Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Realization of Split Beam Antenna Using Transmission-Type Coding Metasurface and Planar Lens

In this paper, a novel compact split beam configuration of the transmission-type coding metasurface (MS) in combination with the planar lens and the patch antenna is presented. In the first stage, the spherical electromagnetic waves originating from the patch antenna are converted to plane waves by placing the planar MS lens at a height of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.55\lambda _{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> above the antenna aperture. This lens enhances the radiation along the broadside direction resulting in high-gain operation. Furthermore, a concept of the digital metamaterial is adopted by realizing 1 bit transmission-type coding MSs, capable of splitting the aforementioned high-gain beam pattern. These digital MSs (DMSs) have two different types of metaatoms with phase responses of 0 and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\pi $ </tex-math></inline-formula>, corresponding to two basic digital elements 0 and 1, respectively. The assembly of these metamaterial bits (either 0 or 1) leads to a lattice of size <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D \times D$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The proper spatial mixture of these lattices with different sequences facilitates different elemental metamaterial-pattern resulting in multiple-lobe radiation patterns, which are angularly oriented and symmetrical to the antenna axis. The designed planar lens and the DMS with the individual thickness of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.057\lambda _{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> are placed in the near field of antenna leading to an overall compact configuration with a total height of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.08\lambda _{0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The aforementioned beam splitting using the proposed configuration is also validated both quantitatively (mathematically) and qualitatively (through the simulation and the measurement) for different types of DMSs.
A Compact, Low-Profile Simultaneous Transmit and Receive Antenna With Monopole-Like Radiation Characteristics

A compact, vertically polarized simultaneous transmit and receive (STAR) antenna with a high transmit–receive isolation level and an omnidirectional radiation pattern in the azimuth plane is presented. The proposed STAR antenna consists of transmit (TX) and receive (RX) antennas whose phase centers are collocated. The TX antenna is a monopole with top-hat loading, placed directly below the central point of the crossed loop. The RX antenna consists of a pair of orthogonal half-loops, each capacitively fed at both of its ends with a <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{180}^\circ$</tex-math></inline-formula> phase difference. The four ports of the RX antenna are fed with the same amplitude and relative phase values of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{0}^\circ$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{90}^\circ$</tex-math></inline-formula>, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{180}^\circ$</tex-math></inline-formula>, and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{270}^\circ$</tex-math></inline-formula> to produce an omnidirectional radiation pattern and high isolation with the TX antenna. The STAR antenna was designed for operation in the 2.45 GHz ISM band with electrical dimensions of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D \times H=$</tex-math></inline-formula> <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.44\lambda \times 0.15\lambda$</tex-math></inline-formula> (diameter × height). A prototype of this antenna was fabricated and experimentally characterized. Measurement results show that the antenna has a TX/RX isolation level better than 38 dB and maintains monopole-like patterns for both TX and RX modes over a frequency range of 2.4–2.7 GHz.
The Dielectric and Piezoelectric Properties of YCa4O(BO3)3 Crystal Annealed in Critical Condition

The YCa4O(BO3)3 (YCOB) crystal is an attractive piezoelectric material for sensing at elevated temperatures. In this paper, the dielectric and piezoelectric properties of YCOB crystal annealed at high temperature of 1100°C and low atmosphere pressure of 2 Pa for 24 h were reported. Comparing to the pristine YCOB crystal, the relative dielectric permittivity $(\varepsilon _{22}/\varepsilon _{0})$ slightly increased after annealing, while the piezoelectric coefficient (d26) got decreased, with a variation of $\lt 7\%$. The chemical bonding for the annealed YCOB was studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, from which the variations of binding energies of B, Ca, and Y decreased below 0.2 eV, indicating the stable electronic structure of YCOB crystal. The vacancy formation energies for Y, Ca, O, and B atoms in YCOB crystal were also analyzed via first principle calculations. The O atom was found to possess the lowest vacancy formation energy, thus easier to evaporate during critical annealing and easier to compensate than other atoms. The vacancy defects are believed to be the main factor dominant the variations of dielectric and piezoelectric properties.
A Chattering Free Sliding Mode Observer with Application to DC Motor Speed Control

The main drawback of the classical sliding mode observer is the chattering problem which eliminated in the present via replacing the signum function with an approximation to get approximate classical sliding mode observer. When the signum function is replaced with an approximating one, the estimation error will not go to zero anymore, but it will go to the bounded region around the origin. In this paper, the bounded region is obtained and controlled by adjusting the parameters of the proposed observer. The DC motor system suffers from a perturbation vector, and unmeasured angular acceleration is utilized as an application to a nonlinear controller based on the proposed observer.
Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Growth in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Patients: Role of Aortic Stiffness and Pulsatile Hemodynamics

Background Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac abnormality. A thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is present in ≈50% of BAV patients, who also have an 8‐fold higher risk of aortic dissection than the general population. Because the health of the aorta is directly reflected in its stiffness and pulsatile hemodynamics, we hypothesized that measures of aortic stiffness and arterial load would be associated with TAA growth in BAV. Methods and Results Twenty‐nine unoperated participants with TAA due to BAV who had serial imaging were recruited. Aortic stiffness and steady and pulsatile arterial load were evaluated with validated methods that integrate arterial tonometry with echocardiography. TAA growth was assessed retrospectively based on available imaging, blinded to hemodynamic status. Multivariable linear regression assessed associations of aortic stiffness and hemodynamic variables with TAA growth, adjusting for potential confounders. Overall, 66% of participants were men. Mean±SD for age, baseline aneurysm size, growth rate, and follow‐up time were 57.2±8.3 years, 46.9±3.6 mm, 0.75±0.81 mm/y, and 2.9±3.3 years, respectively. We found that greater aortic stiffness (β±SE for carotid‐femoral pulse wave velocity: 0.30±0.13. P=0.03) and aortic characteristic impedance (β±SE: 0.46±0.18, P=0.02), as well as lower total arterial and proximal aortic compliance (β±SE: −0.44±0.21, P=0.05, and −0.63±0.16, P=0.001, respectively) were independently associated with faster aneurysm growth. Conclusions In patients with TAA due to BAV, measures of greater aortic stiffness and pulsatile arterial load indicate an association with accelerated aneurysm expansion. Assessing arterial hemodynamics may be useful for risk stratification and disease monitoring in TAA patients with BAV.
A Low-Cost Differentially Driven Dual-Polarized Patch Antenna by Using Open-Loop Resonators

A novel differentially driven dual-polarized patch antenna is presented in this communication. The proposed antenna is a low-cost design with a simple configuration, which avoids using the conventional high-cost multilayer PCB technology. The antenna is composed of two intersected open-loop resonators, which are connected to each other at the center. By using the electric coupling from the intersected resonators, two orthogonal radiating modes are excited from the top radiating patch. With the even- and odd-mode current distributions on the intersected resonators, high port isolation and low cross-polarization level are obtained. The external quality factor of the resonator is illustrated by using the analytical model of a double-loaded resonator. To demonstrate the design method, the proposed antenna and array are designed, fabricated, and measured. Compared to the traditionally designed capacitively coupled antenna, two times wider impedance bandwidth is obtained for the proposed antenna with high isolation (>38.5 dB) and low cross-polarization level (< −33 dB). The antenna array is designed for 5G base stations, which features the compact size and low reflection coefficient (< −15 dB). In addition, beam scanning performance of the antenna array is also investigated for base-station applications.
The diagnostic utility of sequence-based assays for the molecular delimitation of the epidemiologically relevant Culex pipiens pipiens taxa (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract The northern house mosquito (Culex pipiens pipiens L.) is a vector of several important pathogens and comprises two epidemiologically distinct ecotypes (molestus Forskål and pipiens). The delimitation of its ecotypes is a crucial, yet controversial step in vector surveillance due to varying diagnostic values of different characters. Therefore, we reviewed the success of a diagnostic assay based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I locus (COI) by analyzing previously published sequences of molestus and pipiens sampled in different geographical areas. Next, by genotyping individuals from Northern Serbia at this locus, we additionally assessed whether genetic structure of urban and rural Cx. p. pipiens ecotypes corresponded to the admixture pattern. Finally, to account for the different susceptibility of genetic markers to introgression, we also analyzed genetic structuring based on the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2). No latitude-dependent differentiation of Cx. p. pipiens ecotypes was found at a global level, with the COI assay further failing to accurately identify molestus and pipiens ecotypes. Likewise, both individual- (BAPS) and population-based (analysis of molecular variance and FST estimates) methods showed no significant urban/rural genetic differentiation in Serbia, indicating unhindered gene flow between different Cx. p. pipiens habitat types. The findings challenge the previous instances of Cx. p. pipiens ecotype identification, while also spotlighting the vectorial capacity of their hybrid offspring.
Load Frequency Control for Hybrid Micro-grid Using MRAC with ANN Under-sudden Load Changes

Abstract- The frequency and power generation control in a power system is usually referred to as a load frequency control. This paper focuses on two control schemes based on the adaptive controller to track sudden load increase and smooth the transfer from grid-connected to island mode and improving the performance of hybrid micro-grid. One scheme uses a model reference adaptive controller (MRAC) to develop the LFC of synchronous generator based on adaptive proportional-integral (API) controller, and to smooth the transfer from grid-connected to island mode. The other scheme employs an MRAC with a Neural Network to further modify the reduction of error signal in the classic MRAC controller and cover any fluctuations in frequency at power sharing during sudden changes in the load. The estimated parameters are used to update the gains of conventional MRAC controller to obtain the best control performance of the micro-grid. The proposed controller is validated by computer simulation analysis using MATLAB-Simulink.
2D Stencil Computation on Cyclone V SoC FPGA using OpenCL

We present the implementation of a 2D stencil computation on Cyclone V SoC Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). The heat equation is chosen as a study case for the 2D stencil problem. To reduce the development time in FPGA programming, OpenCL programming language is employed to develop the kernel for the stencil computation. OpenCL is a framework to develop the kernel that can be executed in heterogeneous platforms such as CPU, DSP, GPU, and FPGA. In the study, we compare the execution time and power consumption between core i5 4300U CPU and Cyclone V FPGA. The experiment shows that the Cyclone V SoC FPGA is faster than a single core i5 4300U CPU in executing the 2D stencil computation. The research also shows that the FPGA consumes low power.
An Efficient Feature Extraction of Isolated Word for Dynamic Sign Language Classification

In image processing, feature extraction acts a key role. It is very imperative to know and extract the required features for further assessment. In this paper, the feature extraction of Arabic isolated sign language word based on chain code model is proposed. The features are extracted from the hand trajectory tracking, features obtained of the single hand or two hands that enter to a classifier which can determine the meaning of the gesture. In this study, More than forty isolated sign words are collected in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Four isolated words were taken as an example. The features were extracted from the isolated words; these features represent the feature vector of the isolated word that is used in the classification stage.
Wideband Circularly Polarized Antenna With Dual-Mode Operation

This letter presents a simple structure of a single-fed broadband circularly polarized (CP) antenna. The antenna consists of four L-shaped strips that rotate in sequence and a double vacant-quarter ring. The double vacant-quarter ring primarily contributes to the wide axial-ratio bandwidth, while the L-shaped strip primarily contributes to the wide axial-ratio beamwidth, with the two modes combined to achieve a wideband CP operation. A prototype antenna was designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured results show that the proposed antenna yields a 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 92.8<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> (4.5–12.3 GHz), a 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidth of 67.5<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> (5.3–10.7 GHz), and a 3 dB gain bandwidth of 62.3<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\%$</tex-math></inline-formula> (5.3–10.1 GHz) with a peak gain of 12.4 dBic.
M-Polynomials and Degree-Based Topological Indices of VC5C7[p,q] and HC5C7[p,q] Nanotubes

Analysts are creating materials, for example, a carbon nanotube-based composite created by NASA that bends when a voltage is connected. Applications incorporate the use of an electrical voltage to change the shape (transform) of airship wings and different structures. Topological indices are numerical parameters of a molecular graph which characterize its topology and are usually graph invariant. Topological indices are used, for example, in the development of quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) in which the biological activity or other properties of molecules are correlated with their chemical structure. Topological indices catch symmetry of molecular structures and help us to predict properties, for example, boiling points, viscosity, and the radius of gyrations of nanotubes. In this paper, we compute <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-polynomials of two nanotubes, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$VC_{5} C_{7} [p,q]$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$HC_{5} C_{7} [p,q]$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. By applying calculus on these <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${M}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-polynomials, we produce formulas of numerous degree-based topological indices, which are functions relying on parameters of the structure and, in combination, decide properties of the concerned polymeric compound.
Recurrent evolution of extreme longevity in bats

Bats live longer than similar-sized mammals, but the number of lineages that have independently evolved extreme longevity has not previously been determined. Here we reconstruct the evolution of size-corrected longevity on a recent molecular phylogeny and find that at least four lineages of bats have lifespans more than fourfold those of similar-sized placental mammals, with the ancestral bat projected to live 2.6 times as long. We then evaluate a series of phylogenetic generalized least-squares models containing up to nine variables hypothesized to influence extrinsic mortality. These analyses reveal that body mass and hibernation predict longevity. Among hibernators, longevity is predicted by the absolute value of the median latitude of the species range and cave use, while cave use and lack of sexual dimorphism predict longevity among non-hibernators. The importance of torpor in extending lifespan is further supported by the one lineage with extreme longevity that does not hibernate but exhibits flexible thermoregulation, the common vampire bat. We propose several potential mechanisms that may enable bats to live so long, and suggest that the ability to tolerate a wide range of body temperatures could be important for surviving viral or other pathogen infections.
Nicotine‐induced neuroplasticity in striatum is subregion‐specific and reversed by motor training on the rotarod

Nicotine is recognized as one of the most addictive drugs, which in part could be attributed to progressive neuroadaptations and rewiring of dorsal striatal circuits. Since motor‐skill learning produces neuroplasticity in the same circuits, we postulate that rotarod training could be sufficient to block nicotine‐induced rewiring and thereby prevent long‐lasting impairments of neuronal functioning. To test this hypothesis, Wistar rats were subjected to 15 days of treatment with either nicotine (0.36 mg/kg) or vehicle. After treatment, a subset of animals was trained on the rotarod. Ex vivo electrophysiology was performed 1 week after the nicotine treatment period and after up to 3 months of withdrawal to define neurophysiological transformations in circuits of the striatum and amygdala. Our data demonstrate that nicotine alters striatal neurotransmission in a distinct temporal and spatial sequence, where acute transformations are initiated in dorsomedial striatum (DMS) and nucleus accumbens (nAc) core. Following 3 months of withdrawal, synaptic plasticity in the form of endocannabinoid‐mediated long‐term depression (eCB‐LTD) is impaired in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), and neurotransmission is altered in DLS, nAc shell, and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Training on the rotarod, performed after nicotine treatment, blocks neurophysiological transformations in striatal subregions, and prevents nicotine‐induced impairment of eCB‐LTD. These datasets suggest that nicotine‐induced rewiring of striatal circuits can be extinguished by other behaviors that induce neuroplasticity. It remains to be determined if motor‐skill training could be used to prevent escalating patterns of drug use in experienced users or facilitate the recovery from addiction.
Modelling microbial communities using biochemical resource allocation analysis

To understand the functioning and dynamics of microbial communities is a fundamental challenge in current biology. To tackle this challenge, the construction of computational models of interacting microbes is an indispensable tool. There is, however, a large chasm between ecologically motivated descriptions of microbial growth used in many current ecosystems simulations, and detailed metabolic pathway and genome-based descriptions developed in the context of systems and synthetic biology. Here, we seek to demonstrate how resource allocation models of microbial growth offer the potential to advance ecosystem simulations and their parametrization. In particular, recent work on quantitative resource allocation allow us to formulate mechanistic models of microbial growth that are physiologically meaningful while remaining computationally tractable. These models go beyond Michaelis–Menten and Monod-type growth models, and are capable of accounting for emergent properties that underlie the remarkable plasticity of microbial growth. We outline the utility and advantages of using biochemical resource allocation models by considering a coarse-grained model of cyanobacterial growth and demonstrate how the model allows us to address specific questions of relevance for the simulation of marine microbial ecosystems, including the physiological acclimation of protein expression to different environments, the description of co-limitation by several nutrients and the differential use of alternative nutrient sources, as well as the description of metabolic diversity based on our increasing knowledge about quantitative cell physiology.
Design of surfaces for controlling hard and soft fouling

In this review, we present a framework to guide the design of surfaces which are resistant to solid fouling, based on the modulus and length scale of the fouling material. Solid fouling is defined as the undesired attachment of solid contaminants including ice, clathrates, waxes, inorganic scale, polymers, proteins, dust and biological materials. We first provide an overview of the surface design approaches typically applied across the scope of solid fouling and explain how these disparate research efforts can be united to an extent under a single framework. We discuss how the elastic modulus and the operating length scale of a foulant determine its ability or inability to elastically deform surfaces. When surface deformation occurs, minimization of the substrate elastic modulus is critical for the facile de-bonding of a solid contaminant. Foulants with low modulus or small deposition sizes cannot deform an elastic bulk material and instead de-bond more readily from surfaces with chemistries that minimize their interfacial free energy or induce a particular repellant interaction with the foulant. Overall, we review reported surface design strategies for the reduction in solid fouling, and provide perspective regarding how our framework, together with the modulus and length scale of a foulant, can guide future antifouling surface designs. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bioinspired materials and surfaces for green science and technology’.
Associations between interoceptive sensitivity, intuitive eating, and body mass index in patients with anorexia nervosa and normal‐weight controls

Abstract Reduced perception of bodily signals and low levels of intuitive eating have been reported in patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) compared with normal‐weight individuals. However, findings have been inconsistent and treatment progress might account for some of these inconsistencies. Thirty‐seven inpatients with AN and 39 normal‐weight controls completed a heartbeat perception task and the Intuitive Eating Scale–2. Patients with AN reported lower intuitive eating than controls, whereas interoceptive sensitivity did not differ between groups. Higher interoceptive sensitivity was related to higher intuitive eating across both groups. In patients with AN, both higher interoceptive sensitivity and intuitive eating correlated with the number of days in the hospital and with higher body mass index (BMI), when controlling for BMI at admission. These relationships suggest that interoceptive sensitivity and intuitive eating improve during treatment. Future research should determine whether these improvements promote weight gain or follow it.