Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Etude de la réduction du phénomène de clignotement dans les nanocristaux semi-conducteurs de CdSe/CdS à coque épaisse

Les nanocristaux semi-conducteurs colloidaux presentent un phenomene de clignotement qui s'avere etre un obstacle pour de nombreuses applications. Dans cette these, nous nous sommes interesses a la suppression du phenomene de clignotement dans les nanocristaux constitues d'un coeur de CdSe et d'une coque epaisse de CdS. Nous avons mis au point un protocole facile a mettre en oeuvre, rapide et robuste, permettant de synthetiser des nanocristaux semi-conducteurs de CdSe/CdS a coque epaisse non-clignotants. L'etude de la dependance en temperature des proprietes optiques de ces nanocristaux mesures a l'echelle individuelle nous a permis de determiner l'origine de la reduction du clignotement. Nous avons mis en evidence l'activation thermique de la recombinaison Auger non-radiative, cette derniere etant responsable du clignotement dans ces nanocristaux. Cette activation thermique est liee a la dependence en temperature de la localisation de l'electron. A basse temperature, les nanocristaux sont charges negativement et presentent d'excellentes proprietes optiques : un temps de vie radiatif inferieur a 10 ns et un rendement quantique de 100 %. Ces caracteristiques remarquables ont permis l'etude directe des proprietes magneto-optiques des nanocristaux. Ces resultats ouvrent la voie a la conception de nanocristaux ayant un rendement quantique de 100 % a temperature ambiante.
Investigation of Leisure Time Attitude of University Students According to Some Parameters (Example of Northern Cyprus)

The attitude of leisure can be defined as all the emotions, thoughts, attitudes and behaviors shown for the leisure concept. The aim of this study is to examine the leisure attitudes of the students of the Cyprus University according to various parameters such as gender, age, class, faculty and whether to do recreational sports. A total of 265 students participated in the study. Leisure Attitude Scale was used to evaluate student’s leisure attitudes. Independent sample t test was used for analyzing gender and recreational sports variables, and the one-way ANOVA test was used for analysis of age, class and faculty variables. According to the results obtained, there was a significant difference in the cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of the three sub-dimensions of the scale for the variable of doing recreational sports. In addition, differentiation was observed in the cognitive sub-dimension for the age variable and the behavioral sub-dimension for the class variable.
Hybrid-Collaborative Noise2Noise Denoiser for Low-Dose CT Images

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has yet to get its full potential benefit due to excessive quantum noise. Although learning to restore an image using two noisy images in the Noise2Noise (N2N) model has shown good promise for different noise models, it does not perform well in LDCT. In this article, we have introduced a collaborative technique to train multiple N2N generators simultaneously and learn the image representation from LDCT images. We have presented three models using this collaborative N2N (CN) principle employing CN two generators (CN2G), CN three generators (CN3G), and hybrid CN3G (HCN3G). The CN3G model has shown better performance than the CN2G model in terms of denoised image quality at the expense of an additional LDCT image. The HCN3G model has taken the advantages of both these models by managing to train three collaborative generators using only two LDCT images by leveraging one previous work called blind source separation (BSS) with block matching 3-D (BM3D). To make the collaboration among different generators more efficient, we have introduced collaborative loss terms among the generators. All three methods have shown improved performance in terms of peak signal-to-noise ratio and structural similarity index metrics compared to similar benchmark methods.
Robust Secure Beamforming for Wireless Powered Cognitive Satellite-Terrestrial Networks

This article addresses the security problem for wireless powered cognitive satellite-terrestrial network, where a multibeam satellite sub-network shares the portion of millimeter wave bands with multiple cellular networks, each consisting of a base station, several mobile users (MUs) and energy receivers (ERs). Considering that the ERs are potential eavesdroppers of the MUs, and only imperfect knowledge of the angles of departure for the wiretap channels is available, we aim at maximizing aggregated rate of the considered network while guaranteeing the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio requirements of the MUs, the energy harvesting thresholds and the secrecy constraints at ERs. Since the formulated optimization problem is mathematically intractable, we exploit a discretization method and the Taylor expansion method to transform the non-convex objective and constraints into convex ones, and then propose an iterative beamforming (BF) algorithm to solve the problem. Furthermore, we present a combined multibeam scheme to obtain suboptimal BF weight vectors with low computational burden. Finally, simulation results reveal that the proposed BF schemes can efficiently improve the aggregated rate with fast convergence compared to the benchmark schemes.
AppDNA: Profiling App Behavior via Deep-Learning Function Call Graphs

The growing number and diversity of applications make malware detection and app recommendation for users more challenging. In this work, we design a framework AppDNA to automatically generate a compact representation for each app to comprehensively profile its behaviors. The versatile representation can be generated once for each app, and then be used for a wide variety of objectives, including malware detection, app categorization and app version detection, etc. We propose to conduct a function-call-graph-based app profiling scheme based on a comprehensive and deep understanding of an app’s behaviors. We design a graph-encoding method to convert a large function call graph to a 64-dimensional fixed length vector to achieve robust app profiling. Our extensive evaluations on 86,332 apps demonstrate that our approach performs app profiling with high accuracy and low computation cost: it takes about 46.5 seconds for one app to extract its function call graph; 0.68 seconds to encode a function call graph; it classifies all 4,024 (benign/malware) apps in around 5.06 seconds with accuracy about 93.07 percent; it classifies all 570 malicious apps’ family (21 families in total) in around 0.83 seconds with accuracy 82.3 percent; it classifies 9,730 apps’ functionality into 2 categories with accuracy 88.1 percent or into 7 categories with accuracy 33.3 percent.
Design of a Suspended Stripline Dual-Band Band-Stop Filter Loaded With Short-Ended Waveguide Stubs Embedded in the Metal Housing

This letter presents a novel dual-band band-stop filter (DBBSF) based on suspended stripline (SSL) with short-ended waveguide stubs on its metal housing. A short-ended waveguide stub embedded transversally in the metal housing of the SSL has been shown to introduce independent transmission zeros. It is mostly suitable for high harmonic depression. This letter describes a band-stop filter with four short-ended waveguide stubs around a center frequency of 12.5 GHz. A U-shaped slot in the SSL forms a resonator and provides an additional independent stopband. We designed and fabricated a DBBSF with short-ended stubs formed on the metal housing and U-shaped slots in the stripline. Our design produced stop bands at 6.6 and 12.5 GHz, corresponding to attenuation levels of 27 and 26 dB, respectively. The short-ended waveguide stubs on the metal housing do not require additional space. Excellent agreement was achieved between the measured and simulated results.
Effect of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) on Sustainability and Survival of Banks in Nigeria

Beyond question, risk management is the surviving engine to which enterprises are built upon for sound organizational sustainability. Thus, this study assessed enterprise risk management and its effect on sustainability and survival of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study utilized Survey research design, a non probability judgment sample of 111 participants extracted from 16 deposit money banks in JOS north local government of plateau state responded to a re-validated 5 points Likert scale questionnaire. Data were analyzed using quantitative techniques and multiple regression analysis with aid of SPSSv23 to test the hypotheses. The result found significant relationship between ERM and bank sustainability and survival indicators. To this effect, the study recommended that for a better opportunity to remain relevant and financially successful it is imperative for deposit money banks to readjust their strategic financial plans; increase their income diversification base to combat adverse impacts of risks and uncertainty in business transactions; more so, to keep up with global trends, banks should not underestimate the role sound administration and financial management play in reducing attendant cost and forestalling future financial crisis.
A Study on Perception and Task of Lifelong Education for Individuals with Disabilities

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions and tasks of lifelong education for individuals with disabilities, including the necessity of lifelong education and the range and content of it for the disabled. The research method is a focus group interview with 4 managers of lifelong education institutions for the disabled, and the data were analyzed according to the process of thematic analysis method proposed by Braun and Clarke(2006), which is one of qualitative data analysis methods. The results of the analysis are as follows: First, the lifelong education for the disabled is needed, because, unlike the non-disabled, the disabled are less able to recognize and respond to social changes, which requires equipment or convenience facilities to improve it. Second, the range of lifelong education for the disabled was suggested as social life including daily life, vocational ability development education, culture‧art‧physical training, and those required by individuals with disabilities. Third, the lifelong education institutions for the disabled are lack of experts and have difficulty in communicating between practitioners and the disabled. In conclusion, it is required to provide lifelong education by self-determination of the disabled in the community by priority.
Mapping viscosity in discrete subcellular locations with a BODIPY based fluorescent probe

Numerous cellular processes, including enzyme behaviour, signalling, and protein folding and transport are highly influenced by the local microviscosity environment within living cells. Molecular rotors are fluorescent molecules that respond to the viscosity of their environment through changes in both the intensity and lifetime of their fluorescence. We have synthesised a novel benzyl-guanine derivatized boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) molecular rotor that is a substrate for the SNAP-tag targeting system (named BG-BODIPY), allowing us to target the rotor to discrete locations within the living cell. We demonstrate that BG-BODIPY reports viscosity, and that this can be measured either through fluorescence lifetime or intensity ratiometric measurements. The relative microviscosities within the ER, Golgi, mitochondrial matrix, peroxisomes, lysosomes, cytoplasm, and nucleoplasm were significantly different. Additionally, this approach permitted fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) to determine the absolute viscosity within both mitochondria and stress granules, showcasing BG-BODIPY’s usefulness in studying both membrane-bound and membraneless organelles. These results highlight targeted BG-BODIPY’s broad usefulness for making measurements of cellular viscosity both with FLIM and conventional ratiometric confocal microscopy, the latter option greatly extending the accessibility of the technique although limited to relative meassurements. Statement of Significance Local viscosity affects molecular behaviour from diffusion and conformational changes to enzyme kinetics and has important implications for cell and tissue function. Mechanical methods for measurement of viscosity average over large volumes and long times and are thus unsuitable for rapid changes on small scales that are biologically relevant. This paper reports a novel optical fluorescence method using genome edited cells to deliver a viscosity reporter to tightly defined locations inside living cells, from which non-destructive organelle-specific measurements can be repeatedly made. The local viscosity of seven separate organelles in living cultured human cells is shown for the first time, together with the viscosity behaviour of a membraneless organelle as it is induced in cells by stress.
A potential role for the gut microbiota in the specialisation of Drosophila sechellia to its toxic host noni (Morinda citrifolia)

Adaptation to a novel food source can have significant evolutionary advantages. The fruit fly, Drosophila sechellia, is a specialist of the toxic plant noni (Morinda citrifolia). Little is known as to how D. sechellia has become resistant to the toxins in the fruit - comprised predominantly of octanoic acid - but to date, the behavioural preferences for the fruit and genetic architecture underlying them, have been well studied. Here, we examine whether the gut microbiota could have played a role in adaptation to the fruit. In the first series of experiments, we examine the gut microbiota of wild-type, laboratory reared flies and characterise the gut microbiota when reared on the natural host plant, versus a standard Drosophila diet. We show a rapid transition in the core bacterial diversity and abundance within this species and discover sole precedence of Lactobacillus plantarum when reared on M. citrifolia. We also discover that flies reared on a laboratory diet are more likely to carry bacterial pathogens such as Bacillus cereus, although their function in Drosophila is unknown. Flies reared on a laboratory diet have a significantly reduced weight but with no impact on the risk of death before adulthood, when compared to the wild noni diet. In the second series of experiments, we examine the potential role of the gut microbiota in adaptation to octanoic acid resistance in this species and its sister species, Drosophila melanogaster, to which the fruit is usually fatal. We use a combination of methods to analyse resistance to octanoic acid by conducting life history analysis, behavioural assays and bacterial analysis in both D. sechellia and D. melanogaster. We find that by creating experimental evolution lines of D. melanogaster supplemented with gut microbiota from D. sechellia, we can decrease D. melanogaster aversion to octanoic acid, with the flies even preferring to feed on food supplemented with the acid. We suggest this represents the first step in the evolutionary and ecological specialisation of D. sechellia to its toxic host plant, and that the gut microbiota, Lactobacillus plantarum in particular, may have played a key role in host specialisation.
Fuzzy Gradient Control of Electric Vehicles at Blended Braking with Volatile Driving Conditions

: The paper is devoted to intelligent control of road electric vehicles aiming at reducing energy losses caused by traffic jams, changing velocity, and frequent start-stop modes of driving. A blended braking system is described that integrates both the friction and the electric braking strengths in volatile driving conditions, including gradual and emergency antilock braking. The vehicle model reflects multiple factors, such as air resistance, road slope, and variable friction factor. A new gradient control method recognizes unstable tire properties on changing road surfaces at different velocities. In the motor and battery model, the state of charge and electric current/voltage restrictions of the hybrid energy storage are taken into account. The braking torque, actuated by the Mamdani’s fuzzy logic controller established in the Simulink ® environment, is allocated between the front and rear friction and electric brakes. Comparison of simulation and experimental results confirms that the outcomes of this research can be considered in the design of braking systems for electric vehicles with superior energy recovery.
Analyzing the Vertical Distribution of Crown Material in Mixed Stand Composed of Two Temperate Tree Species

The material distribution inside tree crowns is difficult to quantify even though it is an important variable in forest management and ecology. The vertical distribution of a relative density index (i.e., vertical profile) of the total, woody, and leafy material at the crown scale were estimated from terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) data on two species, sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and balsam fir (Abies Balsamea Mill.). An algorithm based on a geometrical approach readily available in the Computree open source platform was used. Beta distributions were then fitted to the vertical profiles and compared to each other. Total and leafy profiles had similar shapes, while woody profiles were different. Thus, the total vertical distribution could be a good proxy for the leaf distribution in the crown. Sugar maple and balsam fir had top heavy and bottom heavy distributions respectively, which can be explained by their respective architectural development. Moreover, the foliage distribution of sugar maples shifted towards the crown base when it was found in mixed stands, when compared to pure stands. The opposite behavior was observed for balsam firs, but less pronounced. According to the shape of the foliage distribution, sugar maple takes advantages from mixture contrarily to balsam fir. From a methodological point of view, we proposed an original approach to separate wood from leaf returns in TLS data while taking into account occlusion. Wood and leaf separation and occlusion problems are two challenging issues for most TLS-based studies in forest ecology.
Epigenetic suppression of interferon lambda receptor expression leads to enhanced HuNoV replication in vitro

Human norovirus (HuNoV) is the main cause of gastroenteritis worldwide yet no therapeutics are currently available. Here, we utilize a human norovirus replicon in human gastric tumor (HGT) cells to identify host factors involved in promoting or inhibiting HuNoV replication. We observed that an IFN-cured population of replicon-harboring HGT cells (HGT-cured) was enhanced in their ability to replicate transfected HuNoV RNA compared to parental HGT cells, suggesting that differential gene expression in HGT-cured cells created an environment favouring norovirus replication. Microarray analysis was used to identify genes differentially regulated in HGT-NV and HGT-cured compared to parental HGT cells. We found that the IFN lambda receptor alpha (IFNLR1) expression was highly reduced in HGT-NV and HGT-cured cells. All three cell lines responded to exogenous IFN-β by inducing interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), however, HGT-NV and HGT-cured failed to respond to exogenous IFN-λ. Inhibition of DNA methyltransferase activity with 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine partially reactivated IFNLR1 expression in HGT-NV and IFN-cured cells suggesting that host adaptation occurred via epigenetic reprogramming. In line with this, ectopic expression of the IFN-λ receptor alpha rescued HGT-NV and HGT-cured cells response to IFN-λ. We conclude that type III IFN is important in inhibiting HuNoV replication in vitro and that the loss of IFNLR1 enhances replication of HuNoV. This study unravels for the first time epigenetic reprogramming of the interferon lambda receptor as a new mechanism of cellular adaptation during long-term RNA virus replication and shows that an endogenous level of interferon lambda signalling is able to control human norovirus replication. Importance Noroviruses are one of the most wide-spread causes of gastroenteritis yet we have no therapeutics for their control and we do not fully understand what cellular processes control viral replication. Recent work has highlighted the importance of type III interferon (IFN) responses in the restriction of viruses that infect the intestine. Here we analysed the adaptive changes required to support long term replication of noroviruses in cell culture and found that the receptor for type III IFN is decreased in its expression. We confirmed that this decreased expression was driven by epigenetic modifications and that cells lacking the type III IFN receptor are more permissive for norovirus replication. This work provides new insights into key host-virus interactions required for the control noroviruses and opens potential novel avenues for their therapeutic control.
Tecnologias Assistivas no Ensino de Física para Alunos com Deficiência Visual: um estudo de caso baseado na audiodescrição

Resumo Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre o uso da audiodescrição como tecnologia assistiva incorporada ao processo ensino-aprendizagem de física para um aluno do ensino superior com deficiência visual. Após a inserção de alguns tipos de tecnologias assistivas, observou-se que a barreira comunicacional persistia, impedindo o estudante de entender plenamente o conteúdo, resultando em grande dependência dos seus colegas e da tutora presencial. Assim, o objetivo da pesquisa é verificar como a audiodescrição incorporada ao contexto educacional pode contribuir para o aprendizado de física dos estudantes universitários com deficiência visual. Após o acompanhamento de cada etapa, em que diferentes tecnologias assistivas foram utilizadas, realizou-se a coleta de dados qualitativos, mediante aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado com o discente e sua tutora. A análise demonstrou que a audiodescrição proporcionou ao aluno uma maior autonomia e acentuada melhora em seu rendimento acadêmico, favorecendo condições para o exercício de sua cidadania plena.
A Utility Theory Model for Individual Adoption of Bitcoin

In recent years, the growth of cryptocurrency prices, notably that of Bitcoin has garnered mainstream news coverage. However, very little is known about the factors that motivate an individual to adopt Bitcoin, though studies abound in the blockchain technology adoption and its use in various domains such as healthcare, supply chain, and finance. In the current paper, we argue that the existing, widely-used IT adoption models may not thoroughly explain the reasons (i.e., benefits, barriers, and specific factors) associated with the adoption of cryptocurrencies. We propose a research model based on UTAUT and utility theory to discover the perceived benefits, perceived risks, facilitating conditions, and social effects in the individual adoption of Bitcoin.