Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GrailQuest and HERMES: hunting for gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts and probing space-time quantum foam

Within Quantum Gravity theories, different models for space-time quantisation predict an energy dependent speed for photons. Although the predicted discrepancies are minuscule, GRB, occurring at cosmological distances, could be used to detect this signature of space-time granularity with a new concept of modular observatory of huge overall collecting area consisting in a fleet of small satellites in low orbits, with sub-microsecond time resolution and wide energy band (keV-MeV). The enormous number of collected photons will allow to effectively search these energy dependent delays. Moreover, GrailQuest will allow to perform temporal triangulation of high signal-to-noise impulsive events with arc-second positional accuracies: an extraordinary sensitive X-ray/Gamma all-sky monitor crucial for hunting the elusive electromagnetic counterparts of GW. A pathfinder of GrailQuest is already under development through the HERMES project: a fleet of six 3U cube-sats to be launched by 2021/22.
In vivo mobility of proteins involved in nuclear transport studied by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy

Using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy we measured the apparent mobility of a nuclear transport cargo (a streptavidin labeled with a nuclear localization signal) both in the cytoplasm and the nucleus of living cells, and we compared it to the mobility of a streptavidin labeled with mutations of the nuclear localization signal known not to support nuclear import, and with the mobility of a set of inert molecules (dextrans) of different sizes. In the cytoplasm, the mobility of the transport cargo is found to be significantly reduced compared to its mobility in the nucleus, or to the mobility of the streptavidins labeled with a mutant nuclear localization signal. This can be partly explained by the fact that the transport cargo forms a complex with two nuclear import mediator proteins (importin α and importin β) in the cytoplasm, but could also be partly due to specific interactions of this cargo with the cell cytoskeleton.
Classification of emotions from EEG signals using time‐order representation based on the S‐transform and convolutional neural network

Emotions are the most powerful information source to study the cognition, behaviour, and medical conditions of a person. Accurate identi ﬁ cation of emotions helps in the development of affective computing, brain – computer interface, medical diagnosis system, etc. Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are one such source to capture and study human emotions. In this Letter, a novel time-order representation based on the S-transform and convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed for the identi ﬁ cation of human emotions. EEG signals are transformed into time-order representation (TOR) based on the S-transform. This TOR is given as an input to CNN to automatically extract and classify the deep features. Emotional states of happiness, fear, sadness, and relax are classi ﬁ ed with an accuracy of 94.58%. The superiority of the method is judged by evaluating four performance parameters and comparing it with existing state-of-the-art on the same dataset.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND POST-STROKE COGNITIVE STATUS IN HOSPITAL-BASED ISCHEMIC STROKE SURVIVORS

Background: Post-ischemic stroke cognitive decline is significantly affecting the quality of life of its survivors. Its prevalence was about 7.5-72% which was mostly determined by the existing of vascular risk factors and cognitive reserve of the subjects. Level of education is one of determinants of cognitive reserve, a factor that affect the susceptibility of subjects to cognitive decline after experiencing ischemic stroke-related neuronal damage. Since level of education is protective for cognitive function, the intervention on it can reduce the occurrence of cognitive decline. Objective: To investigate the relationship between level of education and cognitive status among hospital-based ischemic stroke survivors. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved post-ischemic stroke outpatients in two hospitals. The data collected in this study were demographic data, including level of education, and clinical data as well. The level of education was categorized into ≥12 years and <12 years groups. Cognitive status was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment in Indonesia version (MoCA-Ina) and subjects with score of 26-30 were normal. The relationship between level of education as well as clinical data and cognitive status were analyzed using chi-square test. Results: There were 166 subjects eligible for this study (n=166). The mean age of subjects was 58 years and 68.67% of them were male. Cognitive decline were found 80.12% of subjects (n=133). The level of education was significantly associated with cognitive status of the subjects and hypertension as well. Conclusion: The level of education had significant relationship with cognitive decline in the hospital-based population of ischemic stroke survivors.
Reaction progress of clay minerals and carbonaceous matter in a contact metamorphic aureole (Torres del Paine intrusion, Chile)

Abstract. This study reports on reaction processes in a transition zone from contact to regional metamorphism by using Raman spectroscopy on carbonaceous matter (RSCM), illite “crystallinity” (Kubler index, KI), chlorite geothermometry, and thermal modeling. The thermal effect due to the emplacement of the Torres del Paine intrusion (TPI, assembly time of ca. 150 kyr) had different consequences for inorganic and organic compounds of the host rock. The thermal alteration of the pre-intrusive regional metamorphosed host rock is documented by elevated RSCM temperatures, high-temperature chlorite generations, and the appearance of epidote and retrograde Fe-rich chlorite. Microprobe analysis on chlorite indicates incomplete re-equilibration as evidenced by various chlorite populations of individual contact metamorphic samples. This study indicates that the maturity of organic matter is the most reliable and unequivocal indicator on timescales of several thousand years to determine the lateral extension of the TPI contact aureole. Raman geothermometry reveals that the lateral extension of the contact-influenced zone expands up to a distance of 1.5 km and, thus, expands to ca. 1.1 km further out than the macroscopically mappable hornfels contact aureole. The best match between measured (Raman geothermometry) and calculated (thermal modeling) ΔTmax values ( ΔT=54 ∘ C) is achieved with a total intrusion assembly time of 150 kyr, a magmatic temperature of 800 ∘ C, a two-batch model (batch repose time of 10 kyr) with five pulses per batch, short heating durations (3 kyr), and long pulse repose times (15 kyr).
Vicarious Methodologies to Assess and Improve the Quality of the Optical Remote Sensing Images: A Critical Review

Over the past decade, number of optical Earth-observing satellites performing remote sensing has increased substantially, dramatically increasing the capability to monitor the Earth. The quantity of remote sensing satellite increase is primarily driven by improved technology, miniaturization of components, reduced manufacturing, and launch cost. These satellites often lack on-board calibrators that a large satellite utilizes to ensure high quality (radiometric, geometric, spatial quality, etc.) scientific measurement. To address this issue, this work presents “best” vicarious image quality assessment and improvement techniques for those kinds of optical satellites which lack an on-board calibration system. In this article, image quality categories have been explored, and essential quality parameters (absolute and relative calibration, aliasing, etc.) have been identified. For each of the parameters, appropriate characterization methods are identified along with their specifications or requirements. In cases of multiple methods, recommendations have been made based-on the strengths and weaknesses of each method. Furthermore, processing steps have been presented, including examples. Essentially, this paper provides a comprehensive study of the criteria that need to be assessed to evaluate remote sensing satellite data quality, and the best vicarious methodologies to evaluate identified quality parameters such as coherent noise and ground sample distance.
Variation in substrate chemistry along microtopographical and water-chemistry gradients in peatlands

A broad range of water chemistry (pH 3.5–8.2; Ca, 2–120 mg L−1) and substrate chemistry (pH 3.3–7.8; Ca, 4–138 mequiv. 100 g−1) exists among peatlands present in central Alberta. The six peatlands comprising the main study sites included strongly minerotrophic, moderately minerotrophic, and weakly minerotrophic systems. Variation in substrate chemistry along the hollow to hummock gradient in strongly and moderately minerotrophic peatlands was high (ranging from highly minerotrophic peats to ombrotrophic peats), while variation in substrate chemistry in weakly minerotrophic peatlands was slight (weakly minerotrophic peats to ombrotrophic peats) along the same gradient. Substrate chemistry and plant community composition of hollow and low-hummock communities varied considerably along the strongly minerotrophic to weakly minerotrophic peatland gradient. In contrast, the chemistry of the upper peat layers of the hummocks and hummock plant community composition were similar in all of the peatlands studied. Dis.
A New Approach to the Consideration and Analysis of Critical Factors in Robotic Machining

The relative low stiffness of industrial robots is a major limitation on the development of flexible and reconfigurable systems in applications in which process forces and vibration lead into significant tool path deviations with respect to the programmed path as in the case of robotic machining. This paper presents a novel factorial procedure that allows for the preliminary study of the main conditions in robotic machining operations and it determines the critical factors that are affecting the machining path of any robotic cell in order to obtain the process conditions with lower path deviations. In this procedure the most influential robotic machining constraints were identified and classified, the factorial design of experiments was used to enable the execution of the experimental tests and the machining tool path deviation predictive methodology (PREMET) was used to determine the cutting tool path deviation between the programmed and the experimental path as a function of the process variables. Experimental trials have been carried out in order to determine the main factors that affect the robotic machining and influence the main constraints of the process, showing a reduction greater than a 36% of the cutting tool path deviation in groove milling of aluminum. The critical factors identified in order of importance are: hardness of the material, location of the workpiece, orientation of milling head relative to working direction and cutting conditions. This procedure can be extended to future factorial studies to improve the precision of robotic machining (in operations such as face milling, contouring, pocketing) and to establish design criteria for machining robotic cells.
EXPECTED DEVIATIONS FROM THE ESP‐SAR EMPIRICAL‐RELATIONSHIPS IN CALCIUM- AND SODIUM‐CARBONATE-CONTAINING ARID SOILS: FIELD EVIDENCE1

ESP-SAR relationships differing systematically from the commonly accepted average curve are reported for an arid zone in the western Negev, Israel. The extreme difference is observed for the sandy soils. Results may suggest that although determined ESP are close to the real values existing in the field, SAR values are altered markedly by laboratory procedures. Theoretical considerations imply that the calcium carbonate dissolution may cause these discrepancies.
Growth retarding effect of curcumin on Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) larvae

Abstract Curcumin, a secondary metabolite widely found in plants was incorporated in the artificial diet of melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) at 5, 25, 125, 625 and 3125 ppm concentrations to study its influence on the development and physiology of this pest. Water was used as a control. The larval period and total developmental period were prolonged while percent pupation, pupal weight and percent emergence decreased in the first and second larval instar. The analysis of antioxidant enzymes at three treatment intervals (24, 48 and 72 h) revealed an increase in activity of superoxide dismutase and phenol oxidase at most treatment intervals while the enzymatic activity of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase and peroxidases decreased at almost all treatment intervals. The findings revealed growth retarding and negative effects of curcumin on the first and second instar larvae of B. cucurbitae.
Preparation and in vitro characterization of valsartan-loaded ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) nanoparticles

Valsartan is an antihypertensive drug used primarily orally, however, due to its hydrophobic nature it has got low bio-availability thus requiring higher dosage/frequency and causing more side effects. The aim of our work was to prepare valsartan-loaded nanoparticles by using ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers which can be administered orally and to investigate the preparation conditions and their significance as potential drug carriers for valsartan delivery by in vitro release studies. Ethyl cellulose and poly(methyl methacrylate) polymers were used for the preparation of nanoparticles by single emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The formation of drug-loaded nanoparticles was designed by experimental design for size and encapsulation efficiency, in addition the prepared nanosuspensions were nano spray dried in order to gain a powder form that is easy to handle and store. Both of the nano spray dried formulations had an amorphous structure in contrast to the pure drug according to differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analysis, which can be advantageous in drug absorption. The originally processed ethyl cellulose-valsartan nanoparticles increased the solubility of the drug in the model intestinal medium, while poly(methyl methacrylate)-valsartan nanoparticles enabled substantially prolonged drug release. The release kinetics of both types of nanoparticles could be described by the Weibull model.
Tailored design of Cu2O nanocube/silicone composites as efficient foul-release coatings

Environmental concerns about the use of toxic antifoulants have increased the demand to develop novel, environmentally-friendly antifouling materials. Silicone coatings are currently the most effective non-toxic alternatives. This study focused on developing a model for silicone foul-release nanocomposites that were successfully designed, fabricated, characterized, and tailored toward foul-release (FR) coatings. A series of elastomeric polydimethyl-siloxane (PDMS)/Cu2O nanocube composites with different nanofiller concentrations was successfully synthesized, for the first time, as FR coatings via solution casting technique. Emphasis was given to the study of the physicomechanical and surface properties, as well as the easy release efficiency of the elastomer PDMS enriched with Cu2O nanocubes. The bulk properties of the nanocomposites appeared unchanged after adding low amounts of nanofillers. By contrast, surface properties such as contact angle and surface free energy were improved, and the settlement resistance and easy release behavior of the nanocomposites were enhanced. The surfaces were further proven to have reversible tunable properties and are thus renewable in water. The antifouling property of the nanocomposites was investigated by laboratory assays involving microfoulants such as Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeast organisms, for 30 days. Exposure tests showed that lower surface energy and elastic modulus of coatings resulted in less adherence of marine microfouling. The most profound effect recorded was the reduction of fouling settlement with nanofiller loadings of up to 0.1% Cu2O nanocubes. Thus, the good foul release and long-term durability confirmed that the present strategy was an attractive nontoxic and environmentally-friendly alternative to the existing antifouling systems.
The Local Economy and Rural Development in Berambai Hamlet, East Kalimantan

Received: June 26, 2020; Accepted: October 27, 2020; Published: December 10, 2020; The role of the local economy gets eroded due to the inclusion of capitalization in rural areas. This research examines the coal mining industry's influence on the local economy's existence in Berambai Hamlet, Bukit Pariaman Village, Tenggarong Seberang Sub-district, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. This research uses qualitative research methods; meanwhile, data collection methods use field observation and in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted in stages through a snowball sampling to strengthen the observations' results. The results show that the local economy and livelihood in Berambai Hamlet are under pressure and eroded due to coal mining activities. Livelihood products shrank drastically, especially fish and rice, due to mining waste polluting rivers and agricultural land conversion to mining areas. Furthermore, other sources of income from farmworkers are not enough to fulfill the needs. The government needs to protect their livelihoods as a driving force for the local economy by integrating nature-based life. The government needs to develop local economic potentials, such as tourism areas, crafts, and artworks. The government also needs to strengthen village institutions. It must be carried out together with mining companies seriously. Furthermore, the government needs to maintain the unity of rural spatial and spatial planning.
Contribution to the Study of the Essential Oils from Three Species of Salvia Growing Wild in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

ABSTRACT The essential oils from Salvia willeana Holmboe, an endemic of Cyprus, S. fruticosa Mill, also from Cyprus and S. pomifera L. from Greece (Labiatae) were analyzed by means of GC and GC/MS. The oils were obtained by steam distillation of fresh and dried leaves, flowers and stems of plants collected from different localities. Fresh leaves gave the highest oil yield. The yields varied from 1.3% in S. pomifera, 2.8% in S. willeana and 5.3% in S. fruticosa. A total of 42 components were identified and qualitative and quantitative differences between the oils were observed. The major components found in the oil of S. fruticosa and S. willeana were 1, 8-cineole (4.0–67.5%, 4.7–16.7%) and camphor (5.7–44.5%, 27.7–47.7%) respectively. In contrast, the major constituents of the oil of S. pomifera were 1, 8-cineole (2.3–9.5%), α-thujone (5.0–14.6%) and β-thujone (26.3–44.1%). The differences between the oils from the three species in relation to the date and localities of collection, as well as whether the .
Design of Miniaturized SIW Filter Loaded with Open-Loop Resonators and Its Application to Diplexer

This paper presents a novel design of miniaturized substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) filter loaded with a pair of unit-cell resonators. Two identical open-loop resonators are connected face-to-face to form a unit-cell. A pair of unit-cells is engraved on the surface of the SIW to develop an evanescent-mode bandpass filter. The proposed unit-cells behave as an electric-dipole and produce a passband smaller than the waveguide frequency. This reduction in resonant frequency allows us to achieve size miniaturization. An equivalent electrical-circuit model is developed and investigate for characterization of passband and transmission-zero. This filter structure is then employed to develop a SIW planar diplexer. Two SIW filter structures loaded with unit-cells are excited with a T-shaped feed line to achieve lower and upper channels of the diplexer. To demonstrate the analysis, both SIW filter and diplexer loaded with open-loop resonators are implemented and fabricated. The proposed SIW filter and diplexer prototypes exhibit size miniaturization, low insertion-loss and high-selectivity due to evanescent-mode transmission and sub-wavelength resonators. The measurement responses are very similar to the simulation responses.
What a Philosopher Learned at an AI Ethics Evaluation

AI ethics increasingly focuses on converting abstract principles into practical action. This case study documents nine lessons for the conversion learned while performing an ethics evaluation on a deployed AI medical device. The utilized ethical principles were adopted from the Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, and the conversion into practical insights and recommendations was accomplished by an independent team composed of philosophers, technical and medical experts.
A large-scale approach for superhydrophobic coating fabrication

Marine structures such as ships, oil platforms, and oceanographic systems are permanently at risk of fouling affecting the performance of these structures. Antifouling paints were used to address the concerns associated to marine organisms, but they release toxic materials. This paper presents a new one-step environmentally friendly super hydrophobic coating considering the effect of particle size as well as weight percentage which is feasible in large-scale applications. Firstly, the aluminum flakes are become hydrophobic using silanization method. Then, they are mixed with polyester triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC) and are sprayed electrostatically. To assess the fabricated surfaces, effect of mixing time, weight percentage and particle size on the super hydrophobicity are evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), contact angle measurement, and image processing. This method leads to a super hydrophobic coating with water contact angle about 152°. The super hydrophobic surface with particle size less than 45 µm results in higher resistance to algae settlement providing an excellent antifouling feature. The uniformity resulted from the particle size range 0–45 µm prevents any micro organisms settlement on the surface so that, after sixth day only some tiny algae are appeared on the surface sides.
LASER-BASED FLOW MEASUREMENTS OF DILUTE VERTICAL PNEUMATIC TRANSPORT

Dilute vertical pneumatic transport in a vertical lifter was studied using the sophisticated measurement techniques of laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) and phase Doppler anemometry (PDA). The vertical lifter consisted of a lower fluidized silo, an upper receiving tank, and a connecting vertical transport pipe made of clear glass. The experimental study was performed in order to get detailed information of the complex gas-particle flow behavior in a dilute vertical conveying system. Particle diameter, axial particle, and tangential particle velocities, as well as root mean square velocities, were measured simultaneously for different flow conditions. In addition, overall solid mass fluxes were obtained using weighing cells. Smooth and spherical zirconium oxide (ZrO2) solids were applied with two different particle size distributions. Measurements were performed using different flow rates of air. The air inlet condition was varied in order to study its effect on the flow behavior. The particle diameter measurements show that no axial or radial segregation by size occurs for this transport condition. The results show that the particle velocity is independent of the particle size as well. The axial velocity profiles at different heights are almost identical and flat, which indicates fully developed turbulent pipe flow. The turbulent velocity measurements show that turbulence is mainly caused by the velocity gradients, and not by particle-particle collisions in dilute flow. The solid mass flux measurements show the importance of optimum inlet condition and how this influences the mass flux.