Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exhaled Breath Analysis for Diabetes Diagnosis and Monitoring: Relevance, Challenges and Possibilities

With the global population prevalence of diabetes surpassing 463 million cases in 2019 and diabetes leading to millions of deaths each year, there is a critical need for feasible, rapid, and non-invasive methodologies for continuous blood glucose monitoring in contrast to the current procedures that are either invasive, complicated, or expensive. Breath analysis is a viable methodology for non-invasive diabetes management owing to its potential for multiple disease diagnoses, the nominal requirement of sample processing, and immense sample accessibility; however, the development of functional commercial sensors is challenging due to the low concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath and the confounding factors influencing the exhaled breath profile. Given the complexity of the topic and the skyrocketing spread of diabetes, a multifarious review of exhaled breath analysis for diabetes monitoring is essential to track the technological progress in the field and comprehend the obstacles in developing a breath analysis-based diabetes management system. In this review, we consolidate the relevance of exhaled breath analysis through a critical assessment of current technologies and recent advancements in sensing methods to address the shortcomings associated with blood glucose monitoring. We provide a detailed assessment of the intricacies involved in the development of non-invasive diabetes monitoring devices. In addition, we spotlight the need to consider breath biomarker clusters as opposed to standalone biomarkers for the clinical applicability of exhaled breath monitoring. We present potential VOC clusters suitable for diabetes management and highlight the recent buildout of breath sensing methodologies, focusing on novel sensing materials and transduction mechanisms. Finally, we portray a multifaceted comparison of exhaled breath analysis for diabetes monitoring and highlight remaining challenges on the path to realizing breath analysis as a non-invasive healthcare approach.
A Learning Community of Beginning Teachers: A Systemic Intervention Based on Self-Determination Theory to Promote Autonomous Proactive Teachers

The professional literature describes the complexity of the induction process and the importance of support systems for beginning teachers (BTs). The article discusses a unique self-determination theory (SDT)-based intervention program of learning communities (LC), called Multi-Players Induction Teams (MIT) that operate in schools. The program was developed and implemented as part of the international Proteach Program (Erasmus+ Project, European Union). It was led by a college of education in Israel, and has been researched as a three-year case study in one high school. Each year, 30 - 40 BTs, mentors, administrators, and policymakers participated in the program. The main tool employed in the study was a semi-structured interview. Additional tools included the workshop facilitators’ end-of-year reports, meeting minutes and the participants’ reflective journals. The findings show collaborative systemic work between the school and the policymakers in its locality. The absorption of BTs into the school contributed to improved school climate, and became part of school culture. Additionally, organizational structures promoting BT absorption were established at the school, and a need-supportive environment was established in both the MIT and the school. BTs and mentors express a sense of need satisfaction. The MIT affected the BTs’ positioning at the school as influencing figures who led meaningful educational initiatives. The findings present a unique model of LCs that support teachers during their induction period. They can promote processes for integrating BTs into the education
Switching mechanisms in microscale memristors

It is only very recently that the memristor, the fourth missing passive element, was discovered, as technological advances and the scaling-down to nanometre dimensions in particular resulted in clearly evident and measurable memristance. At the nanoscale, these devices exhibit variable resistive behaviour, which can be applied in switching networks and memory. Experimental evidence is provided that micrometre-size memristors are viable with practical ROFF/RON ratios.
Transmission of Fluid Power by Pulsating-Flow (P-F) Concept in Hydraulic Systems

Theoretical and experimental investigations have been made on fluid-power transmission in hydraulic systems by pulsating flow. In particular, the system efficiency and the viscosity effect on the dynamic response of pulsating flow in the fluid line have been studied. Test results on the fluid-line dynamic response and on the system efficiency that obtained from the line-loss test setup and the miniaturized P-F hydraulic system setup, respectively, are presented.
Semi-optimised pipeline routing for CO2 Capture and Storage

PSS Router is an integrated routing application within the PSS II Simulator. This techno-economic simulator has been developed specifically to address questions relating to the deployment of CO2 capture and storage in Belgium. A spread algorithm is used for least-cost raster routing instead of the more commonly used Dijkstra algorithm, which is generally slower for raster routing because of its calculation-intense route sorting. Instead of the traditional 8 directions, 32 directions (up to three raster points further) can be chosen from a certain raster point with PSS Router to create smoother and more realistic routes. A matrix of cost factors is built to calculate pipeline investment costs using material, labour, right of way and miscellaneous (engineering etc.) costs. Vector data is added to simulate objects such as roads and rivers. This combination of raster and vector cost data allows fast, realistic and detailed routing and cost calibration. PSS Router has the ability of creating pipeline networks in two different ways. A first method is creating networks within one time step. Thus, not only an extra CO2-source can be connected to an existing pipeline, but one new source is able to connect to multiple CO2-sinks and vice versa. In PSS Router this is limited to two sources and one sink. Higher configurations would demand an unrealistic calculation time. The second method does not suffer from these limitations. It simulates the building of a network over different time steps using backward discounting, which results in enlarging existing pipelines for joint use. This method introduces the concept of limited foresight for simulating realistic, semi-optimised pipeline networks.
Digitized planning processes in the revitalization of buildings by a inderdisciplinary project study: empirical work with students from Argentina

In the curricula for students of civil engineering and architecture software training courses have been integrated for long, but didactical training concepts with an application in practice including both the constructional and planning aspects are missing. This conference contribution shows the result of a research work carried out to empirically develop a manual for a constructional, digitally supported project work. It comprised the interdisciplinary teaching with a special focus on two examples of buildings in situ. Different types of presentation, picture software and CAD were used from the very beginning of the planning process in order to create a new form of didactics in teaching and learning. The basic local parameters and approaches are documented and analyzed. As a result of the empirical research work presented herein a manual was developed which is useful as a guideline for the digital interdisciplinary project development in the revitalization of buildings. It reflects the experiences gained in this empirical research work and formulates the steps to take to carry out the project. The paper is presented with a 3-D-video projection on the basis of stereoscope pictures.
New efficient method of modeling electronics packages with power and ground planes

This paper introduces a new efficient numerical technique for the computation of fields in electronics packages with power and ground planes. This full wave approach can be conveniently integrated with circuit solvers. Skin-effect loss from metal planes and dielectric loss, together with the non-total reflections from outer edges of planes, can be easily incorporated. A special computation scheme was developed for handling vias between metal planes. Very good correlation has been achieved on printed-circuit test boards up to several GHz.
Parallel-connections of pulsewidth modulated inverters using current sharing reactors

A technique of parallel connection of power devices by using current sharing reactors for pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverters is reported in this paper. The proposed technique not only increases the current capacity but also decreases the output harmonic contents. The output voltage waveforms of the proposed inverter have certain voltage levels during their half cycles, thus it is anticipated that it will be difficult to analyze the output waveforms. For such waveforms, a frequency analysis approach is described, whose results are verified by experiments. >
Affordable underwater wireless optical communication using LEDs

In recent years the need for high data rate underwater wireless communication (WC) has increased. Nowadays, the conventional technology for underwater communication is acoustic. However, the maximum data rate that acoustic technology can provide is a few kilobits per second. On the other hand, emerging applications such as underwater imaging, networks of sensors and swarms of underwater vehicles require much faster data rates. As a result, underwater optical WC, which can provide much higher data rates, has been proposed as an alternative means of communication. In addition to high data rates, affordable communication systems become an important feature in the development requirements. The outcome of these requirements is a new system design based on off-the-shelf components such as blue and green light emitting diodes (LEDs). This is due to the fact that LEDs offer solutions characterized by low cost, high efficiency, reliability and compactness. However, there are some challenges to be met when incorporating LEDs as part of the optical transmitter, such as low modulation rates and non linearity. In this paper, we review the main challenges facing the incorporation of LEDs as an integral part of underwater WC systems and propose some techniques to mitigate the LED limitations in order to achieve high data rate communication
Investigating the Effect of Gripping on Upper Limbs Muscles by Modeling and Electromyography Test

These days most of the workers use hand controller tools. Because of this it is useful to know the relations between hand and these kinds of tools. One of these relations is cylindrical power grip. For this reason first of all a device is prepared for measuring the torque value. After that by creating a model in ANYBODY software for gripping motion for forces and muscular activities have been calculated. In this case for solving the inverse kinetic problem several cost functions are defined and the results are compared. On the other hand, by using Electromyography tests in gripping motion the activity of 3 surface muscles are investigated and finally the modeling and Electromyography’s results are compared.
CONSTRUCTION OF A ROTOR RADIAL VIBRATION MODEL OF EMU ELECTROMECHANICAL ENERGY CONVERSION EQUIPMENT USING THE FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

: In the fast-increasing speed of EMUs ( Electric Multiple Units), the stability, reliability and smoothness of the EMUs in operation are guaranteed by exploring the rotor vibration model of the traction motor equipment of the EMUs. The finite element model of the rotor is constructed using the finite element algorithm, and the rotor model is used to simulate the rotor of the traction motor according to the radial vibration. The influence of factor changes on the vibration characteristics of the rotor system is discussed. Finally, the radial vibration effect on the rotor under the influence of various factors is explored through simulation. The results show that in the bending mode analysis of the rotor system, the rotor presents four bending modes; in the analysis of the influence factors of the radial vibration of the rotor system, the angle of unbalanced magnetic pull, the angle of rotor gravity, and the angle of rotor bending stiffness are compared. The analysis of the influence of the radial vibration of the rotor shows that the unbalanced magnetic tension increases the amplitude of the rotor and reduces the natural frequency of the radial vibration of the rotor system. The radial dimension of the axis track and the displacement spectrum has no significant difference with or without gravity. When the position of the axis track is relatively static, the offset distance of the rotor centre decreases with the increase of stiffness. When the rotation frequency component is 0.8k 0 , the amplitude is the largest; in the bending-torsion coupling analysis, the largest amplitude is the torsional vibration of the external torque frequency of the excitation, around 840. Therefore, it is found that radial load leads to torsional vibration of multiple frequencies in the torsional vibration of the rotor, and torsional load also causes bending torsional vibration of multiple frequencies in the torsional vibration of the rotor, which provides a reference for later vibration analysis of the rotor in the traction motor of EMU.
Multidimensional public sector organizations' digital maturity model

The aim of this study is twofold. First, this study develops a model of an organization's digital maturity that is adjusted to public sector organization. Second, based on the proposed model, digital maturity of several types of public sector organizations is diagnosed. The proposed model includes six dimensions, namely, digitalization-focused management, openness to stakeholders' (partners') needs, digital competencies of employees, digitalization of processes, digital technologies, and e-innovativeness. This model was tested on a sample of 136 public sector organizations operating in Malopolska Region in Poland. The results indicate that, among the six dimensions of digital maturity, the use of digital technologies and digitalization-focused management scored the highest (equivalent to a high and moderate degree of digital maturity). Employees’ digital competencies also represent a moderate level of digital maturity (but still significantly lower). The remaining dimensions, namely, e-innovativeness, digitalization of processes, and openness to stakeholders’ needs, represent a low level of digital maturity. The results show that the examined types of public sector organizations differ in terms of digital maturity. The observed characteristics regarding digital maturity are sufficient to indicate the direction of future development for each type of organization. The proposed model can be used for the diagnosis of digital maturity on the level of a single organization as well.
Precipitable water vapour monitoring using ground based GPS system

The sensing of near real time Precipitable Water Vapour (PWV) using Global Positioning System (GPS) over Indian region were analyzed. GPS data collected from five stations at hourly interval were utilized to determine near real time PWV using GAMIT software. Sliding window technique was used to derive near real time PWV. The PWV determined from GPS observations of each site were compared with respective radiosonde measurements. The results shows that the derived GPS precipitable water well agree for some stations with the independent radiosonde measurements. We have also examined the variation of hourly GPS-PWV with hourly rainfall observation and found that PWV increases significantly before the event take place and decreases after the event.
PHYTO-THREATS: Addressing Threats to UK Forests and Woodlands from Phytophthora; Identifying Risks of Spread in Trade and Methods for Mitigation

The multidisciplinary ‘Phyto-threats’ project was initiated in 2016 to address the increasing risks to UK forest and woodland ecosystems from trade-disseminated Phytophthora. A major component of this project was to examine the risk of Phytophthora spread through nursery and trade practices. Close to 4000 water and root samples were collected from plant nurseries located across the UK over a three-year period. Approximately half of the samples tested positive for Phytophthora DNA using a metabarcoding approach with 63 Phytophthora species identified across nurseries, including quarantine-regulated pathogens and species not previously reported in the UK. Phytophthora diversity within nurseries was linked to high-risk management practices such as use of open rather than closed water sources. Analyses of global Phytophthora risks identified biological traits and trade pathways that explained global spread and host range, and which may be of value for horizon-scanning. Phytophthoras having a higher oospore wall index and faster growth rates had wider host ranges, whereas cold-tolerant species had broader geographic and latitudinal ranges. Annual workshops revealed how stakeholder and sector ‘appetite’ for nursery accreditation increased over three years, although an exploratory cost-benefit analysis indicated that the predicted benefits of introducing best practice expected by nurseries outweigh their costs only when a wider range of pests and diseases (for example, Xylella) is considered. However, scenario analyses demonstrated the significant potential carbon costs to society from the introduction and spread of a new tree-infecting Phytophthora: Thus, the overall net benefit to society from nurseries adopting best practice could be substantial.
The Impact of Feature Extraction and Selection on SMS Spam Filtering

This paper investigates the impact of several feature extraction and feature selection approaches on filtering of short message service (SMS) spam messages in two different languages, namely Turkish and English. The entire feature set of filtering framework consists of the features originated from the bag-of-words (BoW) model along with the ensemble of structural features (SF) specific to spam problem. The distinctive BoW features are identified using information theoretic feature selection methods. Various combinations of the BoW and SF are then fed into widely used pattern classification algorithms to classify SMS messages. The filtering framework is evaluated on both Turkish and English SMS message datasets. For this purpose, as part of the study, the first publicly available Turkish SMS message collection is constituted as well. Comprehensive experimental analysis on the respective datasets revealed that the combinations of BoW and SFs, rather than BoW features alone, provide better classification performance on both datasets. Effectiveness of the utilized feature selection methods however slightly differs in each language. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 19.5. 1829
The Peer Feedback Strategy in Teaching Writing

Peer feedback is a strategy that enables the students to trigger the writing learning process, and this study was conducted to figure out the aspects involved in the peer feedback. The research design is a case study through a qualitative and descriptive method based on questionnaire and observations involving 58 students of the 3-year Diploma of Business Administration Study Program. The result shows that the focus they took was the grammatical aspect which implies their own barrier.
Pardaxin Activates Excessive Mitophagy and Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis in Human Ovarian Cancer by Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species

Most ovarian cancer (OC) patients are diagnosed with stage III or higher disease, resulting in a poor prognosis. Currently, paclitaxel combined with carboplatin shows the best treatment outcome for OC. However, no effective drug is available for patients that do not respond to treatment; thus, new drugs for OC are needed. We evaluated the antimicrobial peptide, pardaxin, in PA-1 and SKOV3 cells. Pardaxin induced apoptosis as determined by MTT and TUNEL assays, as well as activation of caspases-9/3, Bid, t-Bid, and Bax, whereas Bcl-2 was downregulated. The IC50 values for pardaxin were 4.6–3.0 μM at 24 and 48 h. Mitochondrial and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were overproduced and associated with disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential and respiratory capacity. Additionally, the mitochondrial network was fragmented with downregulated fusogenic proteins, MFN1/2 and L-/S-OPA1, and upregulated fission-related proteins, DRP1 and FIS1. Autophagy was also activated as evidenced by increased expression of autophagosome formation-related proteins, Beclin, p62, and LC3. Enhanced mitochondrial fragmentation and autophagy indicate that mitophagy was activated. ROS-induced cytotoxicity was reversed by the addition of N-acetylcysteine, confirming ROS overproduction as a contributor. Taken together, pardaxin demonstrated promising anticancer activity in OC cells, which warrants further preclinical development of this compound.
Miniature gear reduction unit driven by a silicon electrostatic wobble motor

This work illustrates and explores one possibility to link watch fine mechanics to silicon-based actuators. A small scale microreduction module, a pinion-gear train, coupled to an electrostatic wobble motor (calculated power figure about 1 /spl mu/W), is described. The motor parts are fabricated on silicon. Electrodeposition of nickel in a positive photoresist mould is used for the fabrication of the rotor (/spl phi/ 2 mm). This last is flexible to permit vertically- wobbling and is directly connected to an output shaft. Functional operation of this microreduction unit was successful and demonstrated the possibility to output torque from an electrostatic wobble motor. Measurements and observations of rotor elasticity and gears/axle characteristics:are presented and discussed in view of a possibly improved design.
Analytical optimization of new style semi-inserted machines with Halbach magnets

A linear analytical model is proposed to solve and optimize the magnetic field of halbach magnet semi-plug-in permanent magnet motor. On the basis of linear superposition, the magnetic field of a permanent magnet motor with a hypothetical linear material and double-layer embedded Halbach magnet is analytically calculated and optimized by using an isomolecular domain model. In addition, induced phase electromotive force and instantaneous electromagnetic torque are derived, which have good performance. The prediction results of linear analysis model agree well with those of finite element analysis.