Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An energy-efficient fog-to-cloud Internet of Medical Things architecture

In order to increase the reliability, accuracy, and efficiency in the eHealth, Internet of Medical Things is playing a vital role. Current development in telemedicine and the Internet of Things have delivered efficient and low-cost medical devices. The Internet of Medical Things architectures being developed do not completely recognize the potential of Internet of Things. The Internet of Medical Things sensor devices have limited computation power; in case if a patient is using implanted medical devices, it is not easy to recharge or replace the devices immediately. Biosensors are small devices with limited energy if these devices do not wisely utilize the energy may drain sharply and devices become inactive. The current medical solutions place the bulk of data on cloud-based systems that ultimately creates a bottleneck. In this article, an energy-efficient fog-to-cloud Internet of Medical Things architecture is proposed to optimize energy consumption. In the proposed architecture, Bluetooth enabled biosensors are used, because Bluetooth technology is an energy efficient and also helps to enable the sleep and awake modes. The proposed fog-to-cloud Internet of Medical Things works in three different modes periodic, sleep–awake, and continue to optimize the energy consumption. The proposed technique enabled the sensing modes that gathers the patients’ data efficiently based on their health conditions. The sensed data are transmitted to the relevant fog and cloud devices for further processing. The performance of fog-to-cloud Internet of Medical Things is evaluated through simulation; the results are compared with the results of existing techniques in terms of an end-to-end delay, throughput, and energy consumption. It is analyzed that the proposed technique reduces the energy consumption between 30% and 40%.
The Effects of Chitosan-based nanofibers /PEO/ henna extract on recovery of superficial second-degree burn in rat

In the present study, electrospinning of chitosan was evaluated by adding henna extract and producing nanofibers with restorative properties. Based on SEM images, it is confirmed that nanofibers with appreciate diameter and size distribution was produced by electrospinning of chitosan/ polyethylene oxide polymeric solution and henna extract. Superficial second-degree burn in the anesthetized rat was created by placing 80°C plate for a second in the back of a rat. The result of the study showed that adding henna extract in nanofibers lead to an effective response in the recovery of grade II burning.
iComposer: An Automatic Songwriting System for Chinese Popular Music

In this paper, we introduce iComposer, an interactive web-based songwriting system designed to assist human creators by greatly simplifying music production. iComposer automatically creates melodies to accompany any given text. It also enables users to generate a set of lyrics given arbitrary melodies. iComposer is based on three sequence-to-sequence models, which are used to predict melody, rhythm, and lyrics, respectively. Songs generated by iComposer are compared with human-composed and randomly-generated ones in a subjective test, the experimental results of which demonstrate the capability of the proposed system to write pleasing melodies and meaningful lyrics at a level similar to that of humans.
Primary Metaphors across Languages: Difficulty as Weight and Solidity

ABSTRACT This is a linguistic study of two primary metaphors with the same target concept, “DIFFICULTY IS WEIGHT” and “DIFFICULTY IS SOLIDITY,” in English and Chinese. The study employs both lexical and corpus-based approaches in order to gain insights into their manifestation in the two languages. In an attempt to show how the two primary metaphors manifest themselves at the linguistic level, the study lays out the linguistic patterns that reflect the underlying conceptual associations across the metaphorical domains, and analyzes the differences as well as similarities between English and Chinese. It is argued that primary metaphors may manifest themselves at different levels of specificity within and across different languages. The findings support the views that conceptual associations of primary metaphors may or may not lead to productive linguistic patterns in a language, and that speakers’ linguistic experience may play an important role in shaping their metaphorical conceptualizations, in conjunction and interaction with their bodily and cultural experience. The study, therefore, sheds light on the mutuality between language and thought.
Adipocyte vesicles: ‘all-in-one’ packages that stimulate tumor mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics

Extracellular vesicles are emerging key actors in adipocyte communication. Notably, small extracellular vesicles shed by adipocytes promote melanoma aggressiveness through fatty acid oxidation, with a heightened effect in obesity. However, the vesicular actors and cellular processes involved remain largely unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms linking adipocyte extracellular vesicles to metabolic remodeling and cell migration. We show that adipocyte vesicles stimulate melanoma fatty acid oxidation by providing both enzymes and substrates. In obesity, the heightened effect of extracellular vesicles depends on increased transport of fatty acids, not fatty acid oxidation-related enzymes. These fatty acids, stored within lipid droplets in cancer cells, drive fatty acid oxidation after release through lipophagy. This increase in mitochondrial activity redistributes mitochondria to membrane protrusions of migrating cells, which is necessary to increase cell migration in the presence of adipocyte vesicles. Our results provide key insights into the role of extracellular vesicles in the metabolic cooperation that takes place between adipocytes and tumors with particular relevance in obesity.
Post-Cold War autocratization: trends and patterns of regime change opposite to democratization

Abstract The so-called third wave of democratization is over and scholars are increasingly alert to the apparently growing number of regime changes in the opposite direction. However, there is little agreement concerning how many distinct forms these processes can take, and even less systematic cross-regional analysis of the phenomenon, which diminishes our ability to seize its actual import. Accordingly, this article pursues a twofold goal. First, we present a framework for the analysis of the processes opposite to democratization. Specifically, we build on the notion of ‘autocratization’, identify similarities and differences between the various forms it can take, and catalogue how it can happen. Second, we provide new data on post-Cold War cases across the world and use these data to map the prevailing trends. The analysis confirms the increasing empirical relevance of the phenomenon, and reveals the existence of a few geographical and historical patterns in the forms and modes of contemporary autocratization.
LO Generation and Distribution for a Phased Array Transceiver

Modern smart phones are beginning to be a necessity such as electricity and clean water. Advancing technologies have enabled the cellphone to be used as a computer with broadband internet. However, the increasing number of users and services require higher and higher data rates, which the existing cellular technologies such as 4G cannot support. The next generation telecommunication standard 5G is the next step that enables the growth of demand in higher data rate, higher number of users and features that the 4G does not support. 5G requirements are reached with millimeter wave (mmWave) radios and phased antenna arrays. The frequencies have to be higher than the ones 4G uses to fit the wide bandwidth needed for high data rates because the bands below few gigahertz are densely populated. Phased antenna arrays enhance the efficiency of the system by focusing the radio signals into narrow beams between devices. This way the radio wave energy is not wasted. Power efficiency is in critical role in phased arrays especially in mobile devices. The largest power consumers in simple wideband systems are typically power amplifiers and data converters. However, as large antenna arrays have multiple transmission and receive (TRX) chains in parallel, also the power consumption of other blocks may become significant. This work studies the distribution of local oscillator (LO) signal to mixers of the TRX chains. In a single TRX system, the LO-signal distribution is simple and low power because the LO-generation circuitry is only for one chain and its location is typically next to the mixers. In case of multiple TRX integrated circuit the distribution of the LO signal at mmWave is very lossy and the TRX chains have large distances between each other. This work also gives the basics of radio frequency IC (RFIC) design and the commonly used blocks in the LO distribution network, such as voltage controlled oscillators, frequency multipliers and frequency dividers. Focus is put on the frequency dividers and as experimental part of the thesis, three current mode logic static frequency dividers were designed with a 45-nm silicon-on-insulator (SOI) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process to be used in 5G applications below 40 GHz. IC Layout of one variant was designed and its parasitic components were extracted and simulated. Parasitic components have big impact on performance especially on mmWave frequencies. The parasitics lowered the center frequency of the divider from 33 GHz to 22 GHz.
Optimal Modulation for a Fifth-Order Dual-Active-Bridge Resonant Immittance DC–DC Converter

This paper proposes a fifth-order resonant immittance network based dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter and an optimal modulation method that will ensure high-efficiency operation of the converter under wide-range variations in voltage ratio and output power level. The proposed modulation method is based on the concept of total power loss minimization, where a loss model is developed and an optimization algorithm is formulated to compute the optimal set of internal and external phase shift parameters that will lead to the maximum efficiency for a given set of operating parameters including voltage ratio and output power level. It is found that to maintain high-efficiency operation under wide-range variations in voltage ratio and output power level, the DAB converter is required to switch between different operation modes and neither soft-switching operation nor unity-power-factor operation is able to achieve wide-range high efficiency performance when used alone. The importance of $reconfigurability$ of operation mode for achieving wide-range high efficiency performance is clearly illustrated in this paper.
Enantioselective resolution of (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate by extracellular proteases from deep-sea bacterium Bacillus sp. DL-2

Abstract Chiral 1-phenylethanol and its ester derivative are important chiral chemicals in diverse industries and the preparation of those optically pure enantiomers is of great importance. One bacterium, Bacillus sp. DL-2, whose extracellular proteases could efficiently asymmetrically hydrolyse (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate, was isolated from the deep sea of the Western Pacific. After the immobilization of extracellular proteases and the optimization of enzymatic reactions, (R)-1-phenylethanol was prepared with the enantiomeric excess (e.e.) being 97% and the yield being 41%, respectively. The optimal resolution reaction condition for the preparation of (R)-1-phenylethanol using immobilized extracellular proteases was found to be 5-mM (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate, 360 mg/mL immobilized extracellular proteases, pH 6.5, and 20 °C for 2 h. (S)-1-phenylethyl acetate was generated through enzymatic kinetic resolution with the e.e. being as high as 99% and the yield being 71%, respectively. The optimal resolution reaction condition for the preparation of (S)-1-phenylethyl acetate was found to be 2.5-mM (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate, 440 mg/mL immobilized extracellular proteases, pH 7.5, and 35 °C for 10 h. Our report is the first report about the kinetic resolution of (±)-1-phenylethyl acetate using proteases and the enantio-preference of the proteases was found to be the same as those of most other esterases/lipases. Also notably, the optical purity of (S)-1-phenylethyl acetate generated through kinetic resolution using the proteases of Bacillus sp. DL-2 was the highest report so far. Proteases from deep-sea Bacillus sp. DL-2 are new contributions to the biocatalyst library for the preparation of valuable chiral alcohols and chiral esters through kinetic resolution.
On the Fatigue Behavior of Nanocrystalline NiTi Shape Memory Alloys: A Review

This paper presents a review of the research on the fatigue performance of superelastic polycrystalline nanocrystalline NiTi shape memory alloys (nc NiTi SMAs). A brief introduction to some focal definitions and basic concepts of fatigue measurement and response in NiTi SMAs were given. Results found in the literature on fatigue in nc NiTi SMAs are discussed. Mechanical behavior and energy dissipation capacity of nc NiTi SMAs are explored and collectively compared with coarse-grained NiTi SMAs, along with an assessment of the influence of grain size refinement and thermomechanical treatments. Several conclusions and suggestions are made, including that nc NiTi SMAs exhibit larger functional fatigue resistance, lower crack tolerance, higher superelasticity, and smaller hysteresis loss.
A Beat-Based Approach to Range Estimation

Author(s): Yue, Junyou | Advisor(s): de Oliveira, Mauricio | Abstract: Range estimation is a widely used tool in many different disciplines and it can be achieved in a multitude of ways. This thesis outlines a new principle for range estimation that utilizes existing technologies and is inspired by previously established methods.The main principle employs one pair of transmitter and receiver to send a continuous, passively-measured signal that contains all the information needed in order to determine the distance between them. This is done by retrieving the phase information inside the phase-modulated transmission signal and using it to calculate the time of arrival. All of this is achieved under the assumption that the clocks of transmitter and receiver are synchronized already.Numerous simulations were run based on a model that was created just to test this principle. Simulations were successful and accurate to less than 1% once steady state was achieved. Physical testing was done using a microphone and speaker setup inside a DSP with less accurate results, but further work can be done to refine the system.
THE LOEWY STRUCTURE OF CERTAIN FIXPOINT ALGEBRAS, PART II

In Part I of this paper, we introduced a class of certain algebras of finite dimension over a field. All these algebras are split, symmetric and local. Here we continue to investigate their Loewy structure. We show that in many cases their Loewy length is equal to an upper bound established in Part I, but we also construct examples where we have a strict inequality.
An Evaluative Approach to Identify Social Innovations within Human Service Organizations: Case Examples of a Preformative Stage of Developmental Evaluation

ABSTRACT This study highlights the process of undertaking a social innovation-informed evaluative approach, with the aim of piloting a preformative stage developmental evaluation framework. The evaluative method was applied in a concurrent disorder treatment program, a settlement program, and a youth and young adult homeless shelter, in Toronto, Canada. Conceptual models were developed and operationalized based on staff and service user perceptions of the relationships between program characteristics, service user social outcomes, and intended program goals. This evaluative approach can help human service organizations to develop similar models with their own service user groups, to inform their socially innovative efforts.
Uncovering One Teacher s Knowledge of Arts Integration for Developing English Learners Reading Comprehension: A Self-Study

Uncovering One Teacher’s Knowledge of Arts Integration for Developing English Learners’ Reading Comprehension: A Self-Study Tina RaLinn McCulloch Department of Teacher Education, BYU Master of Arts The purpose of this study was to explore what I, a general education classroom teacher, know about using arts integration to build English Learners’ (ELs’) reading comprehension. As the primary researcher, I am a fifth-grade, general education teacher in an intermountain West, Title 1, urban school where the typical classroom contains over 50% EL students. The study’s two other participants were Martha, the director of the university’s arts partnership, and Camilla, a fellow faculty member who integrates arts into her curriculum. This qualitative Self-Study of Teaching and Teacher Education Practice research methodology was utilized to uncover my knowledge of teaching practices and pedagogy while simultaneously focusing on student learning (LaBoskey, 2004; Loughran, 2007; Pinnegar & Hamilton, 2009). I used Miles and Huberman (1994) to examine three arts-integrated curriculum units, first and second annotations, and critical friend commentaries in order to uncover the practical and theoretical influences resident in my teaching (Fenstermacher, 1984; Miles & Huberman, 1994; Pinnegar & Hamilton, 2009). The findings revealed five main themes: arts integration, reading comprehension, intentional planning, teacher knowledge, and class culture. Arts integration increased ELs’ abilities to build requisite schema, acquire essential vocabulary, and attend to oral reading fluency to increase text comprehension. Furthermore, by understanding these themes and their subcategories, I uncovered my tacit knowledge (Polyani, 1967) as it related to my decisionmaking process for using arts integration. Likewise, the self-study methodology allowed me to articulate my personal practical knowledge of ELs’ needs and why I employed art-integrative practices to introduce and reinforce content area understandings.
Characteristics of the partially reflected terahertz wave: truncated beam propagation

We investigate a free-space propagation of a truncated terahertz beam created as a result of a partial reflection from a small-sized metallic reflector. By using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, we obtain both magnitude and phase spectra of a clipped terahertz beam after its propagation by about 15 cm. Compared to a fully reflected terahertz beam, the partially reflected beam exhibits large variations in both magnitude and phase spectra in the entire spectral range investigated, i.e., from 0.2 to 1.3 terahertz. To model the free-space propagation of the truncated Gaussian beam, we decompose it using a super-Gaussian beam and several other Gaussian beams with phase factors separately assigned to each component. From this, we could successfully reproduce the experimental results, i.e., the modulations observed in both magnitude and phase spectra.
Geopolitical Imaginaries of the Space Shuttle Mission Patches

ABSTRACT This paper engages with the (geo)political imaginaries of the Space Shuttle mission patches, through a consideration of the iconography they contain. Each Space Shuttle mission had a unique patch designed to represent the mission, which were typically worn on the arm of astronauts’ space suits. Drawing on visual methodologies and popular geopolitics, this paper critically engages with the patches’ iconography, their descriptions in official documentation, and the histories that frame their production. In doing so, this paper advances three interrelated arguments. First, that the mission patches of the Space Shuttle programme presented a uniquely American framing of outer space in their iconography and can thus be read as geopolitical texts. Second, that the iconography within the patches reflected the contemporary geopolitics of their time of production, but continued to subtly demonstrate American dominance in outer space. Finally, that the consumption of the patches in museums and through popular culture assist in the construction of American Manifest Destiny in outer space. This paper presents tangible examples of humanity’s engagement with outer space through the production of material cultures, while also pushing forward the agenda for further critical geographical engagement with outer space.
Highlights removal using reflected energy and histogram analysis

The occurrence of highlights in digital photography is an unwanted phenomenon in computer vision and image analysis. It overshadows the intrinsic color information of objects in a scene and makes computer vision algorithms to produce erroneous results. In this paper, two techniques are proposed; one for removing highlights due to both diffuse and specular components and the other one for removing highlights due to the specular component only. The former is based on the modified Torrance-Sparrow model of specular reflection while the later technique combines Torrance-Sparrow model with local statistical analysis and recovers the color of highlights by interpolation. The results are validated on both synthesized and real images and compared with several contemporary highlights removal techniques. The comparison shows that performance of the proposed techniques is comparable or slightly better than the previously proposed techniques.
HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS: A SENSEMAKING PERSPECTIVE

Hospitals are adopting advanced messaging systems to facilitate communication among healthcare personnel with the aim of improving patient care. However, users face various challenges in employing these systems, with serious consequences of miscommunication. Nevertheless, past studies on healthcare messaging systems tend to be descriptive with a lack of theoretically grounded and empirical validated research to explain their nature of use. Motivated thus, we study the usage patterns of a web-based messaging system (WMS) in the context of a public hospital. Using media synchronicity and sensemaking theories, we explain how healthcare personnel on the move use WMS to make sense of their work for achieving a shared understanding for patient care. Through a preliminary content analysis of the WMS messages during a month, our results showed salient differences in the usage patterns of different user groups and for different kinds of sensemaking. The study's potential contributions and future plan are
Positive solutions for indefinite inhomogeneous Neumann elliptic problems.

We consider a class of inhomogeneous Neumann boundary-value problems on a compact Riemannian manifold with boundary where indefinite and critical nonlinearities are included. We introduce a new and, in some sense, more general variational approach to these problems. Using this idea we prove new results on the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions.
Designing an Efficient Replicated Log Store with Consensus Protocol

Highly available and high-performance message logging system is critical building block for various use cases that require global ordering, especially for deterministic distributed transactions. To achieve availability, we maintain multiple replicas that have the same payloads in exactly the same order. This introduces various challenging issues such as consistency between replicas after failure, while minimizing performance degradation. Replicated state machine-based consensus protocols are the most suitable candidates to fulfill those requirements, but double-write problem and different logging granularity make it hard to keep the system efficient. This paper suggests a novel way to build a replicated log store on top of Raft consensus protocol, aiming at providing the same level of consistency as well as fault-tolerance without sacrificing the throughput of the system.