Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computational aeroacoustic modeling of single-reed mouthpiece using Palabos

Abstract The sound generation behavior of a single-reed instrument can be determined from its aeroacoustic characteristics. Computational aeroacoustics (CAA) modeling offers a mean to analyze the aeroacoustics behavior of such a system. The lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) models fluid on a mesoscopic level and has certain advantages over traditional Navier-Stokes approaches in solving CAA problems. In this study, we present results from an aeroacoustic analysis of a 2D single-reed mouthpiece system using an open-source, parallelized lattice Boltzmann solver called Palabos. A variety of functionalities and components are investigated, including the parallelization, the moving boundary, and the non-reflecting boundary condition, which demonstrates the versatility of Palabos. Different mouthpiece geometries are tested with both static and moving reeds. The nonlinear characteristics of the mouthpiece-reed system derived from this study are then compared with the theoretical quasi-static flow model.
Identification of reduced and uncoupled models in vibroacoustical experimental modal analysis

To control the noise level of passenger compartment is one of the important design issues in fields such as automobile and manned aerospace. An uncoupled model of the acoustic part extracted from the coupled vibroacoustical system is significant for predicting and improving the vehicle noise performance. The objective of this work is to build mass, stiffness, and damping matrices of a reduced equivalent system which exhibits the same behavior as the full size one. An extension of the least-square complex frequencydomain (LSCF) method is introduced specifically for vibroacoustical identification. The QR decomposition is subsequently performed to obtain a reduced model whose behavior is as close as possible to the measurement. The properness condition enforcement method employed here provides the optimal eigenvectors, which can be safely used to reconstruct the equivalent system. A simulated case study is proposed to illustrate the application of this approach.
Reply to the Reviewer’s Comments Classification of Drowsiness Levels based on a Deep Spatio-Temporal Convolutional LSTM Network using Electroencephalography Signals

We would like to thank the reviewers for taking the time to read the manuscript carefully, as well as for their valuable comments and constructive suggestions. Their help enabled us to clarify a number of important points, which we were previously unaware of; thus, we believe that the quality of the manuscript has been improved. We attempted to incorporate as many changes as possible. For ease of review, the changes in the updated manuscript are indicated in blue.
Superhydrophobic Civil Engineering Materials: A Review from Recent Developments

Superhydrophobic surfaces have drawn attention from scientists and engineers because of their extreme water repellency. More interestingly, these surfaces have also demonstrated an infinite influence on civil engineering materials. In this feature article, the history of wettability theory is described firstly. The approaches to construct hierarchical micro/nanostructures such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), electrochemical, etching, and flame synthesis methods are introduced. Then, the advantages and limitations of each method are discussed. Furthermore, the recent progress of superhydrophobicity applied on civil engineering materials and its applications are summarized. Finally, the obstacles and prospects of superhydrophobic civil engineering materials are stated and expected. This review should be of interest to scientists and civil engineers who are interested in superhydrophobic surfaces and novel civil engineering materials.
A test for subvector of mean vector with two-step monotone missing data

In this paper, we consider the one-sample problem of testing for the subvector of a mean vector with two-step monotone missing data. In the case that the data set consists of complete data with p(= p1 + p2 + p3) dimensions and incomplete data with (p1 + p2) dimensions, we derive the likelihood ratio criterion for testing the (p2+p3) mean vector under the given mean vector of p1 dimensions. Furthermore, we propose an approximation for the upper percentile of the likelihood ratio test (LRT) statistic. We investigate the accuracy and asymptotic behavior of this approximation using Monte Carlo simulation. An example is presented in order to illustrate the method. AMS 2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 62H20, 62H10.
Regular expressions for interpreting and cross-referencing Hadith texts

Computational linguistics is by definition an interdisciplinary science. One can approach it mainly in two ways: the linguistics-driven approach aims to verify theories on language by using ad hoc computational instruments, while the computational-driven approach tends to apply and adapt existing computational models to specific linguistic contexts. These complementary conceptions are reflected in the relationship between the development of knowledge-based and empirical methods. This contribution aims to test if a computational knowledgebased typical framework, namely the syntax of regular expressions, might be exploited to draft specific strategies depending on a given typology of text. In other words, the needing to deal with a specific text (hadith collections in this case) models and even create original solutions then can enhance and widen the field of regular expressions application. After an introduction to the syntax of regular expressions, its diffusion as tool in natural language processing and text analysis is covered, with a special focus on Arabic texts. Regular expressions seem to be more powerful than a mere search tool: they could represent – in handling semi-structured texts – a kind of “lens” which read the internal organization of a text and make it explicit. Such an interpretation is applied to a hadith collection, in order to retrieve its textual structure and some key contents. A program named HadExtractor has been therefore designed and implemented: within the framework of regular expression syntax, it automatically extracts from each hadith some relevant explicit and implicit information (isnād, matn, transmission chain, all transmitter names and typologies of transmission, Koranic quotations) and organizes it in a machinereadable scheme. As for cross-reference, on the basis of the conceived program to find Koranic citation in hadiths, a process flow of a new program extending is field of action to whatever Arabic text is proposed.
NEW PARAMETERS IN SHEAR WAVE ELASTOGRAPHY IN VIVO

Ultrasonography is a widely used medical imaging technique with many clinical applications. Used in clinical practice for more than 40 years, it is highly regarded for its ease of use, real-time capability, portability and low cost. Based on the propagation of mechanical waves and more particularly on high frequency compressional waves aka ultrasound, it allows the construction of morphological images of organs, but lacks a fundamental and quantitative information on tissue elastic properties; indeed the bulk modulus that governs the propagation of ultrasound is almost homogeneous in the different biological tissues and does not depend on tissue elasticity (Sarvazyan et al., 1995). Elastography, whose development started about 20 years ago, aims at imaging tissue stiffness, which provides an additional and clinically relevant information. Mapping the stiffness can either be estimated from the analysis of the strain in the tissue under a stress (quasi-static methods), or by the imaging of shear waves, mechanical waves, whose propagation is governed by the tissue stiffness rather than by its bulk modulus.
Producer-Assisted Pushback

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks on the Internet have caused serious problems for many years and have become more severe over time. The difficulty in mitigating DDoS attacks comes from the architectural shortcomings of IP which make it easy to attack any IP node from anywhere. Named Data Networking (NDN), a proposed new Internet architecture, changes the basic network communication model from IP’s address-based push to name-based data pull. In this paper, we comprehensively examine the basic properties of the NDN architecture and describe how they make the launch of DDoS attacks more difficult and the attacks less effective. We further make use of NDN’s architectural properties to develop a new DDoS mitigation solution – Producer-assisted Pushback, called PAP. PAP pushes back DDoS traffic to misbehaving entities, at a much finer granularity than existing DDoS defense mechanisms in IP networks. We have evaluated the performance of PAP through extensive simulations and our results show that PAP can effectively push back attack traffic within a few seconds, and ensure over 99% of an attack target’s incoming traffic is from legitimate clients.
PacBio Long-Read Sequencing Reveals the Transcriptomic Complexity and Aux/IAA Gene Evolution in Gnetum (Gnetales)

The genus Gnetum includes pantropical trees, shrubs and lianas, with unresolved phylogenetic relationships with other seed plant groups. Despite the reference genome for this genus being recently published, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the reproductive organ development of Gnetum remain unclear. A previous study showed that indole-3-acetic acid is involved in the regulation of female strobili of Gnetum, while the diversity and evolution of indole-3-acetic acid-related genes—the Aux/IAA genes—have never been investigated in Gnetales. Thus, a pooled sample from different developmental stages of female strobili in Gnetum luofuense C.Y. Cheng was sequenced using PacBio single-molecular long-read technology (SMRT) sequencing. PacBio SMRT sequencing generated a total of 53,057 full-length transcripts, including 2043 novel genes. Besides this, 10,454 alternative splicing (AS) events were detected with intron retention constituting the largest proportion (46%). Moreover, 1196 lncRNAs were identified, and 8128 genes were found to possess at least one poly (A) site. A total of 3179 regulatory proteins, including 1413 transcription factors (e.g., MADS-box and bHLHs), 477 transcription regulators (e.g., SNF2), and 1289 protein kinases (e.g., RLK/Pelles) were detected, and these protein regulators probably participated in the female strobili development of G. luofuense. In addition, this is the first study of the Aux/IAA genes of the Gnetales, and we identified 6, 7 and 12 Aux/IAA genes from Gnetum luofuense, Welwitschia mirabilis, and Ephedra equistina, respectively. Our phylogenetic analysis reveals that Aux/IAA genes from the gymnosperms tended to cluster and possessed gene structures as diverse as those in angiosperms. Moreover, the Aux/IAA genes of the Gnetales might possess higher molecular evolutionary rates than those in other gymnosperms. The sequencing of the full-length transcriptome paves the way to uncovering molecular mechanisms that regulate reproductive organ development in gymnosperms.
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID DISPERSION TABLET OF SIMVASTATIN EMPLOYING STARCH PHOSPHATE AS CARRIER

In this research we have prepared, characterized and evaluated the starch phosphate solid dispersion for increasing the dissolution rate of simvastatin. Solid dispersion of simvastatin in starch phosphate was formulated by solvent evaporation technique. In this research different batches were prepared by using the different concentration of the starch phosphate with other inactive ingredients. Dissolution study was performed for the evaluation of in-vitro, solid dispersion which releases the simvastatin faster and was compressed into tablet. Simvastatin solid dispersion was prepared by wet granulation and converted into tablet form. This solid dispersion gives the faster dissolution rate of 87.34% to 103.34% at 2530 minutes when it was compared with the conventional tablet.
A Review of Agricultural Technology Transfer in Africa: Lessons from Japan and China Case Projects in Tanzania and Kenya

Agricultural technology transfer plays a chief role in transforming agricultural productivity in rural areas especially in the current setting where food demand surpasses the production capacity. Technology transfer facilitates the movement of soft and hard skills essential for improving farm production. Yet, the technical cooperation projects in Africa have been suffering from effectiveness and sustainability challenges while lacking responsiveness to local demand. This study applies a system dynamic method and a literature review to bring lessons from Japan and China’s experiences in agricultural technology transfer projects to Africa. Three cases in agricultural technical cooperation projects are presented: China—(Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center (ATDC) in Tanzania), Japan—(Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Project (SHEP), and Rice Industry Development Support (RIDS) in Kenya and Tanzania, respectively). Japanese and Chinese agricultural technology has the potential to improve productivity and the livelihood of rural households. Nevertheless, strong linkages, commitment, and participation of all stakeholders in the design and implementation of agricultural technology transfer projects play an important role in enhancing project sustainability in the recipient countries. Further studies are recommended such as, to explain the agricultural technology transfer mechanism that fits well to equip beneficiary autonomy in terms of knowledge and capacity of production in the recipient country. The local governments need to set policy environments and institutional frameworks that encourage and support the agricultural technology transfer to benefit the rural farmers.
Characterization of Genetic Diversity Conserved in the Gene Bank for Dutch Cattle Breeds

In this study, we characterized genetic diversity in the gene bank for Dutch native cattle breeds. A total of 715 bulls from seven native breeds and a sample of 165 Holstein Friesian bulls were included. Genotype data were used to calculate genetic similarities. Based on these similarities, most breeds were clearly differentiated, except for two breeds (Deep Red and Improved Red and White) that have recently been derived from the MRY breed, and for the Dutch Friesian and Dutch Friesian Red, which have frequently exchanged bulls. Optimal contribution selection (OCS) was used to construct core sets of bulls with a minimized similarity. The composition of the gene bank appeared to be partly optimized in the semen collection process, i.e., the mean similarity within breeds based on the current number of straws per bull was 0.32% to 1.49% lower than when each bull would have contributed equally. Mean similarity could be further reduced within core sets by 0.34% to 2.79% using OCS. Material not needed for the core sets can be made available for supporting in situ populations and for research. Our findings provide insight in genetic diversity in Dutch cattle breeds and help to prioritize material in gene banking.
Precipitation Trends and Alteration in Wei River Basin: Implication for Water Resources Management in the Transitional Zone between Plain and Loess Plateau, China

Precipitation plays a critical role in water resources management, and trend changes and alterations thereof are crucial to regional or basin water security, disaster prevention, and ecological restoration under a changing environment. In order to explore the implications of precipitation variation for water resources management, taking the Wei River Basin (a transitional zone between the Guanzhong Plain and Loess Plateau) as an example, this paper proposes an index system, namely the index of precipitation alteration (IPA), to evaluate changes in precipitation and investigate their potential influence on water resources management. The system includes 17 indicators gained from observed daily rainfall, involving some structural precipitation indicators describing the precipitation patterns and some functional precipitation indicators influencing utilization of watershed water resources. Non-parametric Mann-Kendall (MK) statistical test is employed to identify the IPA trend change, and range of variability approach is used to evaluate the variation of IPA. The analysis results in Wei River Basin show that IPA varies with different spatial and temporal distributions. Overall, although the annual total precipitation declined in the study area, the frequency of extreme events was increased during 1955–2012. In the face of severe climate change patterns, it is necessary to establish the precipitation index to evaluate the change of precipitation and to provide useful information for future precipitation assessments.
A RANDOM FIBRE NETWORK MODEL FOR PREDICTING THE STOCHASTIC EFFECTS OF DISCONTINUOUS FIBRE COMPOSITES

A random fibre network model is presented in conjunction with a novel finite element method to predict the tensile behaviour of random, discontinuous fibre laminates produced by a directed carbon fibre preforming (DCFP) process. Predictions from the model are compared against an analytical model and experimental data for a selection of studies, including the effect of fibre volume fraction, fibre length and virgin tow filament count on the tensile performance. The model is used to demonstrate the effects of increasing specimen thickness for different virgin tow sizes. A method is also presented to account for bundle fragmentation occurring during processing.
Exposure Complexity and Community Capacity to Manage Wildfire Risk: A Coupled Biophysical and Social Analysis of 60 Communities in the Western United States

Coordinated approaches to wildfire risk mitigation strategies that cross-ownership and management boundaries are found in many policies and programs worldwide. The “all lands” approach of the United States (US) National Cohesive Strategy, for example, attempts to address the mismatches between biophysical risk and the social potential to address risks by improving multijurisdictional coordination and collaboration. Local capacity to coordinate wildfire risk mitigation, therefore, may be an important influence on whether risk reduction planning makes success stories out of at-risk communities, or turns what would appear a manageable problem into a disaster waiting to happen. We analyzed the relationship between predicted housing exposure to wildfire and local self-assessment of community competence to mitigate wildfire risks in 60 communities in the western US. Results generally demonstrate that (1) the number of sources of wildfire risk influences local housing exposure to wildfire, and (2) perceived community-competence is associated with predicted exposure to wildfire. We suggest that investments in ongoing updates to community risk planning and efforts to build multi-jurisdictional risk management networks may help to leverage existing capacity, especially in moderate capacity communities. The analysis improves the social-ecological understanding of wildfire risks and highlights potential causal linkages between community capacity and wildfire exposure.
Face recognition based on LBP & LTP features

Biometric based recognition systems are now being widely used in many applications. This is because the traditional methods of human identification poses a lot of problems when security is concerned. Among the various biometric characteristics face based recognition systems are widely used because of its many advantages like easy acquisition and contains different unique features. In this paper a face recognition system based on LBP (Local Binary patterns) and LTP (Local Ternary patterns) features is proposed. Face images with different expressions are taken into consideration. K-NN classifier is used for the comparison of template of the test image with the database images. It is found that the KNN classifier provides good recognition rate with different poses in comparison to Euclidean distance. The simulation results are obtained for the Japanese database.
Spatiotemporal Differences in Determinants of City Shrinkage Based on Semiparametric Geographically Weighted Regression

City shrinkage, as an ongoing worldwide phenomenon, is an issue for urban planning and regional development. City shrinkage is remarkable in Japan, with over 85% of municipalities experiencing population loss from 2005 to 2015. As Japan’s society ages and with its low fertility rate, city shrinkage has had a tremendous negative effect on economic development and urban planning. Understanding the spatial dependence and spatial heterogeneity of city shrinkage and its determinants is essential for ensuring the sustainable development of a city or region. In this study, a semiparametric geographically weighted regression (SGWR) model was adopted to explore the spatiotemporal differences in determinants of city shrinkage. The results reveal that the SGWR model incorporating the global and local variables is more interpretive compared to ordinary least squares and geographically weighted regression models in exploring the correlates of city shrinkage. We found the spatial dependence and heterogeneity of shrinking cities resulted from demographic, economy, and social factors, and revealed low fertility, the ageing population, and enterprise change ratio influenced city shrinkage in different regions at different times in Japan, whereas foreign population ratio, industry structure, and social welfare had global impacts. The findings provide useful information for understanding city shrinkage at global and local scales.
Ice flow across the grounding line of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet between 80°E and 130°E

Ice thickness, velocity, and bed elevation along the grounding line of outlet glaciers can control the flow of ice up to hundreds of kilometers inland. Here, surface elevation, bed elevation, surface velocity, and grounding line data sets are combined using ArcGIS to survey the geometries of coastal Antarctic ice streams in the region of 80°E to 130°E. Results show fair agreement with values calculated Pritchard et al. (Ref. [2]), but do not appear to support their claim that ice is thinning primarily where ice is thickest.