Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease: Adolescence as a Critical Lifecourse Period to Break the Transgenerational Cycle of NCDs—A Narrative Review

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, represent a significant and growing global health burden. To date, a primary focus has been on treatment approaches to NCDs once manifested rather than strategies aimed at prevention. In this context, there is clear evidence that a range of adverse early life exposures can predispose individuals towards a greater risk of developing NCDs across the lifecourse. These risk factors can be passed to future generations, thus perpetuating a cycle of disease. This concept, preferentially termed “developmental programming”, forms the basis of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework. To date, DOHaD has focused on preconception, pregnancy, lactation and, more recently, paternal health at the time of conception. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that investment in the window of adolescence is perhaps the most critical developmental window. Adolescence is a period where lifestyle behaviours become entrained. Therefore, a focus on adolescent behaviours, health literacy and emotional development may afford the best opportunity to break the cycle of NCDs. As the next generation of parents, adolescents should therefore be considered a priority group in advancing appropriate and informed actions aimed at reducing NCD risk factors across the lifecourse. This advancement requires a more comprehensive community understanding and uptake of DOHaD knowledge and concepts. NCD prevention strategies have typically entailed siloed (and often disease-specific) approaches with limited efficacy in curbing NCD prevalence and breaking the transgenerational transmission of disease traits. Recent findings across various disciplines have highlighted that a lifecourse systems approach is required to establish a comprehensive and sustainable framework for NCD intervention. A whole community approach with a particular focus on adolescents as potential agents of change is necessary to break the disease cycle.
Design and Implementation of a Multiple DoF Soft Robot Arm Using Exestensor Muscles

This paper proposes a unique soft robot arm. It shows very uncommon behaviour, that a pneumatic platform that can be grasped, contract, extend (stretch), and bend in all directions based on the three designed muscles that connected and operated as parallel actuation. This idea had been launched from an animal whose body has no rigid structures (without bones), like an Octopus, Elephant trunk, and some other animals. The pneumatic muscle actuator (PMA) represents a valuable addition and expansion to the robotics investigation area 20 years ago. These actuators (PMAs) give worthy additions to the robotic systems. These actuators support considerable features like flexibility, lightweight, high force according to weight ratio and the ability to have changeable shapes. This paper has studied a new length model 50 cm to every single extensor PMA. The proposed arm shows about 50% extension ratio and the ability to bend along the three dimensions.
SYNTHESIS OF NOVEL COSMETIC WHITE PIGMENT BY CONDENSED PHOSPHORIC ACID TREATMENT OF ZINC OXIDE

Zinc oxide is used as a white pigment in cosmetics, but has the disadvantage of having photocatalytic activity. A certain amount of sebum on the skin is decomposed by ultraviolet rays in sunlight due to the photocatalytic activity of this cosmetic, causing damage to the skin. In this study, a new white pigment for cosmetics was prepared by shaking a mixture of zinc oxide and various condensed phosphate solutions or condensed phosphoric acid to react the surface of zinc oxide to phosphate. The chemical composition, particle size distribution, photocatalytic activity, hue, and smoothness of the resulting powder materials were examined. The condensed phosphoric acid treatment caused some of the zinc oxide to react with the zinc phosphate. The reaction was relatively advanced in the samples prepared in a protonated solution. Most of the sample powders were of a size suitable for white pigments for cosmetics. The condensed phosphoric acid treatment suppressed the photocatalytic activity of the zinc oxide. The obtained samples had sufficiently high reflectance in the visible light range. Judging from the particle size and the photocatalytic activity, the sample prepared with polyphosphoric acid is most suitable as a white pigment for cosmetics.
Detecting color boundaries on 3D surfaces by applying edge‐detection image filters on a quad‐remeshing

Edge detection is a common image‐processing technique that has numerous applications. In this article, we propose an algorithm for detecting edges based on the color of a mesh surface. We name the edges the color boundaries. Our approach is based on the data structure of a quad mesh, which makes the data structure of 3D meshes resemble the data structure of images. As a result, image‐processing methods can be applied on the 3D meshes. In this article, six classical edge detection filters are implemented on the 3D meshes. The experimental results demonstrate that our method can identify areas of high color gradient on 3D meshes. A comparison with two other methods for detecting color boundaries on 3D meshes reveals that our method is more effective at detecting boundaries. Lastly, we propose two novel applications that utilize the information of color boundaries on a 3D mesh surface.
The accuracy of mapping the airstream of jet fan ventilators by fire dynamics simulator

Jet fan ventilators are often applied for smoke control and support for pollutant dispersal in large enclosures, especially in tunnels and car parks. In the design phase, computational fluid dynamics techniques are most often used to verify the fire safety level afforded by the application of jet fans. However, reliable design based on computational fluid dynamics requires a validation of jet fan airstream modeling. To predict these flows, this investigation evaluated the performance of four turbulence models using large-eddy simulations by comparing the simulation results with the experimental data of both horizontal and sloped jet fan guide vanes. The axial velocity was examined and simulations were prepared with fire dynamics simulator software, from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is the most popular program for fire simulations, although it is often criticized for inaccurate mapping of ventilation jet fan airstreams. In addition, this investigation analyzed the computing costs of the simulations, according to the fire dynamics simulator version and grid size, showing that the old version of software (fire dynamics simulator 4) was much faster than new one (fire dynamics simulator 6), and that changing grid size from 30 to 15 cm does not significantly change results.
Determination of Omeprazole, Esomeprazole and Pantoprazole by Quenching the fluorescence of Eosin Y

A non-extractive, simple and sensitive spectrofluorimetric method with good selectivity has been described for the determination of the proton pump inhibitors namely; Omeprazole, Esomeprazole magnesium and Pantoprazole sodium that are used for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. The method is based on the quenching the fluorescence intensity of the eosin Y dye, as the result of the ion-pair complex formation of the studied drugs with the dye in the presence of acetate buffer solution of pH 3.5. The quenching of the eosin Y fluorescence intensity was measured spectrofluorimetrically at 540 nm after excitation at 352 nm. At the optimum reaction conditions, the quenching values of fluorescence (∆F) and concentrations were rectilinear over the concentration ranges of 0.5–13.0, 0.7-15 and 0.3-15 µg/mL for Omeprazole, Esomeprazole magnesium and Pantoprazole sodium respectively. The recovery % values were in the range 99.92-100.56% and relative standard deviation values range was0.430-2.521 for all the studied drugs. The method was applied successfully for determination of above drugs in their pharmaceutical formulations as capsule, tablet and injectables. The method was free from interferences of common excipients.
Joint Computational and Wireless Resource Allocation in Multi-Cell Collaborative Fog Computing Networks

In 6G and future networks, joint optimization of communication and computational resources lays the foundation for various delay-sensitive intelligent IoT services in the fog computing architecture. In this paper, we present a multi-device collaborative computing architecture in the cell association environment to accelerate the processing procedure of data generated by smart IoT devices. In this scenario, a two-tier task scheduling scheme and an uplink and downlink power allocation factor are jointly optimized to reduce the data processing delay and improve fairness among different users, which is in nature a hard problem due to a series of non-convex constraints. To make the problem tractable, the problem is transformed into a smooth non-convex problem with the introduction of auxiliary variables and then decoupled into two subproblems based on the data transmission and processing procedure. Thereafter, different methods such as Successive Convex Approximation (SCA) and Block Successive Upperbound Minimization (BSUM) are employed to reconstruct several upper-bound convex optimization subproblems. Besides, a fast 0-1 binary offloading scheme is proposed based on the original algorithm. Finally, the simulation results depict the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms in detail, and the scalability of the system is also examined.
Fast Beam Search with Two-Level Phased Array in Millimeter-Wave Massive MIMO : A Hierarchical Approach

Massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems operating in the millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequency band support extremely high data rates. One of the major shortcoming of severe path losses in these systems is addressed by the employment of large phased array antennas with highly directional beams. Owing to the precise nature of the beams, identification of the most suitable beam for link establishment between the base station (BS) and the user equipment (UE) becomes an extremely challenging and time-consuming task. The existing two-level phased array approach is based on an exhaustive search that requires a high number of beam sweeps. In this work, a novel hierarchical fast beam search approach based on a two-level phased array is proposed for improved UE discovery in mmWave massive MIMO systems. The proposed approach leverages suitable antenna spacing and radiation pattern multiplication at two-levels to yield refined beams. The hierarchical implementation via grouped antenna units results in a refinement of the beamspace at the digital level based on the best beam direction evaluated at the analog subarray level. Extensive simulation results validate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm in terms of mean position error and the total number of beam sweeps. The investigation of misdetection probability will be considered in our future work.
Determinants of Quality of Life in the COVID-19 Pandemic Situation among Persons Using Psychological Help at Various Stages of the Pandemic

This article presents the results of three surveys conducted during the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 and in late June/early July 2020, when pandemic restrictions were in force. The surveys covered patients who had used psychological assistance before the pandemic. two were cross-sectional and one was longitudinal. The first survey involved 270 people (age: M = 29.59, SD = 10.74, women 79.3%), and the second one covered 117 subjects (age: M = 29.40, SD = 11.49, women 85.5%). The third, longitudinal, survey covered 83 subjects (age: M = 26.61, SD = 7.17, women 89.2%). In our research we used the Conservation of Resources Evaluation questionnaire, the abbreviated version of the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced, the WHO Quality of Life Scale, and a questionnaire for collecting sociodemographic information. Our analysis of the quality-of-life correlates in the two cross-sectional studies leads to an observation that for people using psychological help, the constant determinants of quality of life during a pandemic are high gain in resources and little loss of resources. In the first phase of the pandemic, active strategies were not linked to the sense of quality of life. This sense, however, was diminished by a number of negative strategies, such as denial, venting, substance use, restraint, and self-blame. After 3 months of the ongoing pandemic, perceived quality of life was positively correlated with strategies related to seeking instrumental support and active coping. this most likely points to a process of adapting to a difficult situation. The results of our longitudinal surveys demonstrate increasing escapism. Our attempt at explaining which factors determined the quality of life after 3 months of the ongoing pandemic showed that the crucial factors are: a sense of quality of life before the occurrence of the pandemic, changes in the distribution of resilience-oriented resources, changed frequency of using passive strategies, and active ways of coping—but only after 3 months into the pandemic. The results thus obtained can be used both in prevention and in work with persons affected by the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Production of Purpureocillium lilacinum and Pochonia chlamydosporia by Submerged Liquid Fermentation and Bioactivity against Tetranychus urticae and Heterodera glycines through Seed Inoculation

Pochoniachlamydosporia and Purpureocillium lilacinum are fungal bioagents used for the sustainable management of plant parasitic nematodes. However, their production through submerged liquid fermentation and their use in seed treatment have been underexplored. Therefore, our goal was to assess the effect of different liquid media on the growth of 40 isolates of P. lilacinum and two of P. chlamydosporia. The most promising isolates tested were assessed for plant growth promotion and the control of the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines). Most isolates produced > 108 blastospores mL−1 and some isolates produced more than 104 microsclerotia mL−1. Microsclerotia of selected isolates were used to inoculate common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seeds in greenhouse trials. All fungal isolates reduced the T. urticae fecundity in inoculated plants through seed treatment, while P. chlamydosporia ESALQ5406 and P. lilacinum ESALQ2593 decreased cyst nematode population. Purpureocillium lilacinum was more frequently detected in soil, whereas P. chlamydosporia colonized all plant parts. Pochonia chlamydosporia ESALQ5406 improved the root development of bean plants. These findings demonstrate the possibility of producing submerged propagules of P. chlamydosporia and P. lilacinum by liquid culture, and greenhouse trials support the applicability of fungal microsclerotia in seed treatment to control P. vulgaris pests.
Trusting a virtual driver : similarity as a trust cue

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Capacity-Based Huffman-Coded OFDM with Index Modulation

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with index modulated (OFDM-IM) is a novel energy efficient variant of OFDM that conveys information through active subcarrier indices and conventional M-ary symbols. OFDM-IM’s potential to be spectrally efficient has been explored extensively in prior work. However, the spectral efficiency (SE) metric is only achievable for very high SNR. For general channel conditions, the achievable rates determined using information-theoretic limits are likely lower than the SE. In this paper, we propose a mapping scheme for an OFDM-IM system that optimizes the mutual information. The proposed scheme uses OFDM-IM symbols with different probabilities of occurring, based on a dyadic probability distribution that best approximates the capacity-achieving input distribution for a peak-power-constrained AWGN channel at a given SNR. The dyadic probability distribution is based on Huffman coding, which is used to create the mapping scheme from OFDM-IM constellation symbols to variable-length bit sequences. The simulation results show that for the same number of subchannels and constellation size, the proposed scheme achieves better mutual information than existing OFDM-based schemes for higher modulation orders.
In-Situ-Überwachung von Laserschweißprozessen mittels höherfrequenter Schallemissionen

Die Prozessfenster beim Laserstrahlschweisen sind aufgrund vieler Einflussgrosen schmal. Daher spielt in der Grosserienproduktion eine prozessnahe Uberwachung der Fertigungsqualitat eine grose Rolle. Dies kann beispielsweise uber die Detektion von elektromagnetischen oder akustischen Prozessemissionen realisiert werden. Beides hat bisher nicht zu zufriedenstellenden Uberwachungskonzepten gefuhrt. Der Schwerpunkt der Entwicklung lag in den letzten Jahren vorwiegend auf der optischen Prozessuberwachung, da die Detektion resonanter akustischer Emissionen im niederfrequenten Bereich bisher keine verlasslichen Ergebnisse geliefert hat. Daher werden im Rahmen dieser Arbeit die hochfrequenten Korper- und Luftschallemissionen von Laserschweisprozessen untersucht. Es wird die Fragestellung geklart, ob ein Laserschweisprozess uberhaupt hochfrequente Schallemissionen aussendet. Auch wird gezeigt, wie diese mit Stellparametern und Qualitatsmerkmalen einer Laserschweisnaht korreliert werden konnen und ein Prozessmodell gebildet werden kann. Auf Basis eines solchen Prozessmodells kann eine Fehlerdetektion erfolgen und ein Konzept fur die Prozessuberwachung von Laserschweisprozessen mittels hochfrequenten Schallemissionen fur die Fertigung erarbeitet werden. Damit konnen zusatzliche Informationen uber den Laserschweisprozess gewonnen werden, was einen wichtigen Beitrag im Hinblick auf die Realisierung eines robusten Prozessuberwachungskonzeptes fur das Laserstrahlschweisen liefert. Process windows of laser welding are quite narrow due to different influences. Therefore, process-oriented quality control is a key in large-volume production. This can be realized by detection of electromagnetic or acoustic process emissions. Up to now, both variants were not leading to realization of satisfying concepts of process monitoring. In the last years, the key aspect in this development was mainly put on optical process monitoring, because the detection of resonant acoustic emissions in low frequency ranges were not delivering reliable results. Therefore, the high frequency structure- and air-borne emissions will be deeply investigated in this thesis. The first emphasis will be on the clarification of the existence of high frequency acoustic emissions in laser welding processes besides the already known low frequency resonant acoustic emissions. In the second step, the correlation of these emissions with the parameters and quality characteristics of laser welding seams will be developed. By means of this, a process model will be formed. Based on this process model, a defect detection, as well as a concept for process monitoring of laser welding processes by means of high frequency acoustic emissions, can be established. Using this concept, additional information about laser welding processes can be gained, which helps to realize a robust and stable concept for process monitoring of laser welding in industrial scale.
AN AUTONOMOUS METHOD FOR MULTI-TRACK DYNAMIC RANGE COMPRESSION TEMPLATES FOR DAFX-08, FINLAND, FRANCE

Dynamic range compression is a nonlinear audio effect that reduces the dynamic range of a signal and is frequently used as part of the process of mixing multi-track audio recordings. A system for automatically setting the parameters of multiple dynamic range compressors (one acting on each track of the multi-track mix) is described. The perceptual signal features loudness and loudness range are used to cross-adaptively control each compressor. The system is fully autonomous and includes six different modes of operation. These were compared and evaluated against a mix in which compressor settings were chosen by an expert audio mix engineer. Clear preferences were established for the different modes of operation, and it was found that the autonomous system was capable of producing audio mixes of approximately the same subjective quality as those produced by the expert engineer.
Estimating somatic growth of fishes from maximum age or maturity

Growth in body size is a key life-history trait that has coevolved and is interlinked with maturation, maximum age, mortality, generation time, and the intrinsic rate of population growth. Growth parameters are therefore required inputs in the majority of assessment models used in conservation or fisheries management. However, because of the difficulties involved in the proper aging of individuals, growth parameters are unknown for the vast majority of species. Here, two new data-limited methods are presented to estimate somatic growth from maximum length combined with either length or age at maturation or with maximum age. A comparison with existing growth parameters of fishes (Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii) shows that the estimates of the new methods fall within the range of established methods. The new methods apply to species with indeterminate growth, such as fishes or invertebrates, and were used here to produce the first growth parameter estimates for 110 species of fishes.