Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Robust linear prediction of speech signals based on orthogonal framework

A linear prediction is formulated via the orthogonal principle to facilitate the incorporation of various error minimisation criteria. A weighting function, which downplays extreme errors, is used to provide a robust estimate lying between the L/sub 1/ and L/sub 2/ criteria. Experiments based on synthetic vowels reveal that the proposed method outperforms the L/sub 1/ and L/sub 2/ estimates.
Automatic Inspection of Bridge Bolts Using Unmanned Aerial Vision and Adaptive Scale Unification-Based Deep Learning

Bolted connections are essential components that require regular inspection to ensure bridge safety. Existing methods mainly rely on traditional artificial vision-based inspection, which is inefficient due to the many bolts of bridges. A vision-based method using deep learning and unmanned aerial vision is proposed to automatically analyze the bridge bolts’ condition. The contributions are as follows: (1) Addressing the problems that motion blur often exists in videos captured by unmanned ariel systems (UASs) with high moving speed, and that bolt damage is hard to accurately detect due to the few pixels a single bolt occupies, a bolt image preprocessing method, including image deblurring based on inverse filtering with camera motion model and adaptive scaling based on super-resolution, is proposed to eliminate the motion blur of bolt images and segment them into subimages with uniform bolt size. (2) Addressing the problem that directly applying an object detection network for both bolt detection and classification may lead to the wrong identification of bolt damage, a two-stage detection method is proposed to divide bolt inspection into bolt object segmentation and damage classification. The proposed method was verified on an in-service bridge to detect bolts and classify them into normal bolts, corrosion bolts, and loose bolts. The results show that the proposed method can effectively eliminate the inherent defects of data acquired by UAS and accurately classify the bolt defects, verifying the practicability and high precision of the proposed method.
Studying Users’ Perceptions of COVID-19 Mobile Applications in Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, several mitigating measures were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the creation of COVID-19 mobile applications (apps) for public use. The Saudi government has made the use of these apps mandatory for its citizens and residents. However, it is essential to explore the perception that common users have regarding using these apps in terms of usability and user experience. Therefore, this paper assesses user experience in terms of effectiveness, efficiency, and user satisfaction with the usability of the Saudi COVID-19 apps. The reviews of five mobile apps launched by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) and the Ministry of Health in the Apple Store were extracted using an online tool and analyzed using the content analysis method. The number of collected reviews was 29 for Sehha, 406 for Sehhaty, 442 for Mawid, 107 for Tabaud, and 1338 for Tawakkalna. The results of the study showed that Mawid (82%) and Tabaud (81%) had the highest usability of all the apps studied. Sehha (138%) and Sehhaty (−107%) received the lowest usability scores, followed by Tawakkalna (22%). Based on these results, we identified several usability issues with each app. Some of the main problems reported by users were increased battery drain, lack of privacy, and technical issues.
Rethinking food regime as gender regime: agrarian change and the politics of social reproduction

ABSTRACT This paper presents a synthetic reading of the food regime and gender regime concepts to consider current trends in deagrarianization. Its goal is to articulate a research agenda for studying the food regime through the lens of gender and labor relations. Combining insights from feminist scholarship and early debates on family farming, it underscores the role of social reproduction in shaping agro-food systems. It reconsiders family, kinship, and strong ties as a form of social organization in capitalist production, emphasizes the significance of ideology on the household level, and underscores the role of temporalities of social and biological reproduction in conceptualizing the food regime evolution.
Hydrogel Formulations of Antibacterial Pyrazoles Using a Synthesized Polystyrene-Based Cationic Resin as a Gelling Agent

Here, to develop new topical antibacterial formulations to treat staphylococcal infections, two pyrazoles (3c and 4b) previously reported as antibacterial agents, especially against staphylococci, were formulated as hydrogels (R1-HG-3c and R1HG-4b) using a cationic polystyrene-based resin (R1) and here synthetized and characterized as gelling agents. Thanks to the high hydrophilicity, high-level porosity, and excellent swelling capabilities of R1, R1HG-3c and R1HG-4b were achieved with an equilibrium degree of swelling (EDS) of 765% (R1HG-3c) and 675% (R1HG-4b) and equilibrium water content (EWC) of 88% and 87%, respectively. The chemical structure of soaked and dried gels was investigated by PCA-assisted attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, while their morphology was investigated by optical microscopy. Weight loss studies were carried out with R1HG-3c and R1HG-4b to investigate their water release profiles and the related kinetics, while their stability was evaluated over time both by monitoring their inversion properties to detect possible impairments of the 3D network and by PCA-assisted ATR-FTIR spectroscopy to detect possible structural changes. The flow and dynamic rheological characterization of the gels was assessed by determining their viscosity vs. shear rate, applying the Cross rheological equation to achieve the curves of shear stress vs. shear rate, and carrying out amplitude and frequency sweep experiments. Finally, their content in NH3+ groups was determined by potentiometric titrations. Due to their favorable physicochemical characteristic and the antibacterial effects of 3c and 4b possibly improved by the cationic R1, the pyrazole-enriched gels reported here could represent new weapons to treat severe skin and wound infections sustained by MDR bacteria of staphylococcal species.
Heating, Moistening, and Rainfall over the Western Pacific Warm Pool during TOGA COARE.

Abstract Rawinsonde, surface, and satellite data collected from the Tropical Ocean Global Atmosphere (TOGA) Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) are used to investigate the distributions of beating, moistening, precipitation, and evaporation over the western Pacific warm pool. The behavior of the atmosphere and the response of the ocean surface before, during, and after the passages of westerly wind bursts are examined. The tropospheric vertical wind shear associated with tropical low-frequency oscillations strongly modulated convective beating and moistening. Heavy precipitation usually fell 1 to 3 weeks prior to the peak westerly wind bursts. SSTs reached their maximum during the undisturbed phase of the intraseasonal oscillations (ISOs), gradually decreased as convection intensified, and reached their minimum during the periods of peak westerly winds when deep convection was generally suppressed over the intensive flux array (IFA). Surface latent heat fluxes were positively correlated w.
Alterations in Renin–Angiotensin System (RAS) Peptide Levels in Patients with HIV

Chronic HIV infection has long been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The metabolites of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) such as angiotensin II (AngII) play an important role in regulating blood pressure and fluid dynamics. Cross-sectional analysis of HIV-positive individuals (n = 71, age > 40 years, stable ART > 3 months with HIV viral load < 50 copies/mL) were compared to a similar HIV seronegative group (n = 72). High-resolution B-mode ultrasound images of the right carotid bifurcation (RBIF) and right common carotid artery (RCCA) were conducted to measure the extent of carotid atherosclerotic vascular disease. Plasma RAS peptide levels were quantified using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics assay. RAS peptide concentrations were compared between persons with HIV and persons without HIV, correlating their association with clinical and cardiac measures. Median precursor peptides (Ang(1-12) and AngI) were significantly higher in the HIV-positive group compared to the HIV-negative. Analyses of the patient subgroup not on antihypertensive medication revealed circulating levels of AngII to be four-fold higher in the HIV-positive subgroup. AngII and TNF-alpha levels were found to have a positive association with RCCA, and AngI/Ang(1-12) ratio and TNF-alpha levels were found to have a positive association with RBIF. In both predictive models, AngIII had a negative association with either RCCA or RBIF, which may be attributed to its ability to bind onto AT2R and thus oppose pro-inflammatory events. These results reveal systemic alterations in RAS as a result of chronic HIV infection, which may lead to the activation of inflammatory pathways associated with carotid thickening. RAS peptide levels and cytokine markers were associated with RCCA and RBIF measurements.
Hydrodynamical evolution of coalescing binary neutron stars

We report the results of three-dimensional Newtonian calculations of neutron-star binary coalescence using smooth particle hydrodynamics (SPH). Using a relaxation technique, we construct hydrostatic equilibrium models of close neutron-star binaries in synchronized circular orbits. We use a simple polytropic equation of state with Γ=2 to represent cold nuclear matter, and we assume that the mass ratio q=1, as observed in all known neutron-star binary systems. Using SPH, we study the dynamical stability of these hydrostatic equilibrium models
Chaotic Current Oscillations in the Gunn-Effect Device Under the dc and the rf Bias Voltages

A one-dimensional model system of the Gunn-effect device is considered. It consists of an n + - n - n + GaAs sandwich structure where the high- n + contact layers on both ends are linearly graded to the uniformly distributed low- n bulk region and a half-wave sinusoidal doping notch is incorporated near the cathode. Using the finite differece method, spatio-temporal evolution of the system subject to the dc and the rf-alternating fields is computed with the amplitudes and the frequency being taken as the control parameters. Current oscillations associated with the cyclic traveling high-electric-field domain are shown to materialize over a range of the control parameters. In particular, the current oscillations become chaotic at specially chosen values of these bias parameters.
How to Support the Referral Towards Group Antenatal Care in Belgian Primary Healthcare Organizations: A Qualitative Study

Introduction Group Antenatal Care (GANC) is an alternative for traditional antenatal care. Despite the model is well accepted among participants and is associated with positive effects on pregnancy outcomes, recruitment of participants can be an ongoing challenge, depending on the structure and financing of the wider health system. This is especially the case for primary care organizations offering GANC, which depend on other health care providers to refer potential participants. The main objective of this study is to understand what determinants are at play for health care providers to refer to GANC facilitators in primary care organizations. Accordingly, we make recommendations for strategies in order to increase the influx of women in GANC. Methods Qualitative findings were obtained from 31 interviews with healthcare providers responsible for the referral of women to the GANC facilitators working in primary care organizations, GANC facilitators and stakeholders indirectly involved in the referral. The domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) helped to develop interview questions and raise awareness of important elements during interviews and thematic analyses. Results The findings show that before health care providers decide to refer women, they undergo a complex process that is influenced by characteristics of the potential referrer, GANC facilitator, woman, professional relationship between the potential referrer and the GANC facilitator, organization and broader context. Discussion Based on these findings and current literature, we recommend that the GANC team implements strategies that anticipate relevant determinants: identify and select potential referrers based on their likelihood to refer, select champions, invest in communication, concretise the collaboration, provide practical tools, involve in policymaking.
The role of Interleukin-6 in age-related frailty syndrome

Aging is accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation – a term which relates to increase in serum levels of cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), TNF-α and acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein. Multiple studies in humans have shown that IL-6 most reliably increases with aging. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by decrease in physical ability and increased vulnerability to stressors. One of the most consistent findings in frail subjects is an elevation of serum IL-6 but we lack research which delineates is this a causational relationship. We developed a mouse model with inducible IL-6 expression (IL-6TET-ON/+ mice) that enables overexpression of IL-6 following stimulation with doxycycline (dox) administrated in food. IL-6 induction was dose dependent and led to increase in frailty as measured by 30-point murine clinical frailty index. Mice induced to express high levels of IL-6 quickly displayed an increase in frailty index, decrease in muscle grip strength and loss of fat. Mice induced to express 3–4 fold increase in IL-6 similar to frail humans displayed similar changes after months of induction. We measured IL-6 levels in serum and various tissues (gut, muscle, adipose, spleen) of aged (28-month-old) frail mice and adult controls as well as dox fed IL-6TET-ON/+ mice. We observed that IL-6 levels were increased in serums and spleen homogenates of aged mice and IL-6TET-ON/+ mice but not in other tissues. We determined that neutrophils were the main producers of IL-6 and their numbers were higher in spleens of aged and IL-6TET-ON/+ mice compared to adult controls. We conclude that elevated IL-6 serum levels are directly associated with age-related frailty and that spleen neutrophils are likely the main producers of IL-6.
The Study and Application of Improved Micro-Genetic Algorithm Based on Cauchy Mutation

Genetic algorithm is the intelligent optimization design method, but its calculation workload is great and its convergence is slowly. This paper presents an improved micro-genetic algorithm (referred to as μGA-BLX) to overcome the shortcomings. The μGA-BLX algorithm uses the BLX-α operator to enhance the search ability of the algorithm in crossover; the mutation introduced on the Cauchy mutation operator to enhance the population's variety and the explore ability of algorithm. It shows the validity of the algorithm through the planet gear transmission optimization results.
Extension of the Wittrick-Williams Algorithm to Mixed Variable Systems

A precise integration algorithm has recently been proposed by Zhong (1994) for dynamic stiffness matrix computations, but he did not give a corresponding eigenvalue count method. The Wittrick-Williams algorithm gives an eigenvalue count method for pure displacement formulations, but the precise integration method uses a mixed variable formulation. Therefore the Wittrick-Williams method is extended in this paper to give the eigenvalue count needed by the precise integration method and by other methods involving mixed variable formulations. A simple Timoshenko beam example is included.
Scientific Reviews: 1-MW Pulse Sapllation Neutron Source (JSNS) of J-PARC

The J-PARC project has been in progress concerning the construction of experimental facilities along with high intensity proton accelerators, aimed at scientific breakthroughs in materials and life sciences, nuclear and elementary physics research, and the technological development of an accelerator-driven transmutation system [1]. Most of the 3–GeV protons are extracted to be injected into a facility called the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF), in which a 1-MW pulse neutron source (JSNS) and a muon production target are located, sharing the beam in tandem fashion [2]. A neutron beam with high performance of time resolution, along with high intensity in the 1-MW regime, will open realistic technological breakthroughs in the sciences of microscopic molecular dynamics; surface physics, magnetism; polymer; biology; structure and its functions; precise methods for analysis; dynamic visualization techniques; many industrial applications; and even evolution in cosmology and astrophysics.
Traceable size determination of nanoparticles, a comparison among European metrology institutes

Within the European iMERA-Plus project ‘Traceable Characterisation of Nanoparticles’ various particle measurement procedures were developed and finally a measurement comparison for particle size was carried out among seven laboratories across six national metrology institutes. Seven high quality particle samples made from three different materials and having nominal sizes in the range from 10 to 200 nm were used. The participants applied five fundamentally different measurement methods, atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle x-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in transmission mode, and provided a total of 48 independent, traceable results. The comparison reference values were determined as weighted means based on the estimated measurement uncertainties of the participants. The comparison reference values have combined standard uncertainties smaller than 1.4 nm for particles with sizes up to 100 nm. All methods, except DLS, provided consistent results.
Some Problems of Causal Interpretation of Statistical Relationships

In following paper an attempt will be made to analyse the statistical relationships between variables as the functions of causal relations existing between them. Our basic assumption here is that statistical relationships between traits, events, or characteristics of objects, may be logically derived from the pattern of their mutual causal connections, if this pattern is described by appropriate concepts and with sufficient precision. The first part of the paper presents basic concepts, which according to author's view may serve for the description of different patterns of causal relations in such a way, that statistical relationships corresponding to each pattern may be derived. It gives also examples of such a derivation for some less complicated cases. The second part of the paper is an attempt of application of proposed method to the understanding and critical consideration of some standard techniques of statistical analysis, especially those mostly used in social sciences.
An R-matrix with pseudo states calculation of electron-impact excitation in Ar

Electron-impact excitation of neutral argon is of both fundamental and applied interest. It has been studied theoretically and experimentally for many years and excitation data for argon are of significant importance to the modelling of a variety of laboratory plasmas. To date, the theoretical calculations of excitation for this atom have not included the effects of coupling to the high Rydberg states and the target continuum. Here we present the results of the first R-matrix with pseudo states (RMPS) calculation of excitation in neutral argon. Although the spin–orbit interaction has a significant effect on the target structure for this atom, the pseudo-state expansion that is required to accurately represent the target continuum is sufficiently large that we have performed the present calculation in pure LS coupling. Both differential and total excitation cross sections resulting from this RMPS calculation are compared to those from a standard R-matrix calculation without pseudo states. These comparisons indicate that the effects of continuum coupling are large even for transitions from the ground term to the lowest excited terms, and although they are most pronounced above the ionization limit, they are still important at lower energies. This demonstrates the need for a full intermediate-coupling RMPS calculation between individual levels in argon, and this will present a formidable computational challenge.
The Vanguard of The Avant-Garde: Keywords For Political Agency

ABSTRACT This article examines the terms avant-garde and vanguard as keywords for teaching English through the concept of political agency. For example, political theorist Lea Ypi has conceptualised an ‘avant-garde political agency’ as an experimental process that is meant to be both rhetorically effective and grounded in historical context; however, this approach also presents an opportunity for teachers and students to revisit how Black Power traditions in the USA, for instance, have used the related term vanguard to imagine alternate futures. To reconcile this disconnection, I examine excerpted uses of the two terms from select BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) artists, scholars, and activists. This keyword analysis can provide a useful lesson for teachers and students in English classrooms about the importance of historical context when engaging with challenging texts or experimental artwork. Keyword analysis is a useful way to provide that kind of context, and further, when these two terms are combined, the resulting ‘vanguard avant-garde’ perspective encourages historicised forward thinking through an understanding of agency that foregrounds experimentation, public communication, and student-centred teaching.
ADMIRE: collaborative data-driven and model-driven intelligent routing engine for traffic grooming in multi-layer X-Haul networks

X-Haul aims to provide a unified transport network for integrating mobile fronthaul/midhaul/backhaul. Its architecture is inherited from the IP-over-WDM paradigm, in which the upper layer is an electrical packet-switched network and the bottom layer is an optical circuit-switched network. Traffic grooming in X-Haul poses a big challenge, as the mobile traffic load has shown. As a multi-layer routing problem, traffic grooming has been well studied through some classic mathematical models, such as the auxiliary graph (AG). Recently, a new approach based on machine learning has been attracting much attention for its network routing decision making. According to previous studies, either of the two approaches has its limitations, but the combination of the two may achieve profit maximization. To this end, we propose and demonstrate, for the first time, to our knowledge, a collaborative data-driven (using machine learning) and model-driven (using experiential knowledge) intelligent routing engine (ADMIRE) for traffic grooming in an X-Haul testbed with a real mobile dataset. The principle of ADMIRE is to exploit the capability of machine learning for an accurate AG model in a dynamic network environment. We compare ADMIRE with a traditional model-driven approach (i.e., the AG), and the evaluation results show that ADMIRE can achieve good performance and a strong generalization ability. In addition, we also verify the influence of data correlation on ADMIRE.