Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Real-Time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed for Distribution Synchrophasor Applications

With the advent of Distribution Phasor Measurement Units (D-PMUs) and Micro-Synchrophasors (Micro-PMUs), the situational awareness in power distribution systems is going to the next level using time-synchronization. However, designing, analyzing, and testing of such accurate measurement devices are still challenging. Due to the lack of available knowledge and sufficient history for synchrophasors’ applications at the power distribution level, the realistic simulation, and validation environments are essential for D-PMU development and deployment. This paper presents a vendor agnostic PMU real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-Loop (PMU-RTS-HIL) testbed, which helps in multiple PMUs validation and studies. The network of real and virtual PMUs was built in a full time-synchronized environment for PMU applications’ validation. The proposed testbed also includes an emulated communication network (CNS) layer to replicate bandwidth, packet loss and collisions conditions inherent to the PMUs data streams’ issues. Experimental results demonstrate the flexibility and scalability of the developed PMU-RTS-HIL testbed by producing large amounts of measurements under typical normal and abnormal distribution grid operation conditions.
Putting Security on the Table: The Digitalisation of Security Tabletop Games and its Challenging Aftertaste

IT-Security Tabletop Games for developers have been available in analog format; with the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in collaborative remote security games has increased. In this paper, we propose a methodology to evaluate the impact of a (remote) security game-based intervention on developers. The study design consists of the respective intervention, three questionnaires, and a small open interview guide for a focus group. A validated self-efficacy scale is used as a proxy for measuring effects on participants’ ability to develop secure software. We tested this design with 9 participants (expert and novice developers and security experts) as part of a small feasibility study to understand the challenges and limitations of remote tabletop games. We describe how we selected and digitalised three security tabletop games, and report the qualitative findings from our evaluation. Setting up and running the virtual tabletop games turned out to be more challenging and complex for both moderator and participants than we expected. Completing the games required patience and persistence, and social interaction was limited. Our findings can be helpful in building and evaluating a better, more comprehensive, technically sound and issue-specific game-based training measure for developers. The methodology can be used by researchers to evaluate existing and new game designs.
Real-Time Lidar Odometry and Mapping with Loop Closure

Real-time performance and global consistency are extremely important in Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) problems. Classic lidar-based SLAM systems often consist of front-end odometry and back-end pose optimization. However, due to expensive computation, it is often difficult to achieve loop-closure detection without compromising the real-time performance of the odometry. We propose a SLAM system where scan-to-submap-based local lidar odometry and global pose optimization based on submap construction as well as loop-closure detection are designed as separated from each other. In our work, extracted edge and surface feature points are inserted into two consecutive feature submaps and added to the pose graph prepared for loop-closure detection and global pose optimization. In addition, a submap is added to the pose graph for global data association when it is marked as in a finished state. In particular, a method to filter out false loops is proposed to accelerate the construction of constraints in the pose graph. The proposed method is evaluated on public datasets and achieves competitive performance with pose estimation frequency over 15 Hz in local lidar odometry and low drift in global consistency.
A Graph-Theoretic Approach to Optimal Planning of Satellite Downlink Operation

A satellite in an elongated elliptical orbit may be operated while switching the configuration for communications according to changes in altitude. Although such operation is generally complicated as compared with a satellite in low Earth orbit, there is still a common desire to maximize the amount of downlink data. To this end, the operation plan for communications configuration needs to be optimized in detail according to momentary changes, so that more data can be downlinked. Conversely, switching the configuration many times leads to an increase in the operational load for satellite operators. We thus want to control the number of configuration changes. This problem of creating such an operation plan is too complex to be dealt with solely by human operators. In particular, as there are more options in configuration, the number of combinations increases exponentially. Therefore, by representing the operation plan graphically, this paper reduces the planning problem to a shortest path problem, and solves it to obtain an operation plan for maximum downlink. We also introduce parameters to adjust configuration changes, and obtain the correlation between the amount of downlink data and the switching frequency.
The Ratio of CD226 and TIGIT Expression in Tfh and PD-1+ICOS+Tfh Cells Are Potential Biomarkers for Chronic Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplantation is the ideal treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Chronic antibody-mediated rejection (CAMR) is the main cause of graft failure. Tfh and B cells are key immune cells that play important roles in CAMR. In this study, the populations of different Tfh cell phenotypes and B cell subsets in CAMR were investigated in a total of 36 patients. Based on Banff-2019, 15 patients were diagnosed with CAMR (CAMR group), 11 recipients were diagnosed with recurrent or de novo IgA nephropathy (IgAN group), and 10 patients displayed stable renal function (stable group). The Tfh and B cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage and absolute number of PD-1+ICOS+Tfh cells were significantly higher in CAMR (p < 0.05), as was the ratio of CD226+Tfh cells to TIGIT+Tfh cells (p < 0.05). Compared with stable recipients, CAMR patients had lower naïve B cells and higher unswitched memory B cells, which were also significantly related to renal function (p < 0.05). Using the logistic regression model, we concluded that the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), absolute number of PD-1+ICOS+Tfh cells, and ratio of CD226+Tfh cells to TIGIT+Tfh cells were independent risk factors for CAMR. The combination of eGFR, PD-1+ICOS+Tfh cells, and the ratio of CD226+Tfh cells to TIGIT+Tfh cells showed better diagnostic efficacy for CAMR than each single parameter. The collective findings show that monitoring different Tfh phenotypes and B cell subsets is beneficial to kidney transplant recipients and implicate the combination of eGFR, number of PD-1+ICOS+Tfh cells, and ratio of CD226+Tfh cells to TIGIT+Tfh cells as a biomarker for diagnosing CAMR. The findings may also inform new strategies to identify and treat CAMR.
The Role of Contract Type in the Success of R&D Defense Projects under Increasing Uncertainty

This study attempts to reveal the effect of the contract type on the success of defense projects contingent with the level of technological uncertainty existing at the beginning of the project. Based on data collected on 110 defense development projects performed in Israel, it was found that when technological uncertainty at the start of projects is high, cost-plus contracts result in better performance. Fixed-price contracts are better suited for projects with lower levels of technological uncertainty. A combination of cost-plus and fixed-price contracts is suggested for use in projects suffering from high technological uncertainty, starting with a cost-plus contract for the early stages of the project and switching to a fixed-price contract when the uncertainty is reduced.
Red Blood Cell DHA Is Inversely Associated with Risk of Incident Alzheimer’s Disease and All-Cause Dementia: Framingham Offspring Study

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) might help prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Red blood cell (RBC) status of DHA is an objective measure of long-term dietary DHA intake. In this prospective observational study conducted within the Framingham Offspring Cohort (1490 dementia-free participants aged ≥65 years old), we examined the association of RBC DHA with incident AD, testing for an interaction with APOE-ε4 carriership. During the follow-up (median, 7.2 years), 131 cases of AD were documented. In fully adjusted models, risk for incident AD in the highest RBC DHA quintile (Q5) was 49% lower compared with the lowest quintile (Q1) (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.51, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27, 0.96). An increase in RBC DHA from Q1 to Q5 was predicted to provide an estimated 4.7 additional years of life free of AD. We observed an interaction DHA × APOE-ε4 carriership for AD. Borderline statistical significance for a lower risk of AD was observed per standard deviation increase in RBC DHA (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.51, 1.00, p = 0.053) in APOE-ε4 carriers, but not in non-carriers (HR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.11, p = 0.240). These findings add to the increasing body of literature suggesting a robust association worth exploring dietary DHA as one strategy to prevent or delay AD.
Non-Contact Vital Sign Monitoring With a Metamaterial Surface

Vital sign monitoring is important for determining the health status and well-being of an individual. Despite their high level of accuracy, clinical sensing methods for vital signs, such as heart or respiration signals, often require direct skin contact and the use of wires, making them restrictive and inconvenient. In contrast, alternative sensing approaches using wireless means can be comfortable for users and are suitable for long-term, continuous health monitoring scenarios. Recent advances in physiological sensing using Doppler radars present great potential for non-contact vital sign monitoring, but face many challenges due to background clutter and large body motions. In this work, we develop an integrated system for non-contact vital sign monitoring based on microwave metamaterials and software-defined Doppler radar. Our sensor is thin, flexible, and able to monitor health through clothing. We demonstrate our system's capability in respiration and cardiac sensing through experiments on a healthy volunteer and validate its cardiac sensing accuracy against electrocardiography as the gold standard. Validation results show a Pearson's correlation coefficient $r\approx 0.9$ and Bland-Altman agreement limits of ±37.1 ms between our sensor's and the gold standard's estimation of heart beat-to-beat intervals.
Decontamination Efficiency of Thermal, Photothermal, Microwave, and Steam Treatments for Biocontaminated Household Textiles

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, textile laundering hygiene has proved to be a fundamental measure in preventing the spread of infections. The first part of our study evaluated the decontamination efficiency of various treatments (thermal, photothermal, and microwave) for bio contaminated textiles. The effects on textile decontamination of adding saturated steam into the drum of a household textile laundering machine were investigated and evaluated in the second part of our study. The results show that the thermal treatment, conducted in a convection heating chamber, provided a slight reduction in efficiency and did not ensure the complete inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus on cotton swatches. The photothermal treatment showed higher reduction efficiency on contaminated textile samples, while the microwave treatment (at 460 W for a period of 60 s) of bio contaminated cotton swatches containing higher moisture content provided satisfactory bacterial reduction efficiency (more than 7 log steps). Additionally, the treatment of textiles in the household washing machine with the injection of saturated steam into the washing drum and a mild agitation rhythm provided at least a 7 log step reduction in S. aureus. The photothermal treatment of bio contaminated cotton textiles showed promising reduction efficiency, while the microwave treatment and the treatment with saturated steam proved to be the most effective.
Usage of Mobile Applications or Mobile Health Technology to Improve Diet Quality in Adults

The use of mobile applications for dietary purposes has dramatically increased along with the consistent development of mobile technology. Assessing diet quality as a dietary pattern or an indicator across key food groups in comparison to those recommended by dietary guidelines is useful for identifying optimal nutrient intake. This systematic review aims to explore mobile applications and their impact on the diet quality of the user. The electronic databases of The Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl), The American Psychological Association’s (APA Psycinfo), and PubMed were systematically searched for randomised and non-randomised controlled trials to retrieve papers from inception to November 2021. Ten studies with 1638 participants were included. A total of 5342 studies were retrieved from the database searches, with 10 articles eligible for final inclusion in the review. The sample sizes ranged from 27 to 732 participants across the included studies, with 1638 total participants. The ratio of female to male participants in the studies was 4:1. The majority of the mobile applications or M-health interventions were used to highlight dietary health changes (six studies), with the remainder used to reduce weight or blood sugar levels (four studies). Each study used a different measure to quantify diet quality. Studies were either assessed by diet quality scoring or individual dietary assessment, of the ten studies, six studies reported an improvement in diet quality following diet-related mobile application use. Mobile applications may be an effective way to improve diet quality in adults; however, there is a need for more targeted and longer-term studies that are expressly designed to investigate the impact using mobile applications has on diet quality.
Isokinetic Assessment of Shoulder Joint Strength Ratios in Male Recreational Weightlifters: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Isokinetic strength imbalance is a risk factor for movement dysfunctions and injuries related to shoulder complex. The effects of recreational weightlifting on developing the imbalances between the shoulder muscles are not yet known. Objectives To investigate the isokinetic concentric shoulder muscle strength values (peak torque normalized to body weight) in recreational weightlifters (RWL) and to compare the shoulder muscles agonist/antagonist ratios with nonweightlifters. Methods Thirty male RWL with mean age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) of 21.56 years, 84.25 kg, 175.34 cm, and 26.51 kg/m2, respectively, matched with nonweightlifters served as a control group. The normalized concentric peak torque values of shoulder flexors, extensors, abductors, adductors, and internal and external rotators were measured at angular velocity 120°/sec by using Biodex isokinetic system. Moreover, the agonist/antagonist strength ratio for all muscle groups were calculated. Results The normalized peak torques of RWL group were significantly greater than the control group (p < 0.05). The abductor/adductor and external rotator/internal rotator ratios of the RWL were significantly lower than the control group (p = 0.008 and 0.009, respectively). Conversely, there was no significant difference between both groups in relation to the flexor/extensor ratio (p = 0.259). Conclusion These results suggested that the recreational weightlifting exercises place trainees at risk of muscle imbalances. Therefore, the restoration of a normal concentric abductor/adductor and external rotator/internal rotator strength ratios may decrease the risk of possible shoulder injury.
Treatment of Neuronopathic Mucopolysaccharidoses with Blood–Brain Barrier-Crossing Enzymes: Clinical Application of Receptor-Mediated Transcytosis

Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) has paved the way for treating the somatic symptoms of lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), but the inability of intravenously administered enzymes to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) has left the central nervous system (CNS)-related symptoms of LSDs largely impervious to the therapeutic benefits of ERT, although ERT via intrathecal and intracerebroventricular routes can be used for some neuronopathic LSDs (in particular, mucopolysaccharidoses). However, the considerable practical issues involved make these routes unsuitable for long-term treatment. Efforts have been made to modify enzymes (e.g., by fusing them with antibodies against innate receptors on the cerebrovascular endothelium) so that they can cross the BBB via receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) and address neuronopathy in the CNS. This review summarizes the various scientific and technological challenges of applying RMT to the development of safe and effective enzyme therapeutics for neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses; it then discusses the translational and methodological issues surrounding preclinical and clinical evaluation to establish RMT-applied ERT.
Hyperspectral Image Clustering Using Nearest Neighbor

Clustering of hyperspectral images is a challenging task due to the high spectral resolution and the presence of elaborate spatial structures in the data. In this study, a new clustering framework for hyperspectral imagery is proposed based on the concept of nearest neighbor. The framework comprises three major steps. In the first step, hyperspectral image segmentation is performed using the unsupervised k-means method. In the second step, the segmentation map obtained from the previous step is considered as a cluster map and is refined iteratively by utilizing the mutual nearest neighbor (MNN) information. Finally, clusters are merged repeatedly with their first nearest neighbor (1-NN), until k-clusters are obtained Experiments on two widely used hyperspectral images demonstrate that the proposed framework has a high potential to attain better clustering performance most of the time.
Implementation, Best Practices, and Challenges in Mental Health Strategies among Local Government Units in the Province of Negros Occidental, Philippines

One of the health priorities of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to promote mental health and well-being. The mental health agenda of the ASEAN region include public health strategies at the community level. The study employed a descriptive design to assess the extent of implementation of mental health strategies, the best practices, and the challenges encountered in local government units. It was administered to a total population of 90 respondents comprising healthcare workers, responders, and social workers. The findings revealed a poor extent of implementation of mental health strategies which means that only some strategies are implemented. The area on treatment and recovery was rated highest, interpreted as poor extent, while capacity building for mental health program administrators was rated lowest, poor extent. It was found that local government units are implementing best practices in mental health. However, several challenges were noted, such as the lack of formally trained mental health experts, mental health professionals, mental health facilities, and financial resources, which are indicators of poor and weak implementation. These challenges require strict enforcement by its integration into the primary healthcare program, one of the objectives of the law. The study significantly contributes to the few existing literature on the implementation of mental health strategies at the local government level identified as necessary, especially at this time of the pandemic.
Partial-Wave Series Expansion and Angular Spectrum Decomposition Formalisms for Acoustical Beams

Complex weights factors (CWFs) that fully define the incident beam independent of the presence of a scatterer, may be represented mathematically by either a partial-wave series expansion (PWSE) of multipoles, or the method of angular spectrum decomposition (ASD) of plane waves. Once the mathematical expression for the CWFs of the incident waves is known, evaluation of the arbitrary scattering, radiation force, and torque components on an object in 3D, using the Generalized Theories of Resonance Scattering (GTRS), Radiation Force (GTRF) and Radiation Torque (GTRT), becomes feasible. The aim of this Letter is to establish the connection between these two approaches in the framework of the GTRS, GTRF and GTRT in spherical coordinates for various acoustical applications. The advantage of using the ASD approach is also discussed for specific beams with particular properties.
Technological Emergence and Military Technology Innovation

ABSTRACT To what extent is military technology innovation emergent? This study answers this question by applying an emergence detection algorithm to roughly 300,000 technical terms extracted from military technology patents granted from 1980 to 2019. Emergence – instances of sudden and rapid growth of a technical term within the military patent corpus – is found to vary greatly over time. Military technology innovation during the period of 1996-2008 is found to be highly emergent. This period was found to be characterized by high organization-type diversity; non-traditional vendors, traditional defense contractors, large civilian-facing firms, and individuals generated military patents containing many novel emergent technical terms. However, in recent years, military technology innovation has exhibited markedly less emergence. The period of low emergence is characterized by reduced contributions by non-traditional vendors, defense prime contractors, and individual inventors to military patents containing emergent terms. These observations suggest that policies attempting to ensure a healthy defense innovation ecosystem should seek organization-type diversity and may benefit from employing promotion strategies targeted at distinct organization types.