Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generalized Concept of Relative Risk and Wider Applications of the Proportional Hazards Model and the Kaplan–Meier Estimator

The concepts of relative risk and hazard ratio are generalized for ordinary ordinal and continuous response variables, respectively. Under the generalized concepts, the Cox proportional hazards model with the Breslow's and Efron's methods can be regarded as generalizations of the Mantel–Haenszel estimator for dealing with broader types of covariates and responses. When ordinal responses can be regarded as discretized observations of a hypothetical continuous variable, the estimated relative risks from the Cox model reflect the associations between the responses and covariates. Examples are given to illustrate the generalized concepts and wider applications of the Cox model and the Kaplan–Meier estimator.
Heat transfer analysis of Radiative-Marangoni Convective flow in nanofluid comprising Lorentz forces and porosity effects

The present work investigates the impacts of the Lorentz forces, porosity factor, viscous dissipation and radiation in thermo-Marangoni convective flow of a nanofluids (comprising two distinct kinds of carbon nanotubes ($CNT_{s}$)), in water ($H_{2}O$). Heat transportation developed by Marangoni forces happens regularly in microgravity situations, heat pipes, and in crystal growth. Therefore, Marangoni convection is considered in the flow model. A nonlinear system is constructed utilizing these assumptions which further converted to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by accurate similarity transformations. The homotopic scheme is utilized to compute the exact solution for the proposed system. The study reveals that higher estimations of Hartmann number and Marangoni parameter speed up the fluid velocity while the opposite behavior is noted for porosity factor. Further, the rate of heat transfer shows upward trend for the Hartmann number, Marangoni parameter, nanoparticle solid volume fraction, radiation parameter whereas a downward trend is followed by the Brinkman number and porosity factor. It is fascinating to take observe that contemporary analytical outcomes validate the superb convergence with previous investigation.
Liposome System for Encapsulation of Spirulina platensis Protein Hydrolysates: Controlled-Release in Simulated Gastrointestinal Conditions, Structural and Functional Properties

This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical, structural, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chitosan-coated (0.5 and 1% CH) nanoliposomes containing hydrolyzed protein of Spirulina platensis and its stability in simulated gastric and intestine fluids. The chitosan coating of nanoliposomes containing Spirulina platensis hydrolyzed proteins increased their size and zeta potential. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) test showed an effective interaction between the hydrolyzed protein, the nanoliposome, and the chitosan coating. Increasing the concentration of hydrolyzed protein and the percentage of chitosan coating neutralized the decreasing effect of microencapsulation on the antioxidant activity of peptides. Chitosan coating (1%) resulted in improved stability of size, zeta potential, and poly dispersity index (PDI) of nanoliposomes, and lowered the release of the hydrolyzed Spirulina platensis protein from nanoliposomes. Increasing the percentage of chitosan coating neutralized the decrease in antibacterial properties of nanoliposomes containing hydrolyzed proteins. This study showed that 1% chitosan-coated nanoliposomes can protect Spirulina platensis hydrolyzed proteins and maintain their antioxidant and antibacterial activities.
An overview of advances in heat conduction models and approaches for prediction of thermal conductivity in thin dielectric films

We first provide an overview of some predominant theoretical methods currently used for predicting thermal conductivity of thin dielectric films: the equation of radiative transfer, the temperature‐dependent thermal conductivity theories based on the Callaway model, and the molecular dynamics simulation. This overview also highlights temporal and spatial scale issues by looking at a unified theory that bridges physical issues presented in the Fourier and Cattaneo models. This newly developed unified theory is the so‐called C‐ and F‐processes constitutive model. This model introduces the notion of a new dimensionless heat conduction model number, which is the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the fast heat carrier F‐processes to the total thermal conductivity comprised of both the fast heat carriers F‐processes and the slow heat carriers C‐processes. Illustrative numerical examples for prediction of thermal conductivity in thin films are primarily presented.
A New Method for Moving-Target HRRP via Double Step Frequency Verified by Simulation

The stepped-frequency (SF) waveform is highly sensitive to the target motion, which induces range shift and echo spread in a high-range-resolution profile (HRRP). This paper proposes a method based on a cross-transmitted double-stepped frequency (DSF) waveform and the phase-cancellation technique. The proposed method obtains the stationary HRRP of the moving targets according to the inverse discrete Fourier transform (IDFT) and complex multiplication. The results also show that the proposed method eliminates the generated false peaks from the existing methods. As a result, the obtained signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the HRRP using the proposed method is improved. Due to the cross-transmitted DSF waveform application, the proposed method adapts to higher speed targets. The analysis and simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Coverage Performance Evaluation for Cellular Networks With Correlated Blockage Model

Analyzing correlation effects caused by the realistic geometry of blockage is crucial to evaluate network performance in wireless networks. However, the correlation generally complicates analysis procedure even makes it intractable. Based on the cascade blockage model, this letter proposes a functional framework for performance evaluation from a vision of typical user. We first derive a functional equation to obtain the association probability that can be solved efficiently by an association iterative algorithm. Then, they are leveraged to design a coverage iterative algorithm to analyze the coverage probability in the form of joint distribution. This analytical framework gains insight into the effect of blockage correlation and penetration loss on network performance. In addition, it is applied to inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) context to demonstrate its feasibility and flexibility.
Regular graphs and stability

Abstract We show that a graph G is semi-stable at vertex v if and only if the set of vertices of G adjacent to v is fixed by the automorphism group of Gv, the subgraph of G obtained by deleting v and its incident edges. This result leads to a neat proof that regular graphs are semi-stable at each vertex. We then investigate stable regular graphs, concentrating mainly on stable vertex-transitive graphs. We conjecture that if G is a non-trivial vertex-transitive graph, then G is stable if and only if γ(G) contains a transposition, offering some evidence for its truth.
Impact of the surface-near silicon substrate properties on the microstructure of sputter-deposited AlN thin films

In micro-/nanomachined devices and systems, aluminum nitride (AlN) thin films are widely used due to their piezoelectric properties. This work evaluates the potential of modifying the interface between the AlN thin film and the silicon (Si) wafer serving as bottom electrode for optimized crystallographic orientation and, hence, improved electrical and piezoelectric properties. The films were analyzed using temperature-dependant leakage current measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction. By preconditioning of the Si substrate surface applying sputter etching prior to film deposition, leakage current levels are substantially decreased and an increased (002) orientation of the AlN grains is observed.
Initial results from a photon-counting intensified CCD development

We present a progress report on the development of intensified charge coupled devices (ICCDs) used in both analog mode with CCD integrating the output of an MCP and in photon counting mode where single MCP events are centroided to subpixel accuracy by the CCD and readout electronics. Spatial resolutions of 36 lp/mm have been achieved using a 15 micrometer pitch MCP in the analog mode. In the photon counting mode, individual MCP pores with the same spacing have been easily resolved indicating spatial resolutions of less than 10 micrometer. A discussion of the centroiding algorithms are presented, as well as a description of the electronic designs that will increase the diffuse event rate of the photon counting ICCD to 50,000 events/sec.
Managing dyke retreat: Importance of century‐scale channel network evolution on storm surge modification over salt marshes under rising sea levels

A hybrid coastal defense consisting of a salt‐marsh system at the seaward side and dykes on the landward side has been globally implemented to improve coastal resilience. In this approach, marshes are valuable ecosystems that dampen storm surges and have an intrinsic ability to keep up with sea‐level rise (SLR). Dykes instead, prevent the surge from penetrating inland. Therefore, dyke retreat is now considered a valuable option that allows the creation of new marshland in front of the relocated dyke, thus maximizing surge damping. The studies investigating the effect of dyke retreat on surge modification do not incorporate the morphodynamic expansion of tidal networks in the de‐reclaimed land, which is modeled as an unchannelized marsh. Here, we use the morphodynamic model Delft3D and a marsh evolution module to study the formation of tidal networks in a de‐reclaimed land after dyke retreat and evaluate their effect on surge modification (damping or amplification), and thus, the maximum water level reached at the dyke during a storm surge event. For this purpose, we consider different combinations of hydrodynamic (storm surge peak and duration, SLR), and morphodynamic (sediment input, dyke retreat distance, and de‐reclaimed land slope) parameters. Our results suggest that an increase in tidal prism, which depends on retreat distance, de‐reclaimed land slope, and SLR, drives the century‐scale morphodynamic evolution of the marsh. Results also show that surge damping is overestimated if the morphodynamic evolution of the tidal network after dyke retreat is neglected since the new creeks favor the landward propagation of the surge. Finally, a genetic algorithm is used to determine a relationship between surge modification, marsh morphology, and the morphodynamic and hydrodynamic parameters of the simulations. The relationship indicates that relative surge damping increases for shallower tidal networks, smaller surge peaks, higher marsh platforms, and smaller percentages of channelized area.
Perception and Resilience Strategies of Livestock Farmers and Agro-Pastoralists Affected by Climate Change: Case of the urban commune of Tera, Niger

This study aimed to identify and strengthen the resilience of livestock and agro-pastoralists in the face of changing climatic conditions. The study was conducted in the urban commune of Tera. The methodological approach consisted of desk research and data collection. In order to find the number of households to be surveyed in the selected camps, the method of taking a sample (8%) of the target households is adopted. In total, forty-eight (48) herders and agro-pastoralists are selected. The analysis of the perception of the herders and agro-pastoralists on the climate trend showed a decrease in the amount of rainfall (94% of respondents), increasingly high temperatures (92%) and an increase in strong and sandy winds in all seasons (96%). The disappearance of plant cover was the main cause of climate change according to 79.2% of respondents. The impacts of climate change are numerous. Pastoral resources (water and fodder) have been greatly reduced. The health of the animals has been affected, as has their production. Strategies have been developed by farmers and agro-pastoralists to reduce or anticipate the negative effects of climate change. According to some respondents, the strategies have not fully met expectations.
Third order equivalent equation of lattice Boltzmann scheme

We recall the origin of lattice Boltzmann scheme and detail the version due to D'Humieres [8]. We present a formal analysis of this lattice Boltzmann scheme in terms of a single numerical infinitesimal parameter. We derive third order equivalent partial differential equation of this scheme. Both situations of single conservation law and fluid flow with mass and momentum conservations are detailed. We apply our analysis to so-called D1Q3 and D2Q9 lattice Boltzmann schemes in one and two space dimensions.
Sexual Dimorphism in Modern Javanese Crania: A Metric Approach

Establishing the biological profile of an unknown skeleton is one of forensic anthropologist main tasks; sex is one of them. In sexing the skulls, specific standard assessment designed for each population can improve the accuracy rate due to its population-specific traits. This study aims to describe the sexual dimorphism in contemporary Javanese crania while employing metric methods. The measurements of 50 male and 37 female crania were traditionally collected from nine craniometric points (i.e., g-op, eu-eu, ft-ft, zy-zy, n-pr, n-ns, apt-apt, go-go, n-gn) using calipers. This study found that out of nine measuring points, two (ft-ft, apt-apt) variables does not differ significantly between the male and female samples. This indicates that, in accordance with previous studies, ft-ft and apt-apt are not good predictors for sex. Future studies observing the non-metric sexual dimorphism on Javanese crania would serve as a meaningful aid in improving the accuracy and reliability when sexing Javanese crania.
Use of Covariates and Survey Wave to Adjust for Nonresponse

Using covariates available on all sampled individuals along with an intensive follow‐up of nonrespondents is a useful approach to reduce the impact of nonresponse. We examined the performance of several different nonresponse models to account for such covariates and multiple survey waves to estimate the prevalence of birth control use in 106463 women taking the teratogenic drug Accutane. Nonrespondents to a first mailing were followed with two more mailings and then a telephone call. The first mailing had a response rate of 59.7 percent; the overall nonresponse rate was 15.2 percent. Age was available on all women and was strongly associated with both response and birth control use. We considered both multiple imputation and weighting strategies using information on age and time to response assuming that nonrespondents were: (i) like all respondents conditional on age, (ii) like reluctant respondents conditional on age, and (iii) projected from a model which includes trend. Simulation studies were used to examine the potential bias in this setting and we compared models under different assumptions about the missing data mechanism. Results describe the extent to which availability of covariate information and use of multiple waves improves estimation. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Two‐primary crosstalk model for characterizing liquid crystal displays

The conventional methods for colorimetric characterization of displays assume that the displays satisfy the constraints of primary chromaticity invariance across gray levels and primary channel independence. The liquid crystal displays (LCDs) that reasonably satisfy the two constraints have been accurately characterized with the conventional methods and black-level correction. For the LCDs that do not reasonably satisfy the two constraints, we propose a higher-order method for accurate colorimetric characterization. Two-primary crosstalk (TPC) is observed for two tested LCDs that may be due to signal interference. We derive the crosstalk function and develop the TPC model for characterizing the LCDs, which comprises a set of the simultaneous equations with offset constants, one-color variables, and two-color-product variables. The results show that the accuracy of the TPC model is significantly improved compared with conventional device models and only slightly worse than the three-dimensional look-up-table (3D-LUT) model, while the numbers of measurement data are 49 and 512 for the TPC and 3D-LUT models, respectively. The average color difference of 224 test samples is about 2.0 (1976 CIELAB color difference formula) with the TPC model for the LCD monitor either with higher or with lower two-primary crosstalk. While the proposed TPC model yields improved characterization accuracy over conventional models, the TPC model is evaluated on only two LCDs of the same manufacturer. Thus, the generality of the LCD crosstalk deficiency is unknown and should be determined in future research. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 31, 90–101, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/col.20187
How I taught with a game in junior high school EFL classes

Background: In the Japanese junior high school where I taught English for three years, thanks to the soon-to-come introduction of the new action-oriented (or task-based) curriculum, the CEFR-J (Japanese adaptation of the European CEFR) I could introduce a game as a task-based language teaching tool. Aim: Show a practical example of how ludic resources can be adopted as pedagogical solutions and indirectly used to reach/attain curriculum goals, in my case, national curriculum goals: the CEFR-J descriptors. Teaching methods: Task Based Language Teaching (TBLT) with frequent teacher mediation. Research methods: Evaluation, based on qualitative data. Results: Students’ fluency with in-game lingo and their communication skills improved. Also, thanks to the TBLT structure and the cooperative nature of the game, students felt like they gained better interpersonal skills. Conclusion: The in-game language range of the chosen game appears to be limited, but the practice and the experience with it paves the way for more language and context-rich games. Also this study shows how, with a lot of work from the teacher, social deduction games can be successfully implemented into an action-oriented curriculum while also fostering social skills useful even outside the classroom.
A Fast-Transient-Response NMOS LDO with Wide Load-Capacitance Range for Cross-Point Memory

In this paper, a fast-transient-response NMOS low-dropout regulator (LDO) with a wide load-capacitance range was presented to provide a V/2 read bias for cross-point memory. To utilize the large dropout voltage in the V/2 bias scheme, a fast loop consisting of NMOS and flipped voltage amplifier (FVA) topology was adopted with a fast transient response. This design is suitable to provide a V/2 read bias with 3.3 V input voltage and 1.65 V output voltage for different cross-point memories. The FVA-based LDO designed in the 110 nm CMOS process remained stable under a wide range of load capacitances from 0 to 10 nF and equivalent series resistance (ESR) conditions. At the capacitor-less condition, it exhibited a unity-gain bandwidth (UGB) of approximately 400 MHz at full load. For load current changes from 0 to 10 mA within an edge time of 10 ps, the simulated undershoot and settling time were only 144 mV and 50 ns, respectively. The regulator consumed 70 µA quiescent current and achieved a remarkable figure-of-merit (FOM) of 1.01 mV. At the ESR condition of a 1 µF off-chip capacitor, the simulated quiescent current, on-chip capacitor consumption, and current efficiency at full load were 8.5 µA, 2 pF, and 99.992%, respectively. The undershoot voltage was 20 mV with 800 ns settling time for a load step from 0 to 100 mA within the 10 ps edge time.
SST Correlation Between Chlorophyll and Turbidity by Landsat MS Image Analysis for the Coast of Izmir Province

Temporal Sea Surface Temperature (SST) analyses by satellite images are quite vital in terms of understanding the sea water quality. Specific water quality criteria include dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, temperature, depth, pH, salinity, and turbidity, and these criteria are used to determine water quality in seas. In the current study, three criteria which are chlorophyll, temperature (SST) and turbidity were examined through their correlation with SST derived from Landsat sensors. This let to know about the examined criteria at minimum and maximum temperature dates, the relation with respect to temperature change rates, and to understand the events that occur in certain dates. The regular or irregular increases of the detected SST are evidence of sea water quality or pollution resulted from the criteria in the study area. Therefore, first turbid water which contains a high amount of suspended sediment was studied. After the turbidity index was completed, the Chlorophyll study was carried out to detect the algae like substances. The aims of the study are to evaluate the temporal change of water quality in coastal region of Izmir province, using spectral indices, and to contribute to the development of more sensitive qualitative index algorithms in the future. At the end of the study, high correlation coefficients revealed the relationship between SST and indexes.
Lower Bounds for the Energy of Unit Vector Fields and Applications

We prove lower bounds for the Dirichlet energy of a unit vector field defined in a perforated domain of R2with nonzero degree on the outer boundary in terms of the total diameter of the holes. We use this to derive lower bounds, and then compactness results for sequences (ue) of minimizers or almost-minimizers of Ginzburg–Landau functionals with coupling constant 1/e2tending to +∞.
In-Situ Assembly of MoS2 Nanostructures on EHD-Printed Microscale PVDF Fibrous Films for Potential Energy Storage Applications

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has been widely utilized to fabricate free-standing electrodes in energy-related fields. In terms of fabrication, the two most challenging limitations of 3D printed electrodes are the poor printing resolution and simple structural dimension. Here we proposed a novel process to fabricate molybdenum disulfide-polyvinylidene fluoride (MoS2-PVDF) hierarchical electrodes for energy storage applications. The 20-layer microscale PVDF films with a stable fiber width of 8.3 ± 1.2 μm were fabricated by using electrohydrodynamic (EHD) printing. MoS2 nanostructures were synthesized and assembled on the microscale PVDF fibers by using hydrothermal crystal growth. The structural and material investigations were conducted to demonstrate the geometrical morphology and materials component of the composite structure. The electrochemical measurements indicated that the MoS2-PVDF electrodes exhibited the typical charge-discharge performance with a mass specific capacitance of 60.2 ± 4.5 F/g. The proposed method offers a facile and scalable approach for the fabrication of high-resolution electrodes, which might be further developed with enhanced specific capacitance in energy storage fields.