Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Co-design for democratising and its risks for democracy

ABSTRACT This paper reflects on the co-design approach for catalysing and fostering participatory democracy and the redistribution of power exercise within the urban space, particularly when it is practiced in conflict-affected urban areas. Upon applying co-design dynamics, designers give rise to new possibilities for power exercise whose existence they may be unaware of, and that can be appropriated by actors striving against the main principles of participatory democracy. Due to the multifaceted essence of co-design and to the complex nature of the context, when opening up the possibility of collaboration in a design process undertaken within the urban space, it becomes impossible to determine who is going to contribute to the co-design process and to acknowledge the specificity of each participant’s contribution. Two cases help to reflect on the challenges that co-design dynamics may bring to participatory democracy and they shed light on informality and tactics as potential features of a co-design practice capable of preventing or reducing the influence of anti-democratic forces on the design process.
Risk evaluation method for highway roadside accidents

In order to strengthen the safety of highway roadsides, it is necessary to take targeted measures according to the roadside hazards, so there is an urgent need to develop research on risk evaluation of highway roadside accidents. Based on accident simulation analysis and the form of accident after vehicles run to the roadside, the rollover risk of roadside accident is classed into four grades, namely, no departure from the ground, slight departure from the ground, one or two turnovers, and more than two turnovers. The factors involved in the causes of roadside accidents of different rollover risks are studied, and the thresholds of driving speed, sideslope gradient, and sideslope height are given. A Bayesian network for risk evaluation of roadside accidents is constructed. Based on the factor thresholds for the causes of roadside accidents, the calculation methods of the probability of different rollover risks of roadside accidents are carried out according to a single factor, two factors, and three factors. The typical cases of roadside accidents are analyzed and the calculation results of the Bayesian network show that the probability of one or two turnover accidents is 0.939, which is consistent with the results of roadside accident simulation tests, proving the accuracy of the risk evaluation methods for highway roadside accidents.
Body-composition assessment via air-displacement plethysmography in adults and children: a review 1–3

Laboratory-based body-composition techniques include hydrostatic weighing (HW), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), measurement of total body water (TBW) by isotope dilution, measurement of total body potassium, and multicompartment models. Although these reference methods are used routinely, each has inherent practical limitations. Whole-body air-displacement plethysmography is a new practical alternative to these more traditional body-composition methods. We reviewed the principal findings from studies published between December 1995 and August 2001 that compared the BOD POD method (Life Measurement, Inc, Concord, CA) with reference methods and summarized factors contributing to the different study findings. The average of the study means indicates that the BOD POD and HW agree within 1% body fat (BF) for adults and children, whereas the BOD POD and DXA agree within 1% BF for adults and 2% BF for children. Few studies have compared the BOD POD with multicompartment models; those that have suggest a similar average underestimation of (cid:2) 2–3% BF by both the BOD POD and HW. Individual variations between 2-compartment models compared with DXA and 4-compartment models are partly attributable to deviations from the assumed chemical composition of the body. Wide variations among study means, (cid:2) 4.0% to 1.9% BF for BOD POD (cid:2) HW and (cid:2) 3.0% to 1.7% BF for BOD POD (cid:2) DXA, are likely due in part to differences in laboratory equipment, study design, and subject characteristics and in some cases to failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommended protocol. Wide intersubject variations between methods are partly attributed to technical precision and biological error but to a large extent remain unexplained. On the basis of this review, future research goals are suggested.
From Endoplasmic Reticulum to Mitochondria: Absence of the Arabidopsis ATP Antiporter ER-ANT1 Perturbs Photorespiration W

The carrier Endoplasmic Reticulum Ade n ylate Transporter1 (ER-ANT1) resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and acts as an ATP/ADP antiporter. Mutant plants lacking ER-ANT1 exhibit a dwarf phenotype and their seeds contain reduced protein and lipid contents. In this study, we describe a further surprising metabolic peculiarity of the er-ant1 mutants. Interestingly, Gly levels in leaves are immensely enhanced (26 3 ) when compared with that of wild-type plants. Gly accumulation is caused by signi ﬁ cantly decreased mitochondrial glycine decarboxylase (GDC) activity. Reduced GDC activity in mutant plants was attributed to oxidative posttranslational protein modi ﬁ cation induced by elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). GDC activity is crucial for photorespiration; accordingly, morphological and physiological defects in er-ant1 plants were nearly completely abolished by application of high environmental CO 2 concentrations. The latter observation demonstrates that the absence of ER-ANT1 activity mainly affects photorespiration (maybe solely GDC), whereas basic cellular metabolism remains largely unchanged. Since ER-ANT1 homologs are restricted to higher plants, it is tempting to speculate that this carrier ful ﬁ ls a plant-speci ﬁ c function directly or indirectly controlling cellular ROS production. The observation that ER-ANT1 activity is associated with cellular ROS levels reveals an unexpected and critical physiological connection between the ER and other organelles in plants.
Differential effects on the toxicity and bioconcentration of hexavalent and trivalent chromium on the rotifer Lecane papuana (Rotifera: Monogononta)

Heavy metals are still a matter of concern as they might reach aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities like metal-mechanic or mining, which are part of the main economic activities in different regions around the world. The exposure to chromium may be linked to discharges from automotive and tannery industries, representing a threat to aquatic biota. In the environment, chromium presents two stable forms, the trivalent (CrIII) and the hexavalent (CrVI), which differ on their chemical properties, and thus, on their bioavailability and effects on organisms exposed to this metal. Therefore, this work was aimed to assess the effects of both chromium III and VI on the demographic responses of the rotifer Lecane papuana and describe how the bioconcentration of chromium affects survival and fecundity. For this purpose, acute toxicity (48 h) and chronic toxicity test (alterations on the intrinsic growth rate) were carried out. Moreover, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and metal body burden (MBB) were estimated after 24-h exposure to either CrIII or CrVI. Our results indicate that CrIII was less toxic according to their respective LC50 values (CrIII = 2.613 mg/L; CrVI = 0.177 mg/L). The intrinsic growth rate was significantly affected by CrIII while CrVI caused no significant changes but only at 0.0885 mg/L, which represents 0.5 of their respective LC50 value. Bioconcentration experiments demonstrated that L. papuana accumulated more CrIII before causing deleterious effects, although it was not as toxic as CrVI, which elicited toxic effects on L. papuana at concentrations of environmental concern.
Study On the Potentiality of Power Generation from Exhaust Air Energy Recovery Wind Turbine: A Review

Presently the worldwide lockdown from Covid-19 give a huge effect on different sectors across the board, notably on energy consumption. Lockdowns have fuelled the intensification of low-carbon resources in terms of electricity production, yet a drastic upswing in electricity use in residential districts during the pandemic. By exploring economic renewable energy resources, the world is trying to overcome the crisis and one of them is wind energy, where this sustainable energy system is highly demanded, thus reducing global CO 2 emissions. Researchers have carried out several findings on wind energy obtained from wind turbines at various potential locations, but most of it used natural sources as a wind stream. Therefore, a revolutionary concept on extracting clean energy from manufactured wind resources with wind turbine system for power generation is introduced in recent studies. The main goal of this review paper is to emphasize the performances of power generation through Exhaust Air Energy Recovery Wind Turbine. The potentiality of wind extractions is reviewed to achieve the clear overview of this new progressive ideas and the important configurations is accentuated. Most findings indicated that this energy recovery device converts wasted energy to a more profitable form by converting it to electricity, resulting in a rapid return on investment. Moreover, the enclosing the output area of wind turbines for recovering energy enhances overall efficiency.
A Chaotic-Map-Based Password-Authenticated Key Exchange Protocol for Telecare Medicine Information Systems

Telecare medicine information systems (TMISs) provide e-health services such that patients can access medical resources conveniently and doctors can prescribe treatments rapidly. Authentication is an essential security requirement in TMISs. In particular, the growth of password-based remote patient authenticated key exchange combining extended chaotic maps has enhanced the level of secure communications for TMISs. Recently, Lee suggested an improved random-number-based password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) using extended chaotic maps and synchronized-clock-based PAKE using extended chaotic maps on Guo and Zhang and Xiao et al.’s PAKE. Unfortunately, we found that the nonce-based scheme of Lee is insecure against known session-speciﬁc temporary information and server spooﬁng attacks. To cope with the aforementioned defects, this study aims to provide a new secure PAKE based on extended chaotic maps with more security functionalities for TMISs. Additionally, we show that the proposed scheme for TMISs provides high security along with low communication cost, computational cost, and a variety of security features.
STUDIES ON SEDIMENTATION OF ASPHALTENE DEPOSITS IN DISTILLATION RESIDUES

Experimental methods used for the evaluation of stability of solids in liquids dispersions, are presented in this work. Modern analytical techniques, such as tensiometry, scanning and static turbidimetry, have been applied for the characterization of dispersion components. The influence of selected surface active substances on the dispersion stability has been demonstrated.
Entanglement and the black hole information paradox

The black hole information paradox arises when quantum mechanical effects are considered in the vicinity of the event horizon of a black hole. In this report we describe the fundamental properties of quantum mechanical systems and black holes that lead to the information paradox, with focus on quantum entanglement. While first presented in 1976, the information paradox is as of yet an unsolved problem. Two of the proposed solutions, black hole complementarity and firewalls, are discussed. Sammanfattning Svarta hålets informationsparadox uppkommer när man tar hänsyn till kvantmekaniska effekter i närheten av händelsehorisonten av ett svart hål. I denna rapport beskrivs de grundläggande egenskaper hos kvantmekaniska system och svarta hål som leder till informationsparadoxen, med fokus på kvantintrassling. Paradoxen, som presenterades 1976 men än idag är ett olöst problem, förklaras sedan. Två av de förslagna lösningarna till paradoxen, svarta hål-komplementaritet och firewalls diskuteras. Author: Nadia Flodgren Supervisor: Magdalena Larfors Subject reader: Joseph Minahan
MASSIVELY PARALLEL SEQUENCING OF POOLED DNA SAMPLES-THE NEXT GENERATION OF MOLECULAR MARKERS

Next generation sequencing (NGS) is about to revolutionize genetic analysis. Currently NGS techniques are mainly used to sequence individual genomes. Due to the high sequence coverage required, the costs for population scale analyses are still too high to allow an extension to non-model organisms. Here, we show that NGS of pools of individuals is often more eﬀective in SNP discovery and provides more accurate allele frequency estimates, even when taking sequencing errors into account. We modify the population genetic estimators Tajima’s π and Watterson’s θ to obtain unbiased estimates from NGS pooling data. Given the same sequencing eﬀort, the resulting estimators often show a better performance than those obtained from individual sequencing. Although our analysis also shows that NGS of pools of individuals will not be preferable under all circumstances, it provides a cost eﬀective approach to estimate allele frequencies on a genome-wide scale.
Survey on Secure Mining of Association Rules in Vertically Distributed Databases

— A distributed database system is a collection of sites connected on a common high bandwidth network. Logically, data belongs to the same system but physically it is spread over the sites of the network, making the distribution invisible to the user. The advantage of this distribution resides in achieving availability, performance, modularity and reliability. In this paper, I have done a survey of papers related to Mining of Association Rules over distributed databases. From this survey, we have come up with a proposed solution to address the problem of secure mining of association rules where transactions are distributed in vertically distributed databases. Each site holds some attributes of each transaction and the sites wish to participate in the identification of globally valid association rules However, the sites should not reveal individual transaction data. The Protocol is based on Apriori Algorithm [2] and MultiParty Algorithm [3] for efficiently discovering frequent item sets with minimum support levels, without either site communicating individual transaction values.
Associations Between Lipoprotein(a) Levels and Cardiovascular Outcomes in African Americans and Caucasians: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background— Based on studies with limited statistical power, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans. We evaluated associations between Lp(a) and incident CVD events in African Americans and Caucasians in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Methods and Results— Plasma Lp(a) was measured in African Americans (n=3,467) and Caucasians (n=9,851). Hazards ratios (HRs) for incident CVD events (coronary heart disease [CHD] and ischemic strokes) were calculated. Lp(a) levels were higher with wider interindividual variation in African Americans (median [interquartile range]: 12.8 [7.1–21.7] mg/dl) than Caucasians (4.3 [1.7–9.5] mg/dl; p <0.0001). At 20 years of follow-up, 676 CVD events occurred in African Americans and 1,821 events occurred in Caucasians. Adjusted HRs (95% confidence interval [CI]) per race-specific 1-SD–greater log-transformed Lp(a) were 1.13 (1.04–1.23) for incident CVD, 1.11 (1.00–1.22) for incident CHD, and 1.21 (1.06–1.39) for ischemic strokes in African Americans. For Caucasians, the respective HRs (95% CIs) were 1.09 (1.04–1.15), 1.10 (1.05–1.16), and 1.07 (0.97–1.19). Quintile analyses showed that risk for incident CVD was graded but statistically significant only for the highest compared with the lowest quintile (HR [95%CI] 1.35 [1.06–1.74] for African Americans; HR 1.27 [1.10–1.47] for Caucasians). Similar results were obtained using Lp(a) cut-offs of ≤10 mg/dl, >10–≤20 mg/dl, >20–≤30 mg/dl, and >30 mg/dl. Conclusions— Lp(a) levels were positively associated with CVD events. Associations were at least as strong, with a larger range of Lp(a) concentrations, in African Americans compared with Caucasians. Based on observational and prospective studies with limited statistical power, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans. The Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines also note that “although Lp(a) levels are higher in African Americans than in Caucasians, an increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) associated with higher Lp(a) levels in African Americans has not been documented. ” This is despite the fact that Lp(a) levels in African Americans are 2–4 times higher than those in Caucasians. In these analyses, we evaluated the association between plasma Lp(a) levels and the risk of incident CVD events (incident CHD and incident ischemic strokes) in 3,467 African American and 9,851 Caucasians participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study over a 20-year follow-up period. Our analyses show that Lp(a) levels were positively associated with CVD events in both races. Associations were at least as strong in African Americans, with a larger range of relevant Lp(a) concentrations in African Americans compared with Caucasians. Elevated Lp(a) levels should therefore be considered to be associated with an increased CVD risk in African Americans.
Prediction of Heparin binding sites on Human Serum Albumin, Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and DNA Topoisomerase1

: Heparin binds a wide range of proteins of different structure as well as functions and play crucial roles in a number of biological processes. Human seminal plasma consists of many heparin binding proteins (HBPs). HBPs play crucial role in modulation of capacitation through heparin and have been correlated with fertility in many species. Very little scientific information is available about the binding modes of heparin and HBPs. There is not any well defined binding space, characterized by some consensus sequence over protein except that binding region always do consist of basic residues. Thus, we have to study each heparin-HBPs complex individually to gather information about their interactions. Here, we are reporting the results of docking studies to predict the heparin binding sites of three human seminal fluid HBPs (human serum albumin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and DNA topoisomerase 1) using program Dock6. Our docking results show that Arg117, Arg186, Lys519 of human serum albumin, Lys531, Tyr540, Glu549, Tyr552, Tyr591, Lys596 of matrix metalloproteinase and Lys439, Lys443, Arg488, Thr585, Lys587, Thr591 of DNA topoisomerase1 make hydrogen bond contacts with heparin. The positively charged residues Arginine and Lysine play important role in their interactions. Our study may add up to better understanding of protein-heparin binding modes.
Pedagogical Support in MOOCs: A new Approach to Tutoring

This paper analyses tutoring approaches in MOOCs, a new learning and teaching model. To this end, we have undertaken a study of resource materials in order to trace current events. The results indicate how this new learning trend is taking shape both nationally and internationally, and how pedagogical support is being provided in the MOOCs.
Ecological Advanced Driver Assistance System for Optimal Energy Management in Electric Vehicles

Battery Electric Vehicles have a high potential in modern transportation, however, they are facing limited cruising range. The driving style, the road geometries including slopes, curves, the static and dynamic traffic conditions such as speed limits and preceding vehicles have their share of energy consumption in the host electric vehicle. Optimal energy management based on a semi-autonomous ecological advanced driver assistance system can improve the longitudinal velocity regulation in a safe and energy-efficient driving strategy. The main contribution of this paper is the design of a realtime risk-sensitive nonlinear model predictive controller to plan the online cost-effective cruising velocity in a stochastic traffic environment. The basic idea is to measure the relevant states of the electric vehicle at runtime, and account for the road slopes, the upcoming curves, and the speed limit zones, as well as uncertainty in the preceding vehicle behaviour to determine the energy-efficient velocity profile. Closed-loop Entropic Value-at-Risk as a coherent risk measure is introduced to quantify the risk involved in the system constraints violation. The obtained simulation and field experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for a semi-autonomous electric vehicle in terms of safe and energy-efficient states regulation and constraints satisfaction.
Single-Switch High Step-Up DC–DC Converter With Low and Steady Switch Voltage Stress

In this paper, a new high voltage gain step-up dc–dc converter is proposed for interfacing renewable power generation. The configuration optimally integrates both the coupled-inductor and switched-capacitor techniques to achieve an ultra-high step-up gain of voltage conversion with low voltage stress and high efficiency. It consists of a voltage boost unit, a passive clamp circuit, and a symmetrical voltage multiplier network. The structure becomes modular and extendable without adding any extra winding for ultra-high step-up voltage gain. The proposed topology not only reduces the voltage stress on the main switch but also maintains it steady for the entire duty cycle range. Furthermore, the reverse recovery issue of the diodes is alleviated through the leakage inductance of the coupled inductor. The operation principle and steady-state analysis are presented in detail. Experimental evaluation validates the claimed advantages and demonstrates a well-distributed efficiency curve and the peak of 96.70%.
Full Review Renal transplantation in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis

Despite major advances in the management of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAV) achieved in the last decades, a large proportion of AAV patients still develop end-stage renal disease. The survival of AAV patients dependent on dialysis is signi ﬁ cantly worse compared with dialysis-independent AAV patients, but is comparable to other non-diabetic patients requiring dialysis. Renal transplantation (RTx) is the method of choice among renal replacement therapies and there has been increasing evidence that it is a suitable method with favorable patient- and graft-survival also in AAV patients. It is recommended to perform RTx after ≥ 12 months of remission, and ANCA positivity at the time of RTx is generally not considered a contraindication. Even though the risk of relapse after RTx is relatively low with current post-transplant immunosuppressive regimens, disease recurrence may occur. Besides cyclophosphamide, rituximab might become a therapeutic alternative for post-transplant AAV recurrence in the near future but its ef ﬁ cacy and safety in this setting needs to be con ﬁ rmed in larger studies.