Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Channel and Power Allocation Scheme for D2D Enabled Cellular Communication System: An IoT Application

The Device-to-device (D2D) networks bear a close resemblance to future Internet of Things (IoT) networks. Resource management is an important aspect for realization of D2D communication in upcoming IoT networks. In this article, we select underlay in-band D2D communication as it is more beneficial in terms of spectral efficiency even though it comes at the cost of interference with cellular communication. To deal with this difficulty, we propose a novel downlink resource sharing strategy, where multiple D2D users (D2Ds) share the resource of a single cellular user (CU), and each D2D pair reuses multiple channels from different cellular users (CUs). The proposed scheme adopts a channel selection technique, wherein multiple channels of CU can be shared by each D2D user. Furthermore, optimal power for each D2D user is determined through the Lagrangian dual optimization method. The formulated power control maximization scheme nicely balances the total transmission power of D2D and D2D sum-rate. The proposed channel and power allocation problem aims at maximizing the D2D sum-rate by increasing the number of active D2D links while preserving the quality of service (QoS) of CU. Finally, a relationship between energy efficiency (EE) and transmit power of D2D is investigated through an EE maximization problem. The overall system performance is evaluated in terms of the D2D shared ratio, throughput gain of the network, and computational complexity of the proposed optimal strategy. Further, the merits of using the proposed resource sharing scheme over the existing schemes are also verified through numerical results.
A Transfer Residual Neural Network Based on ResNet-34 for Detection of Wood Knot Defects

In recent years, due to the shortage of timber resources, it has become necessary to reduce the excessive consumption of forest resources. Non-destructive testing technology can quickly find wood defects and effectively improve wood utilization. Deep learning has achieved significant results as one of the most commonly used methods in the detection of wood knots. However, compared with convolutional neural networks in other fields, the depth of deep learning models for the detection of wood knots is still very shallow. This is because the number of samples marked in the wood detection is too small, which limits the accuracy of the final prediction of the results. In this paper, ResNet-34 is combined with transfer learning, and a new TL-ResNet34 deep learning model with 35 convolution depths is proposed to detect wood knot defects. Among them, ResNet-34 is used as a feature extractor for wood knot defects. At the same time, a new method TL-ResNet34 is proposed, which combines ResNet-34 with transfer learning. After that, the wood knot defect dataset was applied to TL-ResNet34 for testing. The results show that the detection accuracy of the dataset trained by TL-ResNet34 is significantly higher than that of other methods. This shows that the final prediction accuracy of the detection of wood knot defects can be improved by TL-ResNet34.
Potentialities of selenium nanoparticles in biomedical science

Nanotechnology is defined as the branch of science dealing with extremely small-sized particles with a size in the range of 1–100 nm, which are termed nanoparticles. Due to the extremely small size of nanoparticles, they display unique electronic and optical properties, which differentiate them from their bulk form. Thus, due to the unique properties of nanoparticles, they play a crucial role in a variety of fields, including the biomedical, environmental, agricultural, and industrial fields. Selenium belongs to Group 16 of the periodic table with an atomic number of 34 and its nanoparticles have been highlighted as a potential material to alleviate several problems due to the formation of biofilms, production of ROS, low redox activity, etc. These nanoparticles can be synthesized through chemical, physical and biological methods. Since existing reviews mainly concentrated on the individual applications of selenium nanoparticles such as in diagnosis and therapeutics, the present review mainly highlights the potential activity of selenium nanoparticles in the biomedical domain, making them a potential theragnostic agent. Specifically, this review will present detailed information on the bioimaging and therapeutic activity, together with the role of selenium nanoparticles in the current scenario of the ongoing pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). It will also focus on procedures for their synthesis and properties that make them potential candidates for applications in various domains. Finally, we provide a detailed future outlook.
Managing Employee Performance: From Leadership to Readiness for Change

This study aimed to measure the effect of transformational leadership and readiness for change on employee performance of the employee of a chemical industry. In this study, readiness for change is mediating variable. Data was collected from 220 returned questionnaire of samples taken by random sampling. Data was analysed using SEM method with SmartPLS 3.0 software. The results of this study showed that transformational leadership had a significant effect on readiness for change, transformational leadership and readiness for change have a significant effect on the employee performance, readiness for change have a positive and significant effect on the relationship between transformational leadership and employee performance. Readiness for change functioned as a partial mediator. This new research proposed a model for managing employee performance among the employee of the chemical industry in Indonesia through developing transformational leadership practice with readiness for change as a mediator. This research could pave the way to improve employee readiness in facing the era of industrial revolution 4.0.
Energy-Efficient Bipedal Walking: From Single-Mass Model to Three-Mass Model

SUMMARY The work aims to realize energy-efficient bipedal walking by employing the three-mass inverted pendulum model (3MIPM) and compare its energy performance with linear inverted pendulum model (LIPM). To do this, a general optimal index on center of mass (CoM) acceleration is first derived for energetic cost evaluation. After defining the equivalent zero moment point (ZMP) motion, an unconstrained optimization approach for CoM generation is extended for 3MIPM, which can track different ZMP references and address the height variation as well. To make use of the allowable ZMP movement, a constrained optimization method is also employed, contributing to lower energetic cost. Simulation and hardware experiments on a humanoid robot demonstrate that the 3MIPM could achieve higher energy efficiency.
Characteristics of Negative Leader Propagation Area of Lightning Flashes Initiated in the Stratiform Regions of Mesoscale Convective Systems

To investigate the characteristics of extension areas (mainly the propagation areas of negative leaders in this study), the lightning location data of 254 lightning flashes initiated in the stratiform regions (stratiform lightning flashes) of 14 mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) are analyzed. The results show that most of the flashes have a relatively small lightning area (LA) (≤100 km2), although they are initiated in the stratiform regions. In small or developing MCSs, most negative leaders of stratiform lightning flashes concentrate within the 9–12‐km altitude range. In other MCSs with a large‐sized and developed stratiform region, besides being in this high‐altitude range, the negative leaders are also found to propagate more frequently in a low‐altitude range of 5–7 km. Further analysis indicates that most of the stratiform lightning flashes with a large LA (>100 km2) propagate their negative leaders within the high‐altitude range, no matter where they are initiated. Moreover, the stratiform lightning flashes with or near the largest LA tend to be initiated 4–6 km below their negative leaders, while most of the stratiform lightning flashes usually propagate their negative leaders horizontally within ±1 km of the first detected very‐high‐frequency (VHF) radiation source. It is inferred that some in‐situ electrifications occurring before and during the formation of the high reflectivity layers in the low‐altitude range contribute to these flashes, although the influence of the advection charges from the convective regions still cannot be totally ruled out.
Device design for high‐efficiency monolithic two‐terminal, four‐terminal mechanically stacked, and four‐terminal optically coupled perovskite‐silicon tandem solar cells

A device based on perovskite and silicon tandem solar cells is considered as an interesting route to improve cell efficiency further the limit of single junction by keeping the reasonable cost of production. Here, we assess the device performances of CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite as top sub‐cells in tandem solar cells in association with traditional crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells of various configurations such as monolithic two terminals, four terminals mechanically stacked, and four‐terminal optically coupled perovskite/Si tandem solar cells. Our simulation findings highlight that the suggested architecture design increases the device performance by optimizing the thickness of perovskite. Furthermore, the optimal doping concentration of perovskite (1018 cm−3) has contributed to achieve high tandem efficiencies of various device configurations.
Macrocrustaceans associated with reefs of Phragmatopoma caudata Krøyer in Mörch, 1863 (Polychaeta: Sabellariidae) and rocky shore in the Northeastern Brazil

Ecosystem engineering species create, modify, and/or maintain the characteristics of the environment. The polychaete Phragmatopoma caudata builds large sand reefs in the intertidal region of the Brazilian coast with high structural complexity, favoring the increase of diversity and interactions among the species associated. However, there are no studies concerning the association of polychaetes with crustacean macrofauna in the northeastern Brazil ecoregion, leaving an information gap on baseline biodiversity. Our aim was to analyze the effect of P. caudata colonies (PC) on the local diversity of macrocrustaceans compared to the rocky shore (RS) microhabitat. Monthly collections were carried out in low tide from September 2015 to August 2016 on 10 × 10 m quadrants for fauna and environmental variables (temperature and salinity) samples. In each microhabitat, the capture effort was two hours by two researchers. We collected 3,390 individuals, 60% associated with the colonies of PC and 40% with the RS. The PC obtained higher Shannon diversity, Pielou evenness and species richness coupled with milder water temperature and salinity conditions (minor air exposure during tide), compared to the RS that obtained greater species dominance and more extreme abiotic conditions (major air exposure). The Porcellanidae family stood out because all its species were highly abundant and had high occurrence in the colonies. The tropical Brazil porcelain crab Pachycheles greeleyi was dominant in both microhabitats (major dominance in PC). The structural complexity in the reefs of PC promoted higher availability of niches for the species, as more shelter for the resident species and refugium for temporary species with preference for more complex microhabitats. Conservation managers should prioritize the health of these colonies and subsequent species that constitute important ecosystemic and fishery resources.
Adaptive hierarchical sliding mode control for full nonlinear dynamics of uncertain ridable ballbots under input saturation

This research proposes a nonlinear adaptive controller based on a hierarchical sliding mode control (HSMC) framework to stabilize the operation of a ridable ballbot based on the full nonlinear dynamics (FND). The FND of ballbots is a multiple‐input‐multiple‐output underactuated system with a non‐invertible input matrix. By applying a novel approach to transform the FND into two subsystems, the invertibility of the input matrix of the transformed subsystems can be guaranteed. Thus, an HSMC scheme can be applied to control the ridable ballbot system based on stabilizing the transformed subsystems. In addition, to improve the robustness of HSMC, a new adaptive law is proposed to deal with the effects of exogenous disturbances and parameter variations on the modeled dynamics. Chattering and actuator saturation phenomena are also reduced or avoided with the proposed controller. Comparative simulations are conducted to demonstrate the merit features of the proposed approach and the robustness of the developed control algorithm.
Major Project Risk Management: Reconciling Complexity during Delivery with the Inside View in Planning

Recent research on the origins of risk during the planning and delivery of major projects broadly addresses two root causes: (i) complexity at the planning phase and also during project delivery, and; (ii) ‘the inside view’ at the planning phase and the associated issues of strategic misrepresentation and cognitive biases such as optimism bias. This paper presents the results of a systematic review that finds a schism in the literature showing theoretical and empirical treatment of project delivery risk polarises into considering either the effect of complexity or the inside view; rarely are they considered jointly. This work discusses the implications for theory and practice and identifies Case Based Decision Theory and Bayesian modelling, both of which are outside view techniques, as having potential to reconcile complexity and the inside view and thus provide for their joint treatment.
Does mental rotation emulate motor processes? An electrophysiological study of objects and body parts

Several arguments suggest that motor planning may share embodied neural mechanisms with mental rotation (MR). However, it is not well established whether this overlap occurs regardless of the type of stimulus that is manipulated, in particular manipulable or non-manipulable objects and body parts. We here used high-density electroencephalography (EEG) to examine the cognitive similarity between MR of objects that do not afford specific hand actions (chairs) and bodily stimuli (hands). Participants had identical response options for both types of stimuli, and they gave responses orally in order to prevent possible interference with motor imagery. MR of hands and chairs generated very similar behavioral responses, time-courses and neural sources of evoked-response potentials (ERPs). ERP segmentation analysis revealed distinct time windows during which differential effects of stimulus type and angular disparity were observed. An early period (90–160 ms) differentiated only between stimulus types, and was associated with occipito-temporal activity. A later period (290–330 ms) revealed strong effects of angular disparity, associated with electrical sources in the right angular gyrus and primary motor/somatosensory cortex. These data suggest that spatial transformation processes and motor planning are recruited simultaneously, supporting the involvement of motor emulation processes in MR.
Waterfowl hunting wetlands as habitat for two New Zealand eel species

ABSTRACT New Zealand’s native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) and endemic longfin eel (Anguilla dieffenbachii) have been negatively affected by wetland habitat loss. However, in Southland, open water wetland habitat has been created by hunters in the form of waterfowl hunting wetlands (duck ponds), habitat which can be utilised by eels. The aim of this study was to estimate the number and biomass of eels supported by Southland duck ponds to highlight the value of hunter-created wetlands as eel habitat. Eel population surveys were conducted in 56 duck ponds located on private agricultural land across Southland. Shortfin eels were found in 28 ponds with an average population size of 22 and biomass of 9.3 kg. Longfin eels were found in 26 ponds with an average population size of nine and biomass of 7.6 kg. Estimates indicate there are 7,013 ± (1761) duck ponds in Southland and they collectively support 36,000 shortfin eels weighing 15,500 kg and 60,000 longfin eels weighing 53,000 kg. Results from this study show that duck hunting ponds are utilised by shortfin and longfin eels.
JQ1 Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Leukemia Cells Through BCL-2 Regulated Pathway

Objective To explore the mechanism of JQ1 on leukemia cells. Methods This study takes two myeloid leukemia cell lines as a research model. Cells treated with high concentration of JQ1 were collected for quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblot and flow cytometry to verify the effects of JQ1 on myeloid leukemia tumor cells. Combined with mRNA sequencing of cell lines to identify the differences in mRNA expression of different cell lines. Results Two cell lines changed cell morphology under JQ1 treatment. The cell membrane appeared in varying degrees of wrinkled internal subsidence. K562 cell lines can maintain stable proliferation after being induced by a specific concentration of JQ1. However, JQ1 cannot induce the death of the K562 cells. Although the MYC and BCL2 gene expression decreased, JQ1 did not affect the c-Myc targeted genes to affect the cell cycle, nor did it trigger the BCL2-mediated apoptosis pathway. On the contrary, after JQ1 induced the MV-4-11 cells, the MYC-mediated cell cycle significantly slowed down and arrested at the G0/G1 phase. The death of MV-4-11 tumor cells through the apoptosis pathway regulated by BCL-2 family. Conclusion JQ1 has different pharmacological effects on two myeloid leukemia cell lines. For MV-4-11, JQ1 mainly inhibited cell cycle by regulating MYC pathway and induced BCL-2-mediated apoptosis to kill myeloid leukemia tumor cells and thus perform anti-tumor effects. K-562 cells showed drug resistance to JQ1 which confirmed that the K-562 cell line has a feedback mechanism that prevents JQ1-induced apoptosis.
Design of Hybrid-Electric Megayachts: The Impact of Operative Profile and Smart Berthing Infrastructures

Nowadays, sustainable navigation is becoming a trending topic not only for merchant ships but also for pleasure vessels such as motoryachts. Therefore, the adoption of a hybrid-electric propulsion system and the installation of on-board storage devices could increase the greenness of a megayacht. This paper analyses the performance of three commercial propulsive solutions, using a dynamic operative profile and considering the influences of the smart berthing infrastructures. Results compare the yearly fuel consumptions of the analysed configurations for a reference megayacht.
Sustainability of Spanish Tourism Start-Ups in the Face of an Economic Crisis

In this research, a study is carried out on the differences between tourism start-ups in relation to intangibles, economic and financial sustainability, by region and by sector of activity, in order to determine their sustainability both in a situation of economic crisis and growth, In the study carried out in this article, the tourist startups are identified, by branch of activity (hotels, restaurants, transport and travel agencies) with identification of intangibles in their balance sheet. Once identified, a descriptive analysis of the incorporation of intangibles, economic sustainability and financial sustainability, by branch of activity and community, is developed. This analysis is completed with an analysis of variance to determine if there is a relationship between intangible and branches of tourism and region; economic sustainability and branches of tourism and region; financial sustainability and branches of tourism and region. The conclusions of the work show that parameters such as investment in intangibles, economic sustainability and financial sustainability are key variables in crisis situations such as the current one.
Berberine Reverses Nitroglycerin Tolerance Through Suppressing PKCα Activity in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Purpose The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of berberine on nitroglycerin (NTG) tolerance and explore the underlying mechanism involved. Methods NTG tolerance was induced by pre-exposure of Sprague-Dawley rat aortas to NTG in vitro or by pretreating Sprague-Dawley rats with NTG patch in vivo. The aortas were pre-treated with berberine or PKC inhibitors for different durations of time before induction of NTG tolerance. NTG-induced vasorelaxations was measured on wire myograph. Primary vascular smooth cells (VSMCs) were used to dissect the underlying mechanism of berberine-induced inhibition of NTG tolerance. Results NTG tolerance induced by either prior exposure of rat aortas to NTG in vitro or pretreatment with NTG patch in vivo was reversed by co-treatment with berberine, as well as the inhibitors of PKC and PKCα. The mechanistic study revealed that PKCα participated in the development of NTG tolerance as NTG increased the activity of PKCα with enriched PKCα membrane localization and elevated phosphorylation of PKCα in VSMCs, which was reversed by berberine or PKCα inhibitors. Conclusion The present study is probably the first demonstration that berberine reverses NTG tolerance through inhibiting PKCα activity in VSMCs and PKCα is an important contributor to the development of NTG tolerance. These new findings suggest that berberine could become a promising drug for prevention of NTG tolerance and that targeting PKCα in VSMCs is likely to be a potential therapeutic target for reversal of NTG tolerance in blood vessels.
Mie Resonance Engineering in Two Disks

Recently the recipes to achieve the high-Q subwavelength resonances in an isolated dielectric disk have been reported based on avoided crossing (anticrossing) of the TE resonances under variation of the aspect ratio of the disk. In a silicon disk that recipe gives an enhancement of the Q factor by one order of magnitude. In the present paper we present the approach based on engineering of the spherical Mie resonances with high orbital index in two coaxial disks by two-fold avoided crossing of the resonant modes of the disks. At the first step we select the resonant modes of single disk which are degenerate because of the opposite symmetry. Approaching of the second disk removes this degeneracy because of interaction between the disks. As a result at certain distances we realize the hybridized anti-bonding resonant modes whose morphology becomes close to the spherical Mie resonant mode with high orbital index. Respectively the Q factor of the anti-bonding resonant mode can be enhanced by three orders of magnitude compared to the case of single disk.
A Spacial-Temporal Gaussian Mixture Model For Annual Average Pm2.5 Concentration Analysis

PM 2.5 is a major air pollutant which has a high probability to cause many serious cardiopulmonary diseases, such as asthma, lung cancer, trachea cancer, bronchus cancer, etc. Up to 2014, a World Health Organization (WHO) air quality model confirmed that 92% of the population in the world lived in areas where air quality levels exceeded WHO limits (i.e., 10 µg/m 3 ). This indicates that PM 2.5 is still one of the most serious world-wide problems, and monitoring PM 2.5 concentrations is extremely necessary. In this paper, we proposed a easy and flexible spatial-temporal Gaussian mixture model to analyze annual average PM 2.5 concentrations. Because of the bimodal distribution of PM 2.5 concentrations, we decided for a two- component Gaussian mixture model with county-year-level spatial-temporal random effects. A Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm is used to estimating model parameters.