Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical study on dynamic compression of concrete based on meso-scale particle element modeling and fractal theory

In order to quantitatively describe the development of multiple cracks in concrete during dynamic compression, a meso-scale particle element modeling is established to numerically simulate the SHPB stamping test. The box dimension is used to calculate and simulate the development of cracks in the specimen. The fractal characteristics quantitatively described the cracks in the specimen and the region of interest during dynamic compression. Combined with the internal damage variables, the indexes to quantitatively describe the multi crack propagation and aggregate crushing of concrete under the action of high strain rate are proposed, which provides a method to further quantitatively describe the influence of multi crack propagation on the dynamic improvement mechanism of concrete.
Transfer-Learning-Based Intrusion Detection Framework in IoT Networks

Cyberattacks in the Internet of Things (IoT) are growing exponentially, especially zero-day attacks mostly driven by security weaknesses on IoT networks. Traditional intrusion detection systems (IDSs) adopted machine learning (ML), especially deep Learning (DL), to improve the detection of cyberattacks. DL-based IDSs require balanced datasets with large amounts of labeled data; however, there is a lack of such large collections in IoT networks. This paper proposes an efficient intrusion detection framework based on transfer learning (TL), knowledge transfer, and model refinement, for the effective detection of zero-day attacks. The framework is tailored to 5G IoT scenarios with unbalanced and scarce labeled datasets. The TL model is based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The framework was evaluated to detect a wide range of zero-day attacks. To this end, three specialized datasets were created. Experimental results show that the proposed TL-based framework achieves high accuracy and low false prediction rate (FPR). The proposed solution has better detection rates for the different families of known and zero-day attacks than any previous DL-based IDS. These results demonstrate that TL is effective in the detection of cyberattacks in IoT environments.
Homogénéisation des équations de Stokes et de Navier-Stokes

On etudie l'homogeneisation des equations de Stokes et Navier-Stokes avec une condition aux limites de Dirichlet dans un domaine contenant de petits obstacles, qui sont d'abord supposes repartis aux noeuds d'un reseau regulier periodique. On demontre la convergence du procede d'homogeneisation lorsque le pas du reseau tend vers zero. On etudie le probleme homogeneise suivant la taille des obstacles
Modification from Noncommutative Inflation

We explore the noncommutative effect on single field inflation and compare with WMAP five-year data. First, we calculate the noncommutative effect from the potential and dynamical terms, and construct the general form of modified power spectrum. Second, we consider the leading order modification of slow-roll, DBI and K-inflation and unite the modification, which means the modification is nearly model independent at this level. Finally, comparing with the WMAP5 data, we find that the modified can be well realized as the origin of the relative large spectral index and the quite small running.
Usability Evaluation of the SmartWheeler through Qualitative and Quantitative Studies

Background: Intelligent powered wheelchairs remain a popular research topic that can improve users’ quality of life. Although our multidisciplinary research team has put a lot of effort into adding features based on end-users needs and impairments since 2006, there are still open issues regarding the usability and functionalities of an intelligent powered wheelchair (IPW). Methods: For this reason, this research presents an experience with our IPW followed by a study in two parts: a quantitative one based on the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire and a qualitative one through open questions regarding IPW functionalities with novice users, e.g., IPW non-users. These users never used an IPW before, but are users and aware of the impacts of the technology used in our IPW, being undergraduate to postdoctoral students and staff (faculty, lecturers, research engineers) at the Faculty of Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke. Results: The qualitative analyses identified different behaviours among the novice users. The quantitative analysis via SUS questionnaire done with novice users reports an “okay” rating (equivalent with a C grade or 68 SUS Score) for our IPW’s usability. Moreover, advantages and disadvantages opinions were gathered on the IPW as well as comments which can be used to improve the system. Conclusions: The results reported in these studies show that the system, e.g., IPW, was judged to be sufficiently usable and robust by novice users, with and without experience with the software used in developing the IPW.
Finding out those factors which Promote Emotional Brandings in Relation to Textile Outlets: Multiple Group Path Analysis Approach

Purpose: The article tries to finding out those factors which promote emotional brandings in relation to textile outlets. One objective of this study is reached through proper methodology. Design/Methodology/Approach: Sample size was 200 in all obtained through convenience sampling technique in Coimbatore city. Researcher designed questionnaire is with 5 point scale in the continuum of agreeing. Reliability of this tool is 0.82 and 0.89. Multiple group path analysis was used for data analysis. Implication: It is concluded that this article has traced the possible relationships and the range of influences of the factors which promote emotional branding in textile outlets through the path analysis. With the theuristic diagram attempt was made to beacon the facts involved with emotional branding in textile outlets.
A Cyber–Physical–Social Perspective on Future Smart Distribution Systems

An increasing number of distributed energy resources (DERs), such as rooftop photovoltaic (PV), electric vehicles (EVs), and distributed energy storage, are being integrated into the distribution systems. The rise of DERs has come hand-in-hand with large amounts of data generated and explosive growth in data collection, communication, and control devices. In addition, a massive number of consumers are involved in the interaction with the power grid to provide flexibility. Electricity consumers, power networks, and communication networks are three main parts of the distribution systems, which are deeply coupled. In this sense, smart distribution systems can be essentially viewed as cyber–physical–social systems. So far, extensive works have been conducted on the intersection of cyber, physical, and social aspects in distribution systems. These works involve two or three of the cyber, physical, and social aspects. Having a better understanding of how the three aspects are coupled can help to better model, monitor, control, and operate future smart distribution systems. In this regard, this article provides a comprehensive review of the coupling relationships among the cyber, physical, and social aspects of distribution systems. Remarkably, several emerging topics that challenge future cyber–physical–social distribution systems, including applications of 5G communication, the impact of COVID-19, and data privacy issues, are discussed. This article also envisions several future research directions or challenges regarding cyber–physical–social distribution systems.
Ecosystem function responses to nutrient enrichment mediated by mud content in soft sediment habitats

ABSTRACT Estuaries are threatened with increasing sedimentation and nutrients, however research is limited on the interaction of these stressors on ecosystem functions. A field experiment adding nitrogen (N) fertiliser at high (600 g N m−2) and medium (150 g N m−2) concentrations and control plots was established in two sandy and two muddy sites (mud content 0–15%) to investigate context dependency of nitrogen enrichment on nutrient cycling and primary production. There was a significant interaction of mud x treatment on ammonium (NH4 +) fluxes. High N-addition plots had 133x greater dark NH4 + efflux than controls in muddy sediments, compared to 17x greater dark NH4 + efflux in sandy sediments. Net primary production increased with mud content, while photosynthetic efficiency of the microphytobenthos (GPPchl-a ) decreased above 4% mud. Mud content also affected the bivalve, Austrovenus stutchburyi (>30 mm), macrofaunal abundance and functional groups, and their influence on nutrient cycling. Thus minor increases in mud can alter the ecosystem response to nutrient enrichment directly through changes in sediment properties and indirectly by affecting the bivalves and macrofauna that influence these processes. This study highlights how multiple stressors interact to predispose estuaries to tipping points.
Structural stability of Fe[subscript 5]Si[subscript 3] and Ni[subscript 2]Si studied by high-pressure x-ray diffraction and ab initio total-energy calculations

We performed high-pressure angle dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$ up to $75\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$. Both materials were synthesized in bulk quantities via a solid-state reaction. In the pressure range covered by the experiments, no evidence of the occurrence of phase transitions was observed. On top of that, ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}$ was found to compress isotropically, whereas an anisotropic compression was observed in ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$. The linear incompressibility of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$ along the $c$ axis is similar in magnitude to the linear incompressibility of diamond. This fact is related to the higher valence-electron charge density of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$ along the $c$ axis. The observed anisotropic compression of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$ is also related to the layered structure of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$, where hexagonal layers of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+}$ cations alternate with graphite-like layers formed by ${(\mathrm{Ni}\mathrm{Si})}^{2\ensuremath{-}}$ entities. The experimental results are supported by ab initio total-energy calculations carried out using density functional theory and the pseudopotential method. For ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}$, the calculations also predicted a phase transition at $283\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$ from the hexagonal $P{6}_{3}∕mcm$ phase to the cubic structure adopted by Fe and Si in the garnet ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$. The room-temperature equations of state for ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}$ are also reported and a possible correlation between the bulk modulus of iron silicides and the coordination number of their minority element is discussed. Finally, we report additional descriptions of these structures, in particular, of the predicted high-pressure phase of ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}$ (the cation subarray in the garnet ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{5}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12}$), which can be derived from spinel ${\mathrm{Fe}}_{2}\mathrm{Si}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ $({\mathrm{Fe}}_{6}{\mathrm{Si}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{12})$.
Sample-based Search Methods for Bayes-Adaptive Planning

A fundamental issue for control is acting in the face of uncertainty about the environment. Amongst other things, this induces a trade-off between exploration and exploitation. A model-based Bayesian agent optimizes its return by maintaining a posterior distribution over possible environments, and considering all possible future paths. This optimization is equivalent to solving a Markov Decision Process (MDP) whose hyperstate comprises the agent's beliefs about the environment, as well as its current state in that environment. This corresponding process is called a Bayes-Adaptive MDP (BAMDP). Even for MDPs with only a few states, it is generally intractable to solve the corresponding BAMDP exactly. Various heuristics have been devised, but those that are computationally tractable often perform indifferently, whereas those that perform well are typically so expensive as to be applicable only in small domains with limited structure. Here, we develop new tractable methods for planning in BAMDPs based on recent advances in the solution to large MDPs and general partially observable MDPs. Our algorithms are sample-based, plan online in a way that is focused on the current belief, and, critically, avoid expensive belief updates during simulations. In discrete domains, we use Monte-Carlo tree search to search forward in an aggressive manner. The derived algorithm can scale to large MDPs and provably converges to the Bayes-optimal solution asymptotically. We then consider a more general class of simulation-based methods in which approximation methods can be employed to allow value function estimates to generalize between hyperstates during search. This allows us to tackle continuous domains. We validate our approach empirically in standard domains by comparison with existing approximations. Finally, we explore Bayes-adaptive planning in environments that are modelled by rich, non-parametric probabilistic models. We demonstrate that a fully Bayesian agent can be advantageous in the exploration of complex and even infinite, structured domains.
CrowdHMT: Crowd Intelligence With the Deep Fusion of Human, Machine, and IoT

Mobile crowd sensing and computing (MCSC) has become a hot research area in recent years. This article presents our vision of the next generation of MCSC, crowd intelligence with the deep fusion of human, machine, and Internet of Things (IoT), namely, CrowdHMT. It aims to build a self-organizing, self-learning, self-adaptive, and continuous-evolving smart space with the deep fusion of Crowdsourced human, machine, and IoT intelligence. This article first characterizes the concept of CrowdHMT. We further investigate its challenges and techniques, and present its main application areas. Finally, we make discussions about the open issues and future research directions of CrowdHMT.
Concept, Key Technologies and Challenges of Digital Twin Riverbasin

According to the new needs of riverbasin management, the deep integration of new generation information and communication technology riverbasin monitoring and management, and the establishment of a digital twin riverbasin to achieve accurate simulation of riverbasin simulation and intelligent management decision-making have become hot spots in the industry. Starting from the basic concept, motivations and innovative management of the digital twin, this paper puts forward to the basic definition and characteristics of the digital twin riverbasin, the technical framework of digital twin riverbasin, and the key technologies and the facing challenges of the digital twin riverbasin, and proposes a digital twin riverbasin triangle design model based on the characteristics of the riverbasin scenario.
Effect of extruded linseed on sarda donkey milk quality

Abstract The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of extruded linseed in donkey diet on milk yield, milk composition and milk fatty acids (FA) profile. Eight Sarda donkeys were allocated to two groups homogenous for milk yield (0.354 ± 124 kg/d), days in milking (123 ± 41 d), and body weight (110 ± 15 kg). The first group was fed a control diet (CON), while the second group was fed the control diet supplemented with 100 g/day per head of extruded linseed (ELS). The trial lasted 7 weeks, with 2 weeks of adaptation and 5 weeks of experimentation. Data were analysed using a linear mixed model, considering the diet, sampling time and their interaction as fixed effects and animals as random effect. Milk yield and milk chemical composition were not affected by the diet. The diet led to some variations of FA profile. Long-chain FA, unsaturated FA and polyunsaturated FA were higher in ELS compared to control group. These results reflected the trend of some individual FA, in particular the concentration of alpha-linolenic acid. This FA was affected by diet, sampling time and their interaction and, at the end of the trial, the average value was double in ELS than CON. Dietary linseed reduced thrombogenic and atherogenic indices and increased hypo-to hypercholesterolemic ratio of milk. In conclusion, extruded linseed can be used in donkey diet to improve the milk FA profile, in terms of polyunsaturated FA and nutritional indices, which could have a positive impact on human health. Highlights The valorisation of donkey milk could be a good strategy to preserve donkey native breed. Extruded linseed, rich in alfa-linolenic acid, improves fatty acid profile of donkey milk, increasing PUFA and decreasing SFA. Linseed supplementation affects positively milk nutritional indices.
The Seabed Makes the Dolphins: Physiographic Features Shape the Size and Structure of the Bottlenose Dolphin Geographical Units

The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a cosmopolitan delphinid, regularly present in the Mediterranean Sea. According to previous studies, this dolphin tends to form resident geographical units scattered on the continental shelf. We investigated how the physiographic characteristics of the area of residence, with special reference to the size and shape of the continental shelf, affect the home range and the group size of the local units. We analysed and compared data collected between 2004–2016 by 15 research groups operating in different study areas of the Mediterranean Sea: the Alboran Sea, in the South-Western Mediterranean, the Gulf of Lion and the Pelagos Sanctuary for the marine mammals, in the North-Western Mediterranean, and the Gulf of Ambracia, in the North-Central Mediterranean Sea. We have found that in areas characterised by a wide continental platform, dolphins have wider home ranges and aggregate into larger groups. In areas characterized by a narrow continental platform, dolphins show much smaller home ranges and aggregate into smaller groups. The results obtained from this collective research effort highlight the importance of data sharing to improve our scientific knowledge in the field of cetaceans and beyond.
Parametrized linear matrix inequalities for nonlinear discrete H/sub /spl infin// control

A new approach based on parametrized linear matrix inequalities (PLMIs) for solving nonlinear discrete H/sub /spl infin// control is proposed. The "curse of dimensionality" is one of the main obstacles preventing nonlinear H/sub /spl infin// control theory to be used in practice. However, in most applications, nonlinearity of a nonlinear system is caused by a few variables with dimension much lower than the plant dimension. Considering such nonlinear variables as parameters, the system can be handled as a family of linear systems depending on parameters in a reduced-dimension space. Then, PLMI tools can be used to render the nonlinear H/sub /spl infin// control problem computationally tractable. Moreover, this approach can work well for output feedback problem giving a finitely dimensional control instead of a customized infinitely dimensional one.
The reliability and usefulness of a novel basketball standardized shooting task

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a basketball shooting performance test and subsequently assess the tests measurement characteristics and construct validity. The novel standardized shooting task (SST) was comprised of 60 free throw attempts followed by a 4-min spot-to-spot shooting segment (including seven sequential locations either outside the 3-point line or at a 15-foot mark, depending upon player role). After development of the SST, 28 (male = 16, female = 12) NCAA Division I basketball players completed the task on separate days (Part 1; reliability) and then following a standard basketball practice (Part 2; sensitivity). SST performance collected from 13 males was then compared with shots made during live practices and expert ranking's (Part 3; construct validity). Interday reliability (Part 1) measures were: intraclass correlations coefficient = 0.77–0.86; coefficient of variation = 1.9–12.0%. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) between days for any performance variables. From pre- to post-practice (Part 2) repeated measures analyses of variance showed a significant difference (p = 0.03) for shots made in 4-min (MAKE4MIN; pre = 51.6 ± 8.8, post practice = 48.7 ± 9.3), while no significant differences were detected for any other variables. Results from Part 3 indicated large correlations for Shooter Rank versus MAKE4MIN (r = 0.814, p = 0.001) and Shooter Rank versus shooting percentage in live play (r = 0.815, p = 0.001). These data demonstrate the SST poses sufficient reliability and sensitivity to detect meaningful changes in performance, as well as adequate construct validity. Therefore, offering an ecologically valid measurement which can be incorporated to athlete monitoring strategies in elite basketballers.
Compact Ground Bounce Sensors for SoC Energy Harvesting Applications

In this work, the energy harvesting system on chip ground bounce monitoring is addressed, by designing and comparing three ground bounce sensors. Special focus is given in compact sensors implementations, and in particular in the bulk driven MOSFET sensor, in the source follower – transconductor (SF+Gm) and in the DC coupled one. The sensors gain-bandwidth performance trade-off is addressed and all three are designed in an RFCMOS process. Their performance is demonstrated by advanced simulations results, taking into account temperature and process variations, and providing all related metrics from gain/bandwidth to linearity, power consumption and silicon active area. Selection criteria are extracted since each of these sensors is optimum to be used in different applications versus specific performance metrics.
Non-Specific Low Back Pain, Dietary Salt Intake, and Posterior Lumbar Subcutaneous Edema

Low back pain is the world’s leading disability, but the etiology of the majority of low back pain is non-specific with no known cause. Moreover, overuse of opioids to treat low back pain is a widespread problem. This paper proposes that non-specific low back pain may be associated with excessive intake of dietary salt, potentially mediated by posterior lumbar subcutaneous edema. In addition to pain, symptoms of edema include swelling, tightness, and stiff joints, which are common complaints of people with low back pain, along with restricted lumbar range of motion and impaired mobility. Many global populations consume excess sodium chloride, which can lead to fluid overload in hypervolemia, and cause swelling and temporary weight gain associated with low back pain. Numerous conditions comorbid with low back pain are also potentially mediated by excessive salt intake, including migraine headache, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, venous thromboembolism, liver disease, respiratory disorders, chronic kidney disease, pregnancy complications, and multiple sclerosis. Novel approaches to identify and prevent the cause of non-specific low back pain have potential to reduce disability worldwide by reducing low back pain prevalence. More research is needed to confirm the involvement of dietary salt and posterior lumbar subcutaneous edema in non-specific low back pain.