Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Barometric Pressure as a correction factor for low-cost particulate matter sensors

Concentration of particulate matter constitutes a major, environmental problem affecting human health especially in urban areas. Although research centers and government agencies have air quality monitoring systems installed, their limited number prevents the spatiotemporal analysis in urban areas. EU funds research projects to engage citizens for air quality issues. The aim is to involve citizens to install low-cost air quality measuring stations to develop a wider network and to retrieve accurate information about air quality. The use of low-cost sensors arise questions about the reliability of the measurements. It is known, that particles concentration measurement are affected by humidity and temperature. Several models have been proposed to remove the impact of the temperature and humidity on the particle’s measurements but the impact of barometric pressure is under investigation. In this work, an extensive study is performed on the barometric pressure aftermath and corrective factors are proposed in relation to it. The pilot stations were installed next to high cost official stations for a month to calibrate the low-cost sensors. Herein, a model of multiple linear regression is presented to confirm the importance of barometric pressure correction, with the ultimate goal being the optimization of the low-cost particle sensors measured values.
Social Sustainability in Residential Communities “The Quality of Life through Users’ Behavioral Attitudes”

This study investigated the quality of life (QoL) in residential communities through residentsʼ behaviors and how it could affect the social sustainability of the urban environment. Four aspects have been discussed; opportunities and constraints, Land use encroachment, satisfaction, and models of relations between users and their urban environment. A convenient sample of subjects has been chosen, and the merging method “Swapping tools and attitudes” has been chosen to apply its procedures in the fieldwork of the selected case studies. The determined indicators have been evaluated in each case study, and a comparison has been held to evaluate the findings of each setting. The selected case studies are; • Al Rehab City, New Cairo. • Zeinhom Residences, El Sayeda Zeinab, Cairo. Perceived barriers were found to have direct and indirect effects on human well-being. Recognition of the differential roles played by environmental attributes, residentsʼ satisfaction, and use patterns can guide planners and designers to create outdoor spaces that enhance urban residentsʼ wellbeing.
Physical Layer Security with Maximal Ratio Combining over Heterogeneous j (cid:2) l and g (cid:2) l Fading Channels

This paper investigates physical layer security of maximal ratio combining (MRC) in a heterogeneous fading environment, where the legitimate channel and the wiretap channel are modeled as j (cid:2) l and g (cid:2) l fading distributions, respectively. The legitimate receiver adopts MRC to maximize the probability of secure transmission, whereas the eavesdropper adopts MRC to maximize the probability of successful eaves-dropping. If the eavesdropper’s channel state information (CSI) is available at the transmitter, the exact and asymptotic expressions of the average secrecy capacity are derived as the security performance metrics. While, if the eavesdropper’s CSI is not available at the transmitter, the exact and asymptotic expressions of the secrecy outage probability are derived as the security performance metrics. In both of the two cases, the impact of the number of antennas as well as the channel fading parameters on the the secrecy performance is further analyzed. Finally, the simulation results are given to verify the validity of the theoretical analysis.
D^0 -> gamma gamma and D^0 -> mu^+ mu^- Rates on an Unlikely Impact of the Littlest Higgs Model wi

The decays D^0 -> gamma gamma, $mu^+ mu^- are highly suppressed in the Standard Model (SM) with the lion's share of the rate coming from long distance dynamics; D^0 -> mu^+ mu^- is driven predominantly by D^0 -> gamma gamma -> mu^+ mu^-. Their present experimental bounds are small, yet much larger than SM predictions. New Physics models like the Littlest Higgs models with T parity (LHT) can induce even large indirect CP violation in D^0 transitions. One would guess that LHT has a `fighting chance' to affect these D^0 -> gamma gamma, mu^+ mu^- rates in an observable way. We have found LHT contributions can be much larger than short distance SM amplitude by orders of magnitude. Yet those can barely compete with the long distance SM effects. If D^0 -> gamma gamma, mu^+ mu^- modes are observed at greatly enhanced rates, LHT scenarios will not be candidates for generating such signals. LHT-like frameworks will not yield larger D^0 rightarrow gamma gamma/mu^+ mu^- rates as they are constrained by B and K rare decays.
A New Linearized CCII-Based Fully Differential CMOS Transconductor Used for Gm-C Active Filters Implementation

The paper presents a new linearized, of high performance, fully differential transconductor, based on class AB second generation current conveyor (CCII) in CMOS technology. The proposed circuit is composed by two positive CCII cells connected in series and a common mode feedback loop. Unlike other CMOS circuits on the basis of CCII reported in the literature, the proposed transconductor cell allows to obtain a higher transconductance value, an improved linearity and operates at high frequency for a 3.3 V supply voltage. As an application, the new transconductor cell in CMOS technology is used for designing a 4th order differential Gm-C low-pass filters in different approximations (Butterworth and Chebyshev) operating up to 300 MHz cut-off frequency. The simulations performed in 130 nm CMOS process confirm the theoretical results.
Segmentation of Color Textures Using K-Means Cluster Based Wavelet Image Fusion

This paper develops a new method for cluster segmentation of color texture image. At first, a color texture image has been decomposed three sub-bands that R (red), G (green), B (blue) channel. Second, each sub-bands channel has been decomposed by discrete wavelet transform (DWT) to the same resolution. Third, fusion operation is performed on the transformed images according to PCA- based (Principal Component Analysis) weighted average rule to choose the reconstructed coefficients. Then all the decomposed sub-bands images are reconstructed using inverse discrete wavelet transform (IDWT) that becoming a fusion image. Finally, k-means cluster segmentation algorithm has been applied for this fusion image, the segmentation results has been obtained. A number of experiments are performed to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.
Vibronic activation of molecular vibrational overtones in the infrared spectra of charge-ordered organic conductors

A dip-shaped anomaly appearing in the infrared spectrum of charge-transfer organic complexes has been investigated. The anomaly appears at approximately the same frequency (\ensuremath{\sim}2700 cm${}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$), irrespective of light polarization as well as a composition of the complex, when the compounds undergo charge ordering. Isotope-shift measurements for \ensuremath{\theta}-(BEDT-TTF)${}_{2}$RbZn(SCN)${}_{4}$ [BEDT-TTF = bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene] indicates a relationship between the overtone of a C=C stretching mode of the BEDT-TTF molecule and this anomalous signal. Calculations of electron-molecular vibration coupling based on a diatomic molecular dimer model reveals that the overtone is activated by an anharmonicity developed in the adiabatic potential in a charge-separated system. It is presented that numerical calculation based on the simple cluster model reproduces essential features of the experimentally obtained conductivity spectrum.
Global numerical simulation of the growth phase and the expansion onset for a substorm observed by Viking

We report the first global magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation of an actual magnetospheric substorm, which was recorded by the Viking spacecraft on October 19, 1986. The simulation is driven by IMP 8 solar wind parameters measured upstream of the Earth's bow shock. The substorm, which had expansion onset at 1132 UT, was caused by a brief period of southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) and two weak solar wind shocks. The simulation model includes a self-consistent auroral ionospheric conductance depending directly on the MHD magnetospheric plasma parameters and magnetic field. Synthetic auroral emissions, derived from simulation results, are compared to the Viking images, which show considerable dayside activity preceding the substorm. We also compare model-derived synthetic AU and AL indices to geomagnetic measurements. The simulation results are seen to be in reasonable agreement with the observations throughout the growth phase and expansion onset. Moreover, the results allow us to form conclusions concerning which essential processes were responsible for the substorm occurence. These results are a highly encouraging first step leading toward development of a space weather forecasting methodology based on the directly measured solar input.
The multi-modality neuroimaging analysis identified an essential genetic variant associated with Parkinson's disease

Over 90 genetic variants have been found to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in genome-wide association studies, however, the neural mechanisms of these identified genetic variants conferring risk of PD were largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to identify essential genetic variants in PD for future functional and mechanistic studies. We revealed 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) conferring risk of PD were significantly correlated with brain gene expressions. Although they were not significantly associated with the clinical presentations of PD patients in multivariate regression models, multi-SNP models constructed by several genetic variants powerfully predicted clinical presentations of PD patients. Among 14 SNPs, GPNMB rs199347 significantly modifies the activity of sensorimotor network (adjusted p < 0.0007, FDR corrected) after adjusting age, sex, disease duration, and the genotypes of remaining 13 SNPs. Graph-based network analysis further demonstrated that GPNMB rs199347 had remarkable effects on the global topology of functional network and specifically shaped the nodal network metrics of bilateral caudate. GPNMB rs199347 was not associated with significant changes of structural network metrics. Our findings support that GPNMB rs199347 is an essential genetic variant specifically shaping functional network of PD patients.
Effects of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor on Sputum Viscoelastic Properties, Airway Infection and Inflammation in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Background: We recently demonstrated that the triple combination CFTR modulator therapy elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ELX/TEZ/IVA) improves lung ventilation and airway mucus plugging determined by multiple-breath washout and magnetic resonance imaging in CF patients with at least one F508del allele. However, effects of ELX/TEZ/IVA on viscoelastic properties of airway mucus, chronic airway infection and inflammation have not been studied. The aim of this study was, therefore, to determine the effects of ELX/TEZ/IVA on airway mucus rheology, microbiome and inflammation in CF patients with one or two F508del alleles aged 12 years and older. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we assessed sputum rheology, the microbiome, inflammation markers and proteome before and 8 to 16 weeks after initiation of ELX/TEZ/IVA. Results: In total, 59 patients with CF and at least one F508del allele and 10 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. ELX/TEZ/IVA improved the elastic modulus (G'; -6.3 Pa; IQR, -17.9 to 1.2; P<0.01) and viscous modulus (G''; -1.6 Pa; IQR, -3.6 to 0.5; P<0.05) of CF sputum. Further, ELX/TEZ/IVA improved the microbiome -diversity (0.6; IQR, 0.0 to 1.2; P<0.001) and decreased the relative abundance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in CF sputum. ELX/TEZ/IVA also reduced IL-8 (-11.7 ng/ml, IQR, -36.5 to 11.2; P<0.05) and free NE activity (-27.5 g/ml, IQR, -64.5 to -3.5; P<0.001), and shifted the CF sputum proteome towards healthy. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that ELX/TEZ/IVA improves sputum viscoelastic properties, chronic airway infection and inflammation in CF patients with at least one F508del allele, however, without reaching levels close to healthy. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT04732910)
Four-dimensional computational ultrasound imaging of brain hemodynamics

Four-dimensional ultrasound imaging of complex biological systems such as the brain is technically challenging because of the spatiotemporal sampling requirements. We present computational ultrasound imaging (cUSi), an imaging method that uses complex ultrasound fields that can be generated with simple hardware and a physical wave prediction model to alleviate the sampling constraints. cUSi allows for high-resolution four-dimensional imaging of brain hemodynamics in awake and anesthetized mice.
Two new hypogean species of Triplophysa (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from the River Yangtze drainage in Guizhou, China

Abstract. Two hypogean species of genus Triplophysa are herein described from two subterranean tributaries of the River Yangtze drainage in Guiyang City, Guizhou Province, China. Triplophysa wudangensis, new species, can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: eye reduced, with diameter 5.1-6.5% HL; interorbital width 33.1-35.8% HL; body scaleless; lateral line complete; posterior chamber of air bladder degenerated; anterior nostril with elongated barbel-like tip; distal margin of dorsal fin truncate; dorsal fin with 7, anal fin with 5, and caudal fin with 14 branched fin rays; vertebrae 4 + 34. Triplophysa qingzhenensis, new species, can be distinguished from its congeners by the combination of the following characters: eye reduced, with diameter 2.1-4.4% HL; interorbital width 25.1-30.4% HL; body scaleless; lateral line complete; posterior chamber of air bladder degenerated; anterior nostril with elongated barbel-like tip; distal margin of dorsal fin truncate; dorsal fin with 7-8, anal fin with 5, and caudal fin with 14 branched fin rays; vertebrae 4 + 36. Molecular phylogenetic analysis supported the validity of these two new species and indicated their close relationship with Triplophysa rosa.
Hybrid proportional derivative/repetitive control for active vibration control of smart piezoelectric structures

This paper presents a hybrid control method for active vibration control of smart piezoelectric structures. The proposed controller consists of a proportional derivative (PD) controller for broadband disturbance rejection and a repetitive controller for narrowband disturbance rejection. The proposed design embeds the repetitive controller by solving a Bezout identity satisfying deterministic constraint into an existing PD feedback control loop. The applied method has two main advantages: (1) each controller design is modularized with an “add-on” property for performance improvement; (2) it achieves superior vibration suppression for both impulse and persistent excitation. Experimental results on a piezoelectric cantilever beam demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid controller design method.
Estimating Average Treatment Effects in Regression Discontinuity Designs with Covariates under Minimal Assumptions

We study regression discontinuity designs with the use of additional covariates for estimation of the average treatment effect. We provide a detailed proof of asymptotic normality of the covariate-adjusted estimator under minimal assumptions, which may serve as an accessible text to the mathematics behind regression discontinuity with covariates. In addition, this proof carries at least three benefits. First of all, it allows to draw straightforward consequences concerning the impact of the covariates on the bias and variance of the estimator. In fact, we can provide conditions under which the influence of the covariates on the bias vanishes. Moreover, we show that the variance in the covariate-adjusted case is never worse than in the case of the baseline estimator under a very general invertibility condition. Finally, our approach does not require the existence of potential outcomes, allowing for a sensitivity analysis in case confounding cannot be ruled out, e.g., by a manipulated forcing variable.
Combined application of plant growth-promoting bacteria and iron oxide nanoparticles ameliorates the toxic effects of arsenic in Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.)

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals [such as arsenic (As)] is becoming a serious global problem because of the rapid development of the social economy. Although plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and nanoparticles (NPs) are the major protectants to alleviate metal toxicity, the study of these chemicals in combination to ameliorate the toxic effects of As is limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the combined effects of different levels of Providencia vermicola (5 ppm and 10 ppm) and iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO-NPs) (50 mg/l–1 and 100 mg/l–1) on plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, oxidative stress and response of antioxidant compounds (enzymatic and non-enzymatic), and their specific gene expression, sugars, nutritional status of the plant, organic acid exudation pattern As accumulation from the different parts of the plants, and electron microscopy under the soil, which was spiked with different levels of As [0 μM (i.e., no As), 50 μM, and 100 μM] in Ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L.) seedlings. Results from the present study showed that the increasing levels of As in the soil significantly (p< 0.05) decreased plant growth and biomass, photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange attributes, sugars, and nutritional contents from the roots and shoots of the plants, and destroyed the ultra-structure of membrane-bound organelles. In contrast, increasing levels of As in the soil significantly (p< 0.05) increased oxidative stress indicators in term of malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and electrolyte leakage, and also increased organic acid exudation patter in the roots of T. ammi seedlings. The negative impact of As toxicity can overcome the application of PGPB (P. vermicola) and FeO-NPs, which ultimately increased plant growth and biomass by capturing the reactive oxygen species, and decreased oxidative stress in T. ammi seedlings by decreasing the As contents in the roots and shoots of the plants. Our results also showed that the FeO-NPs were more sever and showed better results when we compared with PGPB (P. vermicola) under the same treatment of As in the soil. Research findings, therefore, suggest that the combined application of P. vermicola and FeO-NPs can ameliorate As toxicity in T. ammi seedlings, resulting in improved plant growth and composition under metal stress, as depicted by balanced exudation of organic acids.
Novel FDIs-based data manipulation and its detection in smart meters’ electricity theft scenarios

Non-technical loss is a serious issue around the globe. Consumers manipulate their smart meter (SM) data to under-report their readings for financial benefit. Various manipulation techniques are used. This paper highlights novel false data injection (FDIs) techniques, which are used to manipulate the smart meter data. These techniques are introduced in comparison to six theft cases. Furthermore, various features are engineered to analyze the variance, complexity, and distribution of the manipulated data. The variance and complexity are created in data distribution when FDIs and theft cases are used to poison SM data, which is investigated through skewness and kurtosis analysis. Furthermore, to tackle the data imbalance issue, the proximity weighted synthetic oversampling (ProWsyn) technique is used. Moreover, a hybrid attentionLSTMInception is introduced, which is an integration of attention layers, LSTM, and inception blocks to tackle data dimensionality, misclassification, and high false positive rate issues. The proposed hybrid model outperforms the traditional theft detectors and achieves an accuracy of 0.95%, precision 0.97%, recall 0.94%, F1 score 0.96%, and area under-the-curve (AUC) score 0.98%.
Effect of thinning on growth and allometry of Eucalyptus diversicolor

Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor F. Muell.) forest is an endemic forest type of southwest Western Australia (SWWA), noted for having the tallest trees in the region, and providing commercial, ecological and conservation value. To inform management aimed at optimising these values, a thinning trial was commenced in 1992. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thinning on individual tree growth, stand level growth and allometry of karri trees in even-aged stands. Mixed effect models were used to compare the effect of different levels of thinning on individual tree growth and stand level growth of karri. We developed allometric equations modelling the relationship between diameter at breast height (DBH) and height, and tested whether thinning affected this allometric relationship. Thinning enhanced DBH, height and crown width (CW) growth of individual trees by up to 149%, 56% and 108% respectively in heavily thinned stands, with stand basal area growth optimised at retained basal areas of 13 m2 ha−1. Thinning had a significant effect on allometry of DBH with height, height-DBH ratio (HDR) and CW. Reduction in stand density through thinning from below increased diameter growth of individual trees. Stand level basal area growth is optimised at an intermediate level of thinning. Thinning can be a good management tool for even-aged karri forest because it may promote the diameter and thereby basal area growth, good health of individual trees, and potential ecological benefits including accelerated development of larger tree crowns typical of mature forest.
Early socioeconomic adversity and young adult diabetic risk: an investigation of genetically informed biopsychosocial processes over the life course

ABSTRACT The present study investigated a comprehensive model that integrates contributions of early socioeconomic adversity (ESA) and multiple polygenic scores (PGSs) through different mechanisms leading to diabetic risk in early adulthood. The study used prospective, longitudinal data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Adult Health (Add Health) with a sample of 5,728 youth of European ancestry. The results showed that both ESA and PGSs were involved in different mechanisms. ESA contributed additively to educational failures, BMI, depressive symptoms, and diabetes risk over the life course (an additive process). Also, ESA launched a cascading process that connected these outcomes in a successively contingent manner. In addition to ESA, youths’ multiple PGSs directly contributed to educational, psychological, and BMI outcomes. Multiple PGSs for education, BMI, and type 2 diabetes influenced not only youth outcomes that they were supposed to predict directly but also additional youth outcomes showing biological pleiotropy. The findings highlight the value of incorporating molecular genetic information into longitudinal developmental life course research and provide insight into malleable characteristics and appropriate timing for interventions addressing youth developmental and health outcomes.