain methods

The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method has been widely applied in solving electromagnetic problems. Its capability of handling electrically large or high-Q structure problems is, however, limited by the requirements of large computation memory and time. Such requirements are due to the numerical dispersion errors and the CFL stability condition. So far, most of the research efforts have been focused in developing schemes such as MRTD and PSTD that possess low numerical dispersion and therefore require low computation memory. In this paper, we will present another direction in improving the FDTD computation efficiency: removal of the CPL stability condition. In other words, we will present an unconditionally stable 3D finite-difference time-domain method where the FDTD time step, is no longer restricted by the CPL stability condition but by the modelling accuracy of the FDTD algorithm only. As a result, FDTD iteration number and CPU time are reduced. To further reduce numerical dispersion, anisotropy and memory of the method, a high-order scheme is also presented. Theoretical studies and numerical examples will be presented to validate the proposed schemes.
Detailed characterization of particle emissions from battery fires

Abstract Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries that are becoming ubiquitous in various applications may be susceptible to thermal runaway when subjected to certain abuse factors. Fire ensuing from such a thermal runaway event results in significant release of gaseous and particle emissions that pose a critical safety risk to human health. This program was focused on performing detailed characterization of particle emissions from Li-ion battery systems that experience thermal runaway. Four identical lithium iron phosphate (LFP) modules and one nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) module were each subjected to thermal runaway. Two LFP modules and the NMC module were triggered into runaway via nail-penetration, while the remaining two LFP modules were triggered into runaway via over-charging. Particle emissions were characterized in terms of particulate matter mass (PM2.5), real-time total (solid + volatile) and solid PN/size (5.6–560 nm), real-time black carbon, organic/elemental carbon partitioning and volatile fraction of PM2.5. Gaseous emissions were measured using a real-time Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer. Results suggest that battery fires can result in significant particle and gaseous emissions that may be a function of initiation mechanism, battery chemistry, and cell arrangement within a module among other variables. LFP modules subjected to nail penetration yielded relatively less emissions as propagation was not observed. Over-charging LFP modules resulted in significant emissions that showed a continuous increase till peak levels were reached followed by a gradual decrease. PM2.5 emissions ∼380 g/h and total PN emissions ∼1.5E + 17 particles/h (or 1.3E07 part./cm3) were observed. Nail-penetration of the NMC module resulted in several distinct peaks due to propagation of runaway from cell-to-cell. This module resulted in the highest emission rates of 551 g/h of PM2.5 and 2.1E + 17 particles/h (or 1.9E07 part./cm3) of total PN. Copyright © 2022 American Association for Aerosol Research
Multi-Lane Mirror for Broadband Applications of the Betatron X-ray Source

A new generation of small-scale ultrafast X-ray sources is rapidly emerging. Laser-driven betatron radiation represents an important class of such ultrafast X-ray sources. With the sources driving towards maturity, many important applications in material and biological sciences are expected to be carried out. While the last decade mainly focused on the optimization of the source properties, the development of such sources into user-oriented beamlines in order to explore the potential applications has recently taken off and is expected to grow rapidly. An important aspect in the realization of such beamlines will be the implementation of proper X-ray optics. Here, we present the design of a multi-lane X-ray mirror as a versatile focusing device covering a wide spectral range of betatron X-rays. The expected photon flux in the focal plane of such optics was also estimated through geometrical simulations.
Factors Affecting Robotic Partial Nephrectomy Conversion to Radical Nephrectomy: A Retrospective Multi-Institutional Analysis in the Michigan Urologic Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC)

Objective: To identify factors related to the conversion of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RPN) to robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RRN) based on data collected by a statewide database in Michigan. Methods: Using the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative-Kidney mass: Identifying and Defining Necessary Evaluation and therapY (MUSIC-KIDNEY) database we identified 574 patients for whom RPN was planned. Patient and tumor characteristics were obtained including body mass index (BMI), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), RENAL nephrometry score, tumor size, and pathologic staging. Treating centers were subdivided by annualized case volume and academic status. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the impact of these factors on the risk of conversion to RRN from RPN. Results: The conversion rate of RPN to RN was 5.75% (33/574). The difference in RENAL nephrometry score, tumor stage, and size reached statistical significance on bivariate analysis (p<0.001). The tumor stage also reached statistical significance on multivariate analysis [odds ratio (OR); 95%CI (8.97; 3.93-20.48) p<0.001]. The conversion rate was lower among high-volume versus low-volume practices; however, statistical significance was not reached [5.2% (27/520) vs.11% (6/54); p=0.11]. Conclusions: Patient factors such as tumor size and renal nephrometry score are likely related to the conversion of RPN to RRN decisions. The data shows that Michigan urologists appear to appropriately assess intra-operative findings and convert to RRN in cases of more advanced kidney tumors. Lower volume centers appear to trend towards a higher conversion rate. Continued quality improvement tracking analysis may further clarify this relationship.
Dynamic Impact Analyses and Tests of Concrete Overpacks - 13638

Concrete cask is an option for spent nuclear fuel interim storage which is prevailingly used in US. A concrete cask usually consists of metallic canister which confines the spent nuclear fuel and concrete overpack. When the overpack undergoes a severe missile impact which might be caused by a tornado or an aircraft crash, it should sustain acceptable level of structural integrity so that its radiation shielding capability and the retrievability of canister are maintained. Missile impact against a concrete overpack involves two damage modes, local damage and global damage. Local damage of concrete is usually evaluated by empirical formulas while the global damage is evaluated by finite element analysis. In many cases, those two damage modes are evaluated separately. In this research, a series of numerical simulations are performed using finite element analysis to evaluate the global damage of concrete overpack as well as its local damage under high speed missile impact. We consider two types of concrete overpack, one with steel incased concrete without reinforcement and the other with partially-confined reinforced concrete. The numerical simulation results are compared with test results and it is shown that appropriate modeling of material failure is crucial in this analysis and the results are highly dependent on the choice of failure parameters.
Assessing the dimensionality and construct validity of the military stigma scale across current service members

ABSTRACT US service members are at elevated risk for distress and suicidal behavior, compared to the general US population. However, despite the availability of evidence-based treatments, only 40% of Service members in need of mental health care seek help. One potential reason for the lower use of services is that service members experience stigma or concerns that the act of seeking mental health care from a mental health provider carries a mark of disgrace. The Military Stigma Scale (MSS) was designed to assess two theoretical dimensions of help-seeking stigma (public and self), specifically among service members. The goal of the current study was to further examine the validity of the MSS among 347 active duty service members. Examination of unidimensional, two-factor, and bifactor models revealed that a bifactor model, with a general (overall stigma), two specific factors (public and self-stigma), and one method factor (accounting for negatively worded items) provided the best fit to the data. Ancillary reliability analyses also supported the MSS measuring a broad stigma factor associated with seeking mental health care in the military. Subsequent model analyses showed that the MSS was associated with other stigma-related constructs. Overall, findings suggest that the MSS is a reliable and validated scale that can be used to assess military help-seeking stigma and to evaluate results of programs designed to reduce stigma.
Gradient convolutional neural network for classification of agricultural fields with contour levee

ABSTRACT To better understand how contour-levee irrigation practice impacts water resources for formulating effective water management policies, it is important to obtain its application on large-scale data sets, e.g. state-wide. Automatic classification of contour levee croplands from high-resolution aerial images is of great potential given the success of deep neural networks and the availability of high-resolution remote sensing imagery. This paper proposes a gradient CNN model to classify fields with contour levees from remote sensing images. Our model produces high-quality segmentation masks that are refined with superpixel-based segmentation post-processing. Our method is evaluated using images by the National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) for the counties in Arkansas. A comparison with the state-of-the-art methods demonstrates the improved performance of our proposed method. Our method demonstrates superior performance in the classification of challenging cases and achieves an overall 3.08% of accuracy improvement and 28.57% BER error reduction, compared to the second-best method. The p-value with respect to the second-best method is 0.005, which indicates great statistical significance. In addition, the results for data of different counties demonstrate the exceptional generalization ability of our method.