Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring factors associated with upper-limb prosthesis embodiment : a mixed-methods approach

Current rejection rates among upper-limb prosthesis users are particularly high. A significant psychological factor associated with prosthesis use is the extent to which users feel their prosthesis is a natural part of them (termed Prosthesis Embodiment [PE]). Many researchers and clinicians suggest that encouraging PE should be an aim of rehabilitation. However, the factors influencing PE, how PE changes over the user’s lifetime, and the potential clinical consequences of PE, are currently unclear. In Study 1, in-depth qualitative email interviews were conducted with 10 upper-limb prosthesis users to explore both factors influencing and resulting from PE, via a qualitative Directed Content Analysis. Participants reported an unexpectedly wide range of both influences (e.g. type of prosthesis) and outcomes (e.g. better prosthesis proficiency). Temporary changes to PE were more noticeable to the user than a gradual change over time. These findings were then used to design a quantitative online questionnaire survey for upper-limb prosthesis users (Study 2) in order to follow-up findings in a larger sample (N = 34). In addition to statistically confirming most of the expected relationships, potential motivational and social aspects for PE emerged from the analysis. Further key findings are that PE is on a continuum rather than being dichotomous, and that satisfaction with aspects of the prosthesis (e.g., functionality) is also a major factor. An Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) study was conducted with 31 anatomically-intact participants to explore experimentally how the prosthesis control method influences PE (Study 3). Body ownership techniques were utilised in a virtual-hand illusion paradigm, combined with motion tracking of a myoelectric prosthesis. This tested the relative impact of electromyographic (EMG) control (via muscle flexes) on virtual PE compared to anatomical-hand control. Results indicated the feeling of agency and skin conductance response to a virtual threat to the prosthesis were similar between the conditions. However, the feeling of ownership was significantly reduced with EMG control of the prosthesis, suggesting the influence of control method on PE, and may be a key factor for rejection. The results indicate there are a much greater range of influences and outcomes of PE than previously expected or explored, and that IVR prosthetic simulations may provide a method to test specific factors in a controlled setting. Understanding such factors could potentially inform prosthetic design, and ultimately aid in rehabilitation.
Optimizing Mandrel Dimensions for a Fixture Hardening Process of High-Strength Steel Aerospace Parts by Finite Element Simulation

A fixture hardening process for aerospace gear box components of alloy S156 (16NiCrMo16-5, 1.6722) is investigated by thermomechanical metallurgical 2D axisymmetric Finite Element simulations. Material parameters are experimentally determined. Contact and transformation plasticity effects among others are implemented in Abaqus® with user subroutines. The study aims to optimize the mandrel diameter of a fixture hardening tool for processing of planet gears. Plasticity, transformation plasticity, arising contact forces, and pressure depending on different mandrel sizes are investigated in depth. Distortion is evaluated and an optimal setting is derived from the calculations. Results show that cylindricity, defined here as the difference between maximum and minimum radius of the part, and maximum contact pressure, both can be reduced by increasing the mandrel radius. Physical effects and distortion evolve strongly nonlinear. Analysis methods highlighting cylindricity depending on the different mandrel diameters are developed to illustrate this nonlinear behavior and to enhance knowledge about the process.
Maximum thermodynamic power coefficient of a wind turbine

According to the centenary Betz-Joukowsky law, the power extracted from a wind turbine in open flow cannot exceed 16/27 of the wind transported kinetic energy rate. This limit is usually interpreted as an absolute theoreticalupperbound forthe powercoefficientof allwind turbines, but it was derived in the special case of incompressible fluids. Following the same steps of Betz classical derivation, we model the turbine as an actuator disk in a one dimensional fluid flow but consider the general case of a compressible reversible fluid, such as air. In doing so, we are obliged to use notonly the laws of mechanics butalso and explicitly the laws of thermodynamics. We show that the power coefficient depends on the inlet wind Mach number M 0 , and that its maximum value exceeds the Betz-Joukowsky limit. We have developed a series expansion for the maximum power coefficient in powers of the Mach number M 0 that unifies all the cases (compressible and incompressible) in the same simple expression: 𝜂 max = 16 ∕ 27 + 8 ∕ 243 M 20 . we We that
Service Multilatinas: The Internationalization of Cinépolis

Abstract The main objective of this work is to analyze the internationalization process of Cinépolis, a Mexican entertainment service multilatina. To achieve this aim, a qualitative research case study was carried out based in secondary data. The main finding of this study is that the internationalization of Cinépolis is based on the implementation of a business model whose main objective is to transfer the operating paradigm overseas in an adapted manner that involves technology and creativity in its services. Additionally the company followed a process of gradual and sequential internationalization in culturally related and geographically close markets.
Factors Affecting Systems Engineering Rigor in Launch Vehicle Organizations

Systems engineering is a methodical multi-disciplinary approach to design, build, and operate complex systems. Launch vehicles are considered by many extremely complex systems that have greatly impacted where the systems engineering industry is today. Launch vehicles are used to transport payloads from the ground to a location in space. Satellites launched by launch vehicles can range from commercial communications to national security payloads. Satellite costs can range from a few million dollars to billions of dollars. Prior research suggests that lack of systems engineering rigor as one of the leading contributors to launch vehicle failures. A launch vehicle failure could have economic, societal, scientific, and national security impacts. This is why it is critical to understand the factors that affect systems engineering rigor in U.S. launch vehicle organizations. The current research examined organizational factors that influence systems engineering rigor in launch vehicle organizations. This study examined the effects of the factors of systems engineering culture and systems engineering support on systems engineering rigor. Particularly, the effects of top management support, organizational commitment, systems engineering support, and value of systems engineering were examined. This research study also analyzed the mediating role of systems engineering support between top management support and systems engineering rigor, as well as between organizational commitment and systems engineering rigor. A quantitative approach was used for this. Data for the study was collected via survey instrument. A total of 203 people in various systems engineering roles in launch vehicle organizations throughout the United States voluntarily participated. Each latent construct of the study was validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between the variables of the study. The IBM SPSS AMOS 25 software was used to analyze the CFA and SEM.
Three Different Episodes of Prompt Equatorial Electric Field Perturbations Under Steady Southward IMF Bz During St. Patrick's Day Storm

Three different episodes of prompt penetration electric field (PPEF) disturbances are observed during the main phase of the St. Patrick's Day storm on 17 March 2015 under steady southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) Bz conditions unlike the conventional PPEF associated with southward or northward turnings of IMF Bz. These PPEF events took place during the period when strong disturbance dynamo fields are prevailing in the background. The first event is triggered by a solar wind dynamic pressure pulse that caused a sharp eastward PPEF and strong enhancement of equatorial electrojet current in Brazilian dayside. The second event caused another short but strong westward PPEF on dayside due to the reversal of IMF By from duskward to dawnward under steady IMF Bz. The third event caused a longer eastward PPEF in association with a solar wind dynamic pressure pulse followed by the onset of a substorm, which has led to strong enhancement of equatorial electrojet, quick rejuvenation and symmetric redistribution of equatorial ionization anomaly in the Brazilian sector. The signatures of the PPEF with opposite polarity and smaller magnitudes are also observed in the Asian sector on the nightside. The possible mechanisms for the observed PPEF events under steady IMF Bz are discussed in terms of changes in the high‐latitude field‐aligned currents and reconfiguration of high‐latitude convection fields using Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment and Super Dual Auroral Radar Network high‐frequency radar observations.
Replication data for: Developing a Georeferenced Database of Selected Threatened Forest Tree Species in the Philippines

Georeferenced species occurrence is a prerequisite in species distribution modeling and species ecosystem correlation analysis and also aids in tracking plant species and prioritizing scarce resources for conservation. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility, legacy literature of biodiversity, contemporary literature, technical reports and biodiversity surveys are important sources of species occurrence data waiting to be georeferenced. In this paper, we discussed a method used to georeference occurrences of threatened forest tree species from the above sources. Locality descriptions were initially narrowed down in geographic information system using administrative maps and further confined using two criteria: 1) elevation and 2) surface cover information from remotely-sensed images. The result was a georeferenced database of 2,067 occurrence records of 47 threatened forest species on a national scale . Each record had a unique point feature per species and enough metadata directing the database user to the source of occurrence data. The database can be used as a tool in determining priority species for specimen or germplasm collection, for taxonomic identification and historical mapping. It also serves as an integral component in spatially modeling the distribution of tree species and forest formations in the past and in a possible future scenario.
DopplerNet: a convolutional neural network for recognising targets in real scenarios using a persistent range–Doppler radar

In the past few years, the commercial use of drones has exploded, since they are a safe and cost-effective solution for many kinds of problems. However, this fact also opens the door for malicious use. This work presents a novel system able to detect and recognise drones from other targets, allowing the police and security agencies to deal with this new aerial thread. The proposed system only uses a persistent range-Doppler radar, avoiding the restrictions of the optical sensors, usually required for the recognition part. The processing is based on constant false alarm rate detection stage, followed by a convolutional neural network that performs the recognition. This network takes as input raw range-Doppler radar data and predicts their class (car, person, or drone). For this purpose, an extensive controlled trial test campaign has been performed, resulting in a novel dataset with more than 17,000 samples of drones, cars, and people, acquired in real outdoor scenarios. As far as authors' knowledge, this is the first range-Doppler radar database for the recognition of drones and other targets. The high-accuracy results (99.48%) suggest that this system could be successfully used in security and defence applications to discriminate between drones and other entities.
Intensity and Dose of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Influence Sensorimotor Cortical Excitability

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the peripheral nervous system has been largely used in the field of neurorehabilitation to decrease muscle atrophy and to restore motor function in paralyzed patients. The rehabilitative effects of NMES rely on the direct or indirect efferent effect on muscle tone and afferent volleys that induce cortical excitation. Although different neuroimaging tools suggested the capability of NMES to regulate the excitability of sensorimotor cortex and corticospinal circuits, to date how intensity and dose of NMES can neuromodulate the brain oscillatory activity measured with electroencephalography (EEG) is yet to be clarified. In the present study, we quantify the effect of NMES parameters on brain oscillatory activity of twelve healthy participants who underwent stimulation of wrist extensors during rest while EEG was recorded. Three different NMES intensities were included: (1) low, inducing slight sensory perception, (2) medium, inducing moderate sensory perception, and (3) high, generating a functional movement. Firstly, we efficiently removed stimulation artifacts from the sensorimotor brain oscillatory activity. Secondly, we analyzed the effect of amplitude and dose on the latter. On the one hand, we observed significant NMES amplitude-dependent brain SMR modulation, demonstrating the direct effect of afferent receptors recruitment. On the other hand, our results revealed a significant NMES amplitude-based dose-effect on SMR modulation over time. While at low and medium intensities the NMES produced a significant cortical inhibitory effect in time, at high intensity a significant cortical facilitatory effect was induced. These results highlight the functionally relevant role of muscle contraction and proprioception in sensorimotor processes, which should be carefully considered for the design and development of NMES based neuromodulation.
Identification and phylogenetic analysis of the complete mitochondrial genome of Fuzhong buffalo (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

Abstract Fuzhong buffalo (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus, 1758 breed Fuzhong, FB) is one of the famous indigenous breeds of buffalo in China. It is the first time that the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the FB was reported. The total length of the mtDNA is 16,363 bp, It contains the typical structure, including 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes and one non-coding control region (D-loop region). The overall composition of the mtDNA was estimated to be 32.98% for A, 26.34% for T, 26.70% for C and 13.98% for G. Phylogenetic analyses using N-J computational algorithms showed that the analyzed 19 ruminantia species are divided into four major clades: Bovidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae and Atilocapridae. In addition, our work confirmed that FB and Murrah buffalo (MB) have a close genetic relationship with fellow tribal members Nili-Ravi buffalo and Mediterranean buffalo. Meanwhile, we also found that FB and MB have a highly similar genetic relationship.
Modeling of chromatographic retention of the selected antiarrhythmics and structurally related compounds in the hydrophilic interactions under the TLC and HPLC conditions

Abstract High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) plays an important role in testing the pharmaceutically active compounds. In despite of the advantages of HPLC, thin-layer chromatography (TLC) retains its applicability to the different experimental tasks. The experimental conditions which allow hydrophilic interactions in the chromatographic system were tested in the HPLC and TLC systems for ivabradine, its related compounds, diltiazem and verapamil. Under the TLC conditions, retention behavior of the investigated compounds was tested on silica gel modified with cyanopropyl ligands as stationary phase and acetonitrile + methanol containing 25% v/v formic acid. Under the HPLC conditions, we used silica gel modified with cyanopropyl ligands as a column packing and the acetonitrile + 0.25% aqueous solution of formic acid as mobile phase. Retention behavior of the investigated analytes depending on the changing volume fractions of the mobile phase modifier was characterized both for TLC and HPLC data sets by the Soczewiński–Wachtmeister equation. Linear relationships were established between the retention coefficients characterizing the retention mechanism (RM0/m, logk0/m) and molecular properties of the investigated compounds. The Quantitative Structure Retention Relationship (QSRR) modeling was performed with the use of the stepwise multiple linear regression, in order to select molecular properties which influence retention. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
The Drosophila seminal Sex Peptide can associate with rival as well as own sperm and provide function for SP in polyandrous females

In populations in which females tend to mate with more than one male, sperm competition and cryptic female choice can occur, triggering biases in sperm use and influencing males’ paternity share outcome of the mating. This competition occurs in the context of molecules and cells of male and female working interdependently towards the common goal of optimal fertilization. For example, a male’s seminal fluid molecules modify the female’s physiology to increase reproductive success. However, since some of these modifications induce long-term changes in female physiology, this can indirectly benefit rival males. Indeed, rival males can tailor their ejaculates accordingly, minimizing the energy cost of mating. Here we investigate the direct benefits that seminal fluid proteins from an ejaculate of one male can confer to sperm of a rival. We report that Sex Peptide (SP) that a female receives from one male can bind to sperm from a prior mate, that were already stored in the female. Moreover, the second male’s SP can restore fertility and facilitate efficient sperm release or utilization of sperm received from the first male that had been stored in the female. Thus, SP from one male can directly benefit another and as such is a key molecular component in the process of inter-ejaculate interaction.
Fabrication of Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Polycaprolactone Multilayered Composites with Confined Distribution of MWCNTs for Achieving Tunable Thermo- and Electro-Responsive Shape-Memory Performances

Multilayered shape-memory composites composed of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-filled thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) (denoted as cTPU) and polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared through layer-multiplying coextrusion. The phase interfaces and conductive pathways in the multilayered structure which can be tailored by layer-multiplying endowed the materials with tunable thermo- and electro-responsive shape-memory effects (TSME and ESME). Compared with the conventional blending composite having the same compositions, the cTPU/PCL multilayered system with high phase continuity and abundantly continuous interfaces exhibited better TSME, which could be further enhanced with increasing the layer number. It was revealed that the strain energy stored in cTPU layers would be balanced by adjacent PCL layers via interfacial shearing effect so that each domain could endow the maximum contribution to the shape-memory performance. Besides, the confined layer space allowed for a more compact connection between the MWCNTs than in the blending composite, while the original conductive network formed in cTPU tended to be gradually broken up during layer multiplying. Moreover, an excessive conductivity may induce local overheating and even the melting of permanent domains, leading to undesired deformation. Accordingly, the multilayered composite with a proper layer number which exhibited suitable conductivity and efficient TSME achieved balanced ESME with quick recovery speed, excellent recovery ratio, and good appearance retention. This work opened an avenue in preparing outstanding shape-memory materials with both thermal and electrical actuations, which showed great potential in applications of sensors, actuators, self-deployable devices, and so forth.
Adaptive Command Filtered Neuro-Fuzzy Control Design for Fractional-Order Nonlinear Systems With Unknown Control Directions and Input Quantization

This article studies the adaptive backstepping control problem for a class of fractional-order (FO) nonlinear systems subject to input quantization and unknown control directions by combining with an indirect FO Lyapunov stability method, and a command filter-based FO dynamic surface control (FODSC) technique. First, a modified FODSC method is utilized to reduce the computational complexity existing in the conventional recursive procedure in which an FO command filter is designed to obtain the command signals and their FO derivatives. Furthermore, the Nussbaum function and neuro-fuzzy networks (NFNs) are adopted to deal with the problem of the unknown control directions and unknown nonlinear functions existing in the system. Moreover, by introducing the compensation and prediction mechanism to controller design, the adaptive controllers, and adaptive laws are constructed to ensure that all the signals of the controlled systems are bounded. Finally, two examples are given to show the validity of the developed control method.
Investigation of effect of stress on eddy current response using phase diagram

Abstract This paper presents determination of the stress state of steel bridges, due to stress redistribution because of corrosion or cracking, as a new important parameter in structural health monitoring for evaluating their condition. For this, eddy current testing is used to investigate the effect of change in stress in a steel plate through three-dimensional numerical simulations carried out in the FE software, COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2a. A reflection probe, comprising of an outer exciting coil and an inner detecting coil, is used to characterize the eddy current indices - real, imaginary, and absolute voltages, and phase with respect to the change in relative permeability, which is dependent on stress, lift-off, exciting frequency, and probe size. A new concise method of simultaneously representing the effects of relative permeability and lift-off at an excitation frequency, termed as Phase diagram, is then proposed, which is further used for selection of suitable probe size and excitation frequency for eddy current based stress measurement. It is found that larger probes and lower excitation frequencies are preferable, because of better sensitivity of larger probes to significant lift-offs and uniform trend of change of eddy current indices at lower frequency, requisite of calibration.