Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tradeoffs and Synergies Across Global Climate Change Adaptations in the Food‐Energy‐Water Nexus

Food‐energy‐water (FEW) systems are increasingly vulnerable to natural hazards and climate change risks, yet humans depend on these systems for their daily needs, wellbeing, and survival. We investigated how adaptations related to FEW vulnerabilities are occurring and what the global community can learn about the interactions across these adaptations. We conducted a global analysis of a data set derived from scientific literature to present the first large scale assessment (n = 1,204) of evidence‐based FEW‐related climate adaptations. We found that the most frequently reported adaptations to FEW vulnerabilities by continent occurred in Africa (n = 495) and Asia (n = 492). Adaptations targeting food security were more robustly documented than those relevant to water and energy security, suggesting a greater global demand to address food security. Determining statistically significant associations, we found a network of connections between variables characterizing FEW‐related adaptations and showed interconnectedness between a variety of natural hazards, exposures, sectors, actors, cross‐cutting topics and geographic locations. Connectivity was found between the vulnerabilities food security, water, community sustainability, and response to sea level rise across cities, settlements, and key infrastructure sectors. Additionally, generalized linear regression models revealed potential synergies and tradeoffs among FEW adaptations, such as a necessity to synergistically adapt systems to protect food and water security and tradeoffs when simultaneously addressing exposures of consumption and production vs. poverty. Results from qualitative thematic coding showcased that adaptations documented as targeting multiple exposures are still limited in considering interconnectivity of systems and applying a nexus approach in their responses. These results suggest that adopting a nexus approach to future FEW‐related adaptations can have profound benefits in the management of scarce resources and with financial constraints.
Relationship Between Volatile Sulfur Compounds, Mineral Content, Morphological and Molecular Characterization Of Local Garlic Genotypes

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between local garlic genotypes and Taskopru garlic, cultivated in Turkey, by using volatile sulfur compounds, mineral content, molecular and morphological characterizations. Results indicated that morphological features, mineral content and volatile sulfur compounds exhibited a great diversity among the garlic genotypes. Jaccard's similarity matrix prepared using 13 SSR markers also revealed the genetic diversity among genotypes. This genetic diversity may contribute significantly to the development of new garlic cultivars. Mineral content of the garlic leaves could be used as chemotaxonomic tool for classification of the local garlic genotypes. Bangladesh J. Bot. 51(1): 147-155, 2022 (March)
A Pilot Investigation of the Determinants of Workplace Innovation
Behaviour in Service Industry of Pakistan

The purpose of this study is to establish as well as examine the validity and reliability of the instrument to measure the antecedents of workplace innovation behaviour of women. The instrument was adopted and adapted from the original sources and data collected from 46 women employees was analyzed. The content and face validity were analyzed by experts of field and internal construct validity was also measured. The reliability of instrument was measured by internal consistent reliability through alpha coefficient along with intra-class correlation coefficients. Construct validity was measured by analyzing convergent and discriminant validity. Moreover, criterion-related validity was measured through correlation coefficients and internal construct validity was also analyzed by inter-item correlations and co- variances. The inter-item correlation for the variables used in the study shows that each item of the study correlates to all other items. All the items correlate with one another, though there are some lower values as well representing that those items have low correlation with each other but are considered acceptable. Statistical analysis suggested that test measures for constructs are reliable with the researchers’ comprehension of the nature of factors. All items met the level of acceptability. Hence, the results suggested that adapted instrument is valid and reliable in context of the selected respondents in Pakistan and a large-scale analysis can be done through this instrument.
Study of compact planar antennas for multi and wide band applications

This thesis explores different compact planar antenna structures and their applicability in the field of microwave engineering. Miniaturized compact antennas that can provide wide bandwidth, multiple bands of resonance at desired frequencies, good return loss, high gain have always been in demand in the antenna industry. Keeping these desired aspects in mind, the work presented aims at proposing novel antenna designs that have improved performance characteristics in comparison to the ones reported in the literature till date. The overall contribution can be divided into three parts. In the first part, an analytical procedure called singular perturbation method has been performed for a double periodic transmission line structure with both inductance and capacitance modulated. The method has been employed to analyze a double periodic composite right/left handed (CRLH) leaky wave structure. Numerical expressions have been derived from which we have obtained the dispersion characteristics, propagation constant and radiation characteristics of the structure. We have also included the modulation of the permeability along with permittivity which increases the degree of freedom of the analysis. The radiation efficiency has been plotted as a function of antennas length to illustrate the effect of modulating indices on the antenna performance. The theoretical, simulated and the measured results seem to be in good agreement, thus justifying the application of the singular perturbation method on multiple scales for similar kind of structures. The next work proposes a novel leaky wave antenna design based on CRLH metamaterials which has been implemented on a substrate integrated waveguide(SIW) platform. It operates
Heart Failure Severity Closely Correlates with Intestinal Dysbiosis and Subsequent Metabolomic Alterations

Growing evidence suggests an altered gut microbiome in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the exact interrelationship between microbiota, HF, and its consequences on the metabolome are still unknown. We thus aimed here to decipher the association between the severity and progression of HF and the gut microbiome composition and circulating metabolites. Using a mouse model of transverse aortic constriction (TAC), gut bacterial diversity was found to be significantly lower in mice as early as day 7 post-TAC compared to Sham controls (p = 0.03), with a gradual progressive decrease in alpha-diversity on days 7, 14, and 42 (p = 0.014, p = 0.0016, p = 0.0021) compared to day 0, which coincided with compensated hypertrophy, maladaptive hypertrophy, and overtly failing hearts, respectively. Strikingly, segregated analysis based on the severity of the cardiac dysfunction (EF < 40% vs. EF 40–55%) manifested marked differences in the abundance and the grouping of several taxa. Multivariate analysis of plasma metabolites and bacterial diversity produced a strong correlation of metabolic alterations, such as reduced short-chain fatty acids and an increase in primary bile acids, with a differential abundance of distinct bacteria in HF. In conclusion, we showed that HF begets HF, likely via a vicious cycle of an altered microbiome and metabolic products.
Ultrasonic Beam Models for Angle Beam Surface Wave Transducers

ABSTRACT Explicit three-dimensional (3D) point source and multi-Gaussian beam models are obtained for the Rayleigh waves generated by a surface wave angle beam transducer using an angular plane wave spectrum approach. Simulations show that the multi-Gaussian surface wave beam model agrees well with the point source model while being computationally more efficient. The theoretical predictions obtained with the models are also compared to the experimental measurement results where good agreement with the models is found for both on-axis and off-axis field comparisons.
Reinforcement Learning Based Offloading Framework for Computation Service in the Edge Cloud and Core Cloud

—Smartphones have increasingly become indispensable tools of our everyday lives, with extensive applications beyond communications, from utilitarian to entertaining. As such, demands on the technology remain stringent, leading to a limitation in performance and battery lifetime, requiring approaches such as computation offloading to improve the user experience for computation-intensive tasks such as gaming. This work presents the use of Reinforcement Learning in an offloading framework that provides smartphones with the ability to decide whether to perform computations on the smartphone or on the remote Cloud (Edge and Core) to minimize process. Several scenarios have been used to produce simulations that demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can operate efficiently in a dynamic Cloud computing and networking environment.
Single atom alloys vs. phase separated alloys in Cu, Ag, and Au atoms with Ni(111) and Ni, Pd, and Pt atoms with Cu(111): a theoretical exploration.

A single-atom alloy (SAA) consisting of an abundant metal host and a precious metal guest is a promising catalyst to reduce the cost without a loss of activity. DFT calculations of Ni- and Cu-based alloys nX/M(111) (X = Cu, Ag, or Au for M = Ni; X = Ni, Pd, or Pt for M = Cu; n = 1-4) reveal that a phase-separated alloy (PSA) is produced by Cu atoms with Ni(111) but an SAA is produced by Au atoms with Ni(111) and Pd and Pt atoms with Cu(111). In the Ni(111)-based Ag alloy and Cu(111)-based Ni alloy, the relative stabilities of the SAA and PSA depend on coverages of Ag on Ni(111) and Ni on Cu(111). The interaction energy (Eint) between the Xn cluster and M(111) host is larger than that between one X atom and the M(111) host, because the Xn cluster forms more bonding interactions with the M(111) host than does one X atom. When going from one X atom to the X4 cluster, the Eint values of Au and Pt clusters respectively with Ni(111) and Cu(111) increase to a lesser extent than those of Cu and Ni clusters respectively with Ni(111) and Cu(111). Consequently, Au and Pt atoms tend to form SAAs respectively with Ni(111) and Cu(111) hosts compared to Cu and Ni atoms. This trend in the Eint value is determined by the valence orbital energies of the X atom and the Xn cluster. Cu atoms in nCu/Ni(111) have a slightly positive charge but Ag atoms in nAg/Ni(111), Au atoms in nAu/Ni(111), and Ni, Pd, and Pt atoms in nX/Cu(111) (X = Ni, Pd, or Pt) have a negative charge. The negative charge increases in the order Ag < Au in nX/Ni(111) and Ni < Pd < Pt in nX/Cu(111). The Fermi level decreases in energy in the order nCu/Ni(111) ≥ Ni(111) > nAg/Ni(111) > nAu/Ni(111) and Cu(111) ≥ nNi/Cu(111) > nPd/Cu(111) > nPt/Cu(111). The d valence band center decreases in energy in almost the same order. The CO adsorption energy decreases in the order Ni(111) ∼ nCu/Ni(111) > nAg/Ni(111) ∼ nAu/Ni(111) and Cu(111) > nNi/Cu(111) > nPd/Cu(111) > nPt/Cu(111). These properties are explained based on the electronic structures.
Temperature and host plant species affect the performance and immunocompetence of an outbreak defoliator in northwestern Patagonia

Rising temperature has been associated with increased occurrence of herbivorous insect outbreaks, explained by several direct and indirect mechanisms. Whereas natural enemies are known key drivers of forest‐defoliating insect cycles, indirect effects of temperature on insect's ability to defend against pathogens and parasitoids (e.g., immunocompetence), as well as the interaction with other mechanisms (e.g., diet), remain less explored. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of temperature and diet on the performance and immune response of the model lepidopteran system Ormiscodes amphimone (Saturniidae) and its host plants Nothofagus spp. (Nothofagaceae). Larvae of O. amphimone were reared under two temperature conditions (ambient 18:6°C and warmed, 21:6°C; light: dark, 14:10 h) and on leaves of two of their preferred Nothofagus host plants, which vary in quality (lower N. antarctica–higher N. pumilio). We measured developmental time, female pupal weight as a proxy of fitness, relative growth rate, nutritional indices and melanisation of a monofilament as a proxy of immune response. Results showed that an average rise of 2°C favours larval immunocompetence, potentially decreasing mortality exerted by parasitoids. Moreover, depending on diet, an increase in temperature can either maintain (on more nutritious N. pumilio leaves) or enhance (on less nutritious N. antarctica leaves) larval nutritional efficiency, performance and female pupal weight. Hence, an increase in temperature could enhance O. amphimone population growth, through attenuating differences caused by diet and enhancing immunocompetence, favouring outbreak frequency, severity and area.
Strength and fatigue analysis of periodic perforated materials using the computational homogenization and ES-FEM approaches

This paper presents a computational homogenization shakedown analysis of periodic perforated materials with von Mises matrices. The plastic behaviors of the perforated materials under cyclic macroscopic loads are studied by means of kinematic shakedown theorem and computational homogenization method. The kinematic micro-fields are approximated by the edge-based smoothed finite element method. The resulting large-scale optimization problem is efficiently solved by using conic solver, enabling a large number of points on the macroscopic strength and fatigue surface to be calculated rapidly. The effects of the hole's shape and size on the overall strength and fatigue domains are also investigated.
A multisite field study of lean thinking in U.S. and German secondary wood products manufacturers.

Due to growing global competition, especially in the last decade, the U.S. and German wood and wood-based industries have suffered significant market share losses. To stay competitive in an increasingly global marketplace, many wood manufacturers are adopting new management approaches. Lean thinking is one management approach that has been widely accepted and adopted by other manufacturing and service industries. Lean thinking is a holistic management approach incorporating lean practices and principles. This study documents field studies of four cases of lean implementations in both U.S. and German secondary wood products companies. Two companies considered "lean leaders" from each country were studied to identify the challenges of implementation as well as the subsequent successes. An embedded, multiple-case study design method was used. Findings from the study suggest that lean thinking can help secondary wood products manufacturers be more profitable. In the organizations studied the implementation of lean manufacturing practices and principles resulted in more efficient and cost-effective operations. The study also found that the application of lean thinking to marketing processes can improve customer service, new product development processes, and customer satisfaction. The key challenges faced by the case sites during lean implementation were related to communication. All case companies found that it was critical to communicate the vision and values of lean thinking to all employees. Leaders felt that it was extremely important to have all employees understand and accept lean thinking and its benefits.
A Framework for Developing Nascent Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurship Education’s Kobayashi Maru

Experiential entrepreneurship education is consistent with resource-based theories of entrepreneurship, which, among other things, regard the impacts of education and experience on entrepreneurial outcomes. Hands-on educational programming is a reification of such theoretical work, combining both of those elements. Such programs often utilize a coaching or mentoring approach, with the expectation that practice under the guidance of a qualified mentor develops the resources and capabilities the entrepreneur may leverage to perform entrepreneurial activities successfully and consistently. Specifically, entrepreneurship literature points to entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) as well as confidence in the business and commitment to entrepreneurship as impactful elements in the entrepreneur’s bringing an idea to fruition and to venture performance (Trevelyan, 2009). Related pedagogical research indicates that teaching theory-based competencies, rather than exclusively providing prescriptive or technical solutions, is important to student success. In educating and training aspiring entrepreneurs, our discipline requires a blended framework for encouraging entrepreneurial persistence among students as nascent entrepreneurs. Following resource-based literature, we assert this outcome may be accomplished through the development of resilience and ESE as personal resources, and that resilience may be taught using theory. Thus, we draw on the resource-based theoretical stream and the constructs of entrepreneurial resilience and persistence to propose a theory-inclusive pedagogical model with practical implications.
Molecular-dynamics modeling of hydrogen-bond vibrational modes correlated with annealing

Hydrogen-bonding plays an important role in interactions of molecular structures, and is associated with distinct features in vibrational spectra of molecular systems. Interpretation of these features is essential for monitoring and control of structural changes and kinetic processes in large ensembles of molecular structures. Computational experiments based on molecular dynamics provide interpretation of vibrational-spectrum features. This report extends previously reported simulations concerning nerve-agent-sorbent binding for examination of spectral features correlated with annealing
Procedure to Determine Coefficients for the Sandia Array Performance Model (SAPM)

The Sandia Array Performance Model (SAPM), a semi-empirical model for predicting PV system power, has been in use for more than a decade. While several studies have presented comparisons of measurements and analysis results among laboratories, detailed procedures for determining model coefficients have not yet been published. Independent test laboratories must develop in-house procedures to determine SAPM coefficients, which contributes to uncertainty in the resulting models. Here we present a standard procedure for calibrating the SAPM using outdoor electrical and meteorological measurements. Analysis procedures are illustrated with data measured outdoors for a 36-cell silicon photovoltaic module.
Monitoring Complex Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems at Regional Scale in Brazil: A Big Earth Observation Data Approach

Due to different combinations of agriculture, livestock and forestry managed by rotation, succession and intercropping practices, integrated agriculture production systems such as integrated crop–livestock systems (iCL) constitute a very complex target and a challenge for automatic mapping of cropping practices based on remote sensing data. The overall objective of this study was to develop a classification strategy for the annual mapping of integrated Crop–Livestock systems (iCL) at a regional scale. This strategy was designed and tested in the six agro-climatic regions of Mato Grosso, the largest Brazilian soybean producer state, using MODIS satellite time-series images acquired between 2012 and 2019, ground data with heterogeneous distribution in space and time and a Random Forest classifier. The results showed that: 1. the use of unbalanced training samples with a class composition close to the real one was the right classifier training strategy; 2. the use of a single training database (pooling samples from different years and regions) to classify each region and year individually proved to be robust enough to provide similar classification accuracies in comparison to those based on the use of a database acquired for each region and for each year. The final hierarchical classification overall accuracy was 0.89 for Level 1, the cropping pattern level (single and double crops DC); 0.84 for Level 2, the DC category level (integrated system iCL soy-pasture/brachiaria, soy-cotton and soy-cereal); 0.77 for Level 3, the iCL level (iCL1 soy-pasture and iCL2 soy-pasture mixed with corn). The F-scores for DC, iCL and iCL1 cropping systems presented high accuracy (0.89, 0.85 and 0.84), while iCL2 was more difficult to classify (0.63). This approach will next be applied across the entire Brazilian soybean corridor, leading to an operational tool for monitoring the adoption of sustainable intensification practices recognized by Brazil’s Agriculture Low Carbon Plan (ABC PLAN).
Maternal vitamin D status in relation to infant BMI growth trajectories up to 2 years of age in two prospective pregnancy cohorts

Early childhood growth can affect the child's health status later in life. Maternal vitamin D status has been suggested to affect early childhood growth. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the role of maternal vitamin D status on growth trajectories during infancy. By using growth mixture modeling (GMM), maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy can be investigated in relation to different classes of infant growth trajectories.
STING Agonists/Antagonists: Their Potential as Therapeutics and Future Developments

The cGAS STING pathway has received much attention in recent years, and it has been recognized as an important component of the innate immune response. Since the discovery of STING and that of cGAS, many observations based on preclinical models suggest that the faulty regulation of this pathway is involved in many type I IFN autoinflammatory disorders. Evidence has been accumulating that cGAS/STING might play an important role in pathologies beyond classical immune diseases, as in, for example, cardiac failure. Human genetic mutations that result in the activation of STING or that affect the activity of cGAS have been demonstrated as the drivers of rare interferonopathies affecting young children and young adults. Nevertheless, no data is available in the clinics demonstrating the therapeutic benefit in modulating the cGAS/STING pathway. This is due to the lack of STING/cGAS-specific low molecular weight modulators that would be qualified for clinical exploration. The early hopes to learn from STING agonists, which have reached the clinics in recent years for selected oncology indications, have not yet materialized since the initial trials are progressing very slowly. In addition, transforming STING agonists into potent selective antagonists has turned out to be more challenging than expected. Nevertheless, there has been progress in identifying novel low molecular weight compounds, in some cases with unexpected mode of action, that might soon move to clinical trials. This study gives an overview of some of the potential indications that might profit from modulation of the cGAS/STING pathway and a short overview of the efforts in identifying STING modulators (agonists and antagonists) suitable for clinical research and describing their potential as a “drug”.