Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vulnerability of Hardware Neural Networks to Dynamic Operation Point Variations

Editor’s notes: This article studies the impacts of physical variations on neural networks. The proposed studies reveal an important observation that both multiple layer perceptron (MLP) and convolutional neural network (CNN) may fail to operate appropriately even with small variations (e.g., voltage droops as small as 20 mV). Robust neural network architectures, including the binarized neural network (BNN) and the local binary pattern network (LBPNet), are explored to address this variability issue that has become a major bottleneck for practical applications. —Xin Li, Duke University
A Sensitive Triple-Band Rectifier for Energy Harvesting Applications

This paper presents a novel sensitive triple-band power rectifier for RF energy harvesting systems. The proposed rectifier can simultaneously harvest RF energy from GSM-900, GSM-1800, and Wi-Fi-2450 bands at relatively low and medium ambient power densities. Previously, a few multi-band rectennas have been reached a stable conversion efficiency overall frequency bands of interest because of the nonlinearity and the distinct input impedance of the rectifying circuit at these frequencies. The originality of this paper is on the improved impedance matching technique that enhances the efficiency and performance of the rectifier. The proposed high-efficiency triple-band rectifier consists of three parallel branches. Each branch comprises an input matching circuit designed to provide maximum RF power transferred to rectifying diodes, a single voltage doubler using Schottky diode HSMS-2852, and a DC-pass filter to smooth the DC output voltage. A prototype of the proposed rectifier circuit is fabricated and tested to verify its performance against the simulation results. With an optimum load resistance of 3.8 $\text{k}\Omega $ at −10 dBm input power level, the measured RF to DC conversion efficiency achieves 33.7%, 21.8%, and 20% at 0.9, 1.8 and 2.45 GHz respectively. The efficiency is above 46.5 % overall bands of interest under 0 dBm input power.
Environmental impact of fuel stations on some heavy metal concentrations in nearby surface crust soils in urban areas: A case study of soil heavy metal contamination

In the present study, the chemical analysis, related to heavy metals (Pb, Ni, Zn, Mn, and Fe) which considered the main source of pollution in soils that come from several sources, was carried out near a three fuel stations to reveal their effect on heavy metals in the nearby soils. Samples were collected from soils which are near to three Fuel stations in Al Hilla city, as a case study, it was found that the concentrations of these metals are all below the value that should be available in average shale, except that for Pb. The average concentration of metals in samples was Pb (25.47 ppm), Ni (86.65 ppm), Zn (84.38 ppm), Mn (96.71 ppm), and Fe (112.38 ppm), and a statistical analysis is done for these results to find correlations coefficients among studied elements, and the results suggested that the fuel station may compromise the nearby soils by increasing Pb concentrations in them.
Biophysical Investigations of the Aβ Aggregation Process

The presence in patient’s brain tissues of neuritic plaques containing Aβ aggregates is one of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Aβ aggregates have been implicated in the disease mechanism. These facts have inspired a large number of biophysical and structural studies on Aβ behavior over the last 25 years. Much remains to be learned, but there are a number of barriers to progress, including the challenges of making and manipulating these peptides and understanding their aggregation behavior. This thesis describes an improved method for the chemical synthesis of highly aggregation prone peptides like Aβ, insights into some previously unrealized limitations of a widely used “disaggregation” procedure for making high quality monomer solutions, and two fundamental studies on aspects of Aβ self-assembly. The improved synthesis method involves reversible addition of Lys residues to the C-terminus of the peptide during solid phase synthesis, which we show improves the synthetic yield and also improves the chromatographic behavior of the peptide during purification. The new knowledge about disaggregation reveals that a method involving sequential treatment of peptides with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP), while very effective with Aβ40, can alter the self-assembly of Aβ42, compared with an alternative protocol, and introduce highly stable oligomers that may possess substantial toxicity. In one fundamental study, we show that the minor brain form, Aβ43, aggregates more slowly than Aβ42 to make amyloid fibrils that are highly inefficient at seeding Aβ42 monomers. In another study, we describe the surprising result that amyloid fibrils of D-Aβ40 can seed L-Aβ40 monomers, and vice versa, suggesting a curious lack of structural discrimination to the prion-like propagation of Aβ amyloid in vitro. The results add to our knowledge of Aβ amyloid assembly and how it can best be studied in the laboratory.
Ciclo vital de Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) en condiciones controladas

AMATE, J.; BARRANCO, P. y CABELLO, T. , 1998: Ciclo vital de Chrysodeixis chalcites (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) en condiciones controladas. Bol. San. Veg. Plagas, 24(Adenda al n.° 2): 425-428. Life cycle of Chrysodeixis chalates (Esper) has been studied on artificial diet at 25 ± 2 °C; 80 ± 10% R. H. ; 18:6 hours light: darkness. The average of days spent in every stage were: 3.96 for egg, 17.51 for larva (3.53, 2.78, 2.9, 3.06, 2.49 and 2.75 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th stadium, respectively, 1.13 for prepupa, and 10.34 for pupa. The average of longevity was 11.43 days for males and 12.21 for females. The three periods (pre-ovipositional, ovipositional, and post-ovipositional) of female adult life lasted 3.5, 7.43 and 1.29 days, respectively. The average of fecundity was 1060,64 eggs per female.
Thermodynamic Consistency of Plate and Shell Mathematical Models in the Context of Classical and Non-Classical Continuum Mechanics and a Thermodynamically Consistent New Thermoelastic Formulation

Inclusion of dissipation and memory mechanisms, non-classical elasticity and thermal effects in the currently used plate/shell mathematical models require that we establish if these mathematical models can be derived using the conservation and balance laws of continuum mechanics in conjunction with the corresponding kinematic assumptions. This is referred to as thermodynamic consistency of the mathematical models. Thermodynamic consistency ensures thermodynamic equilibrium during the evolution of the deformation. When the mathematical models are thermodynamically consistent, the second law of thermodynamics facilitates consistent derivations of constitutive theories in the presence of dissipation and memory mechanisms. This is the main motivation for the work presented in this paper. In the currently used mathematical models for plates/shells based on the assumed kinematic relations, energy functional is constructed over the volume consisting of kinetic energy, strain energy and the potential energy of the loads. The Euler’s equations derived from the first variation of the energy functional for arbitrary length when set to zero yield the mathematical model(s) for the deforming plates/shells. Alternatively, principle of virtual work can also be used to derive the same mathematical model(s). For linear elastic reversible deformation physics with small deformation and small strain, these two approaches, based on energy functional and the principle of virtual work, yield the same mathematical models. These mathematical models hold for reversible mechanical deformation. In this paper, we examine whether the currently used plate/shell mathematical models with the corresponding kinematic assumptions can be derived using the conservation and balance laws of classical or non-classical continuum mechanics. The mathematical models based on Kirchhoff hypothesis (classical plate theory, CPT) and first order shear deformation theory (FSDT) that are representative of most mathematical models for plates/shells are investigated in this paper for their thermodynamic consistency. This is followed by the details of a general and higher order thermodynamically consistent plate/shell thermoelastic mathematical model that is free of a priori consideration of kinematic assumptions and remains valid for very thin as well as thick plates/shells with comprehensive nonlinear constitutive theories based on integrity. Model problem studies are presented for small deformation behavior of linear elastic plates in the absence of thermal effects and the results are compared with CPT and FSDT mathematical models.
Smart working: soluzione ad ogni emergenza? Prospettive oltre l’emergenza

Nella situazione di allarme per la diffusione del coronavirus, che si è venuta a creare nel nostro paese a partire dal mese di febbraio del 2020, una particolare attenzione è stata dedicata ad un tema che abbiamo già avuto modo di esaminare qualche anno fa e che è ora tornato prepotentemente alla ribalta come via privilegiata per consentire alle persone di continuare a lavorare minimizzando al massimo gli spostamenti verso i cd. luoghi di lavoro, essendo la via dell’isolamento considerata l’arma prioritaria per tentare di contenere il diffondersi dell’epidemia. Ad esso hanno fatto riferimento provvedimenti governativi emanati per fronteggiare la situazione; ad esso hanno fatto ricorso (e stanno facendo ricorso o stanno pensando di farvi ricorso) realtà produttive di ogni tipo e dimensione, alleata una narrazione (su media di ogni genere) che prospetta facili e rapide soluzioni e che ne esalta benefici (sicuramente evidenti nella situazione di emergenza) forse troppo semplicisticamente descritti alla portata di tutti. L’argomento è quello dello smart working, al quale era dedicato l’editoriale n. 3 del 2015 – intitolato “TUTTO È SMART . ANCHE IL LAVORO”, che prendeva spunto dalle previsioni di un suo significativo sviluppo di lì a poco, in forza della crescente pervasività degli strumenti mobile e cloud e della digitalizzazione di un numero in costante incremento di applicazioni professionali. Anche l’editoriale n. 3 del 2016, che aveva come titolo “CONNESSI O NON CONNESSI? THAT IS THE QUESTION. ”, vi era in qualche misura collegato. Esso era infatti incentrato sulla questione del diritto alla disconnessione, essendo questo aspetto una delle possibili criticità nel ricorso a forme di organizzazione del lavoro che si possono ricondurre allo smart working (tanto da essere uno dei punti specificamente richiamati nella normativa in argomento emanata poi nel 2017, la legge n. 81 “Misure per la tutela del lavoro autonomo non imprenditoriale e misure volte a favorire l’articolazione flessibile nei tempi e nei luoghi di lavoro subordinato”).
Hybrid Electromagnetic Inversion of 3-D Irregular Scatterers Embedded in Layered Media by VBIM and MET

This communication presents an efficient hybrid nonlinear electromagnetic inversion method. The voxel-based variational Born iterative method (VBIM) is combined with the maximum entropy thresholding (MET) technique to reconstruct 3-D irregular scatterers embedded in the layered media. In each iteration, the VBIM first outputs the model parameters in discretized cells of the inversion domain, and the MET is then used to categorize them into “background” and “scatterer” types. Partial “background” cells will be removed in the next round iteration according to an adjustable threshold corresponding to the maximum entropy since they have no contribution to the measured scattered fields. Consequently, the inversion domain is gradually downsized in the successive iterations. The computation efficiency, memory cost, and the reconstruction accuracy are compared for VBIM with and without the MET. Their antinoise ability is also compared.
Cross-Cultural Skype Conversation in Improving Students’ Speaking Production and Grammar

Generation Z students with millennial spirit 4.0 are always expected to increase their competitiveness globally. One of the elements to compete is the ability to speak English with good grammar. A tertiary school in Bandung adopts CrossCultural Skype Conversation (CCSC) to improve students’ English-speaking production and grammar. This study aims to analyze how it is implemented and how the students view it. Data were collected through classroom observation to see how CCSC was implemented. To get the students’ perceptions, a questionnaire was distributed to 42 Engineering students, after it was tabulated and analyzed, 2 students with opposite perception were chosen to be interviewed. The result of the observation shows that CCSC is carried out in turn in a way that one student talks to English speakers from other countries, while other students write one’s grammar mistakes. While questionnaire and interview analysis show that 74% of students agree that CCSC can improve their speaking production and grammar as they can talk more, and they tend to be able to understand and reply to what their interlocutors ask. Corrections regarding grammar errors are rarely encountered.
Multiparametric positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Correlations between magnetic resonance imaging functional parameters and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging biomarkers and their predictive value for treatment failure

Objectives: The clinical significance of positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) functional parameters in nasopharyngealcarcinoma (NPC) remains unclear. The purpose of this prospective study was two-fold: (1) to investigate the associations between simultaneously acquired PET/MRI perfusion, diffusion, and glucose metabolism parameters in patients with NPC and (2) to analyze their predictive value with respect to treatment failure. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 85 patients with primary NPC who simultaneously underwent18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and PET/MRI before definitive treatment. The following variables were determined: (1) functional parameters from the MRI component, including perfusion values (Ktrans,kep,ve, and initial area under the enhancement curve) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, and (2) PET parameters, including metabolic tumor volume (MTV). The reciprocal interrelationships between these parameters and their correlations with treatment failure were examined. Results: We observed significant negative associations between Ktransand ADC (r = −0.215, P = 0.049) as well as between veand ADC (r = −0.22, P = 0.04). Correlations between PET and MRI functional parameters were not statistically significant. Treatment failures were observed in 21.2% of patients without distant metastases. Multivariate analysis identified ve as a significant independent predictor for treatment failure (P = 0.022), whereas MTV showed a borderline significance (P = 0.095). Patients in whom both veand MTV values were increased had a significantly higher rate of treatment failure (62.5%) than those with either one (21.9%) or no (7.7%) increased parameter (P = 0.004). Conclusion: Correlation analyses revealed complex interrelationships among PET and MRI indices measured in patients with NPC. These parameters may have a complementary role in predicting treatment failure in this clinical setting.
RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY APPLIED TO OXALIC ACID HYDROLYSIS OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH BIOMASS FOR D-XYLOSE PRODUCTION

Objective: The study aimed to identify the best conditions using oxalic acid for hydrolysis of hemicellulose in oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB)biomass.Methods: The analytical method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was using a SUPELCOSIL LC-NH2 column, refractive indexdetection detector, and three compositions of the mobile phase. At first, the hydrolysis of hemicellulose in OPEFB powder was optimized by applyinga response surface methodology. A three-variable, six-central composite design was used for the experiments. Temperature (between 95°C and135°C), reaction time (between 10 and 110 min), and oxalic acid concentration (between 1% and 7% [w/v]) were evaluated by running 15 differentexperiments at constant biomass concentrations. Then, hydrolysis was optimized again at the constant temperature selected with three variables:OPEFB concentration, reaction time, and oxalic acid concentration. Hydrolysate samples were detoxified with carbon active, and furfural compoundwas analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector.Results: The optimum condition of HPLC was using acetonitrile: water (9:1) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The first hydrolysis results showeda high yield of D-xylose produced, which was 6.40 g D-xylose/100 g OPEFB biomass, with a xylose recovery of 93.8%. However, this result wasnot yet optimum. Further hydrolysis at constant temperature experiment produced the highest xylose yield of 13.13%, equivalent to 32 g/lD-xylose.Conclusion: The yield of D-xylose from mild hydrolysis using oxalic acid was similar to that using dilute sulfuric acid as used in the previous studyby Rahman et al.
Dynamic Traffic Management for SD-WAN Inter-Cloud Communication

This article introduces the concept, implementation and evaluation of Dynamic Traffic Management (DTM). This management mechanism minimizes traffic transfer costs on inter-domain links. It works for volume and $95^{th}$ percentile tariffs. DTM reacts dynamically to traffic changes on inter-domain links shifting some part of traffic (manageable traffic) from one link to another. The management mechanism works in a distributed way. It requires cooperation between operators, namely Internet Service Providers (ISPs), receiving and generating traffic. Communication between ISPs is realized by SDN controllers (inter-domain SDN). DTM has been applied to inter-cloud communication for Data Centers (DCs) located in different ISP domains. Moreover, it is cloud-agnostic, i.e., DTM does not engage Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) into management procedures. Evaluation performed in the testbed shows that DTM is capable of decreasing ISP costs of transit traffic up to 29%.
Enamel hypoplasia in modern and archaeological caprine populations : the development and application of a new methodological approach

Archaeological research into domestic animals has demonstrated that enamel hypoplasia is a potentially valuable tool for investigating a range of archaeological topics including domestication and animal management strategies. However, research into archaeological domestic populations has been hindered by the difficulty of recording and interpreting enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species such as caprines and cattle. This research develops a methodological approach for recording enamel hypoplasia in high-crowned species which is applied to modern and archaeological caprine populations from three geographically distinct regions (Orkney, Kenya and Iceland). Modern caprines with known life histories are used to investigate baseline factors such as the impact of the environment and nutrition on the frequency and severity of enamel hypoplasia in caprines. These baselines are then used to interpret enamel hypoplasia in archaeological populations. Results indicate that enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity can be linked to variation in the climate /environment as well as nutrition levels in caprine populations. By comparing enamel hypoplasia frequency and severity between populations with similar baseline factors, variation in animal management strategies can be identified. Physiological and seasonal stress events including birth, weaning, and seasonal periods of malnutrition are also identified using enamel hypoplasia in both modern and archaeological populations.
Bacterial and algal interactions in a Tasmanian estuary

The microbial communities and the physical and chemical environment of the Huon Estuary, Tasmania, Australia, were sampled in an 18 month program. Analysis of field samples, and laboratory experiments were used to examine the characteristics of estuarine and marine bacteria and algae, relationships between bacteria and algae, and their ecological roles. A multidisciplinary approach was used, including morphological, molecular, and chemical techniques. Five new algicidal bacteria strains were isolated from the estuary. The species were identified, based on molecular and phenotypic analyses, as a novel Pseudoalteromonas sp. , a novel Planococcus sp. , a novel Cellulophaga sp. , and two isolates that were closely related to the species Cellulophaga lytica and Bacillus cereus. The bacteria exhibited a powerful lytic effect on the vegetative lifestage of the toxic dinoflagellate Gymnodinium catenatum, an introduced species that blooms intermittently causing shellfish farm closures in the estuary. Excystment or encystment of the cyst lifestage of G. catenatum was unaffected by algicidal activity. The bacteria had no observable effect on rotifer, cyanobacteria and diatom species tested. Algicidal ability of the bacteria varied both in culture and in the environment. These variations depend on environmental conditions or may be due to differences in species-specific modes of action. Antimicrobial brominated compounds, unrelated to the algicidal activity of the bacteria, were also identified in one Pseudoalteromonas species. A novel Shewanella species was isolated that contains the highest proportion of the essential fatty acids 20:5(n-3) reported for a temperate member of this genus. These levels are close to those produced by psychrophilic Shewanella species. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), signature lipid profiling, and morphological data obtained during two Gymnodiniuni catenatum blooms and one diatom bloom, demonstrate that algicidal bacteria can form a major part of the bacterial community. Fatty acid analysis differentiated between different bacterial taxa isolated in this study and between field samples from the estuary. Variation of the branched chain fatty acids (BCFA) reflected the strong association of the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteriodes (CFB) cluster with microbial degradation of algal blooms in the estuary. Results from fatty acid analyses indicated that the CFB cluster are more common in the photic zone and during the chlorophyll maximum, while low levels of BCFA indicated that γ proteobacteria may be more abundant in the deeper, marine influenced waters. FISH analysis also showed that the CFB cluster was common in the estuarine community during blooms of the dinoflagellate G. catenatum. Member of the genera Pseudoalteromonas-Colwellia were a significant component during diatom blooms. Alpha (α) and gamma (γ) proteobacteria were common in the estuary, however, beta (β) proteobacteria were not. Throughout the year in the Huon Estuary, dominance of bacterial genera varied demonstrating distinct and systematic progressions related to the progression of algal blooms.