Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial inclusion – does digital financial literacy matter for women entrepreneurs?

PurposeWomen's financial inclusion has become a global research agenda, and past studies provide mixed evidence on the determinants of financial inclusion among women entrepreneurs across the globe. However, the impact of digital financial literacy on women's financial inclusion has seldom been addressed in the past literature.Design/methodology/approachThe authors perform a cross-sectional analysis of 144 countries using the World Bank Global Findex Database.FindingsThis study’s probabilistic regression results indicate that women entrepreneurs with a higher degree of digital financial literacy are more likely to engage in formal banking channels.Practical implicationsThe study findings have practical implications in terms of allowing regulators and banks to draw effective policies to attract women customers. Lack of effective regulatory intervention could lead to women exploring financial crimes, such as money laundering, due to their lack of involvement with the formal banking channel.Originality/valueThe authors explore the impact of digital financial literacy on women's financial inclusion. Such evidence is rare in the existing literature.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-04-2022-0277
Mechanism of Flagellar Motor Rotation in Bacteria

It has been found recently that the bacterial flagellar motor is driven by a proton flux according to its electrochemical potential gradient across the membrane. A model is presented for the mechanism of rotation of this motor, in which loose coupling is assumed between the proton flux and the motor rotation. A directional torque to rotate the motor is produced as a result of the interaction in many pairs of two kinds of molecules arranged on two rings, which is regulated by the binding of protons. The torque is calculated as a function of the electrochemical potential gradient of proton and pH values inside and outside the cell. The results of calculation are compared with experimental data and some experimental methods for further examination of the model are proposed.
Olfactory Gene Families in Scopula subpunctaria and Candidates for Type-II Sex Pheromone Detection

Scopula subpunctaria, an abundant pest in tea gardens, produce type-II sex pheromone components, which are critical for its communicative and reproductive abilities; however, genes encoding the proteins involved in the detection of type-II sex pheromone components have rarely been documented in moths. In the present study, we sequenced the transcriptomes of the male and female S. subpunctaria antennae. A total of 150 candidate olfaction genes, comprising 58 odorant receptors (SsubORs), 26 ionotropic receptors (SsubIRs), 24 chemosensory proteins (SsubCSPs), 40 odorant-binding proteins (SsubOBPs), and 2 sensory neuron membrane proteins (SsubSNMPs) were identified in S. subpunctaria. Phylogenetic analysis, qPCR, and mRNA abundance analysis results suggested that SsubOR46 may be the Orco (non-traditional odorant receptor, a subfamily of ORs) of S. subpunctaria. SsubOR9, SsubOR53, and SsubOR55 belonged to the pheromone receptor (PR) clades which have a higher expression in male antennae. Interestingly, SsubOR44 was uniquely expressed in the antennae, with a higher expression in males than in females. SsubOBP25, SsubOBP27, and SsubOBP28 were clustered into the moth pheromone-binding protein (PBP) sub-family, and they were uniquely expressed in the antennae, with a higher expression in males than in females. SsubOBP19, a member of the GOBP2 group, was the most abundant OBP in the antennae. These findings indicate that these olfactory genes, comprising five candidate PRs, three candidate PBPs, and one candidate GOBP2, may be involved in type II sex pheromone detection. As well as these genes, most of the remaining SsubORs, and all of the SsubIRs, showed a considerably higher expression in the female antennae than in the male antennae. Many of these, including SsubOR40, SsubOR42, SsubOR43, and SsubIR26, were more abundant in female antennae. These olfactory and ionotropic receptors may be related to the detection of host plant volatiles. The results of this present study provide a basis for exploring the olfaction mechanisms in S. subpunctaria, with a focus on the genes involved in type II sex pheromones. The evolutionary analyses in our study provide new insights into the differentiation and evolution of lepidopteran PRs.
Efficacy and safety of intragastric balloon for obesity in Korea

Background/Aims Intragastric balloon (IGB) is the only available endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapy in Korea. End-ball (Endalis) has the longest history of clinical use among the IGBs available in Korea. However, little clinical data on this system have been reported. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of End-ball in Korea. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent IGB insertion (End-ball) from 2013 to 2019. Demographic and anthropometric data were collected. The efficacy and safety of IGB treatment were analyzed. Results In total, 80 patients were included. Mean age was 33.7 years and 83.8% were female. Initial body mass index was 34.48±4.69 kg/m2. Body mass index reduction was 3.72±2.63 kg/m2 at the time of IGB removal. Percent of total body weight loss (%TBWL) was 10.76%±6.76%. Percentage excess body weight loss was 43.67%±27.59%. Most adverse events were minor, and 71.4% of participants showed nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. Conclusions IGB treatment showed good efficacy and safety profile in Korean patients with obesity. In terms of %TBWL and percentage excess body weight loss, the efficacy was similar to that in the Western population.
Asymmetric Topology Design and Quasi-Zero-Loss Switching Composite Modulation for IGCT-Based High-Capacity DC Transformer

Medium-voltage large-capacity dc transformer (DCT) is the key energy conversion link for building intelligent distribution grid. Increasing the voltage and capacity of single module in DCT can effectively improve the power density and reduce the system cost. Aiming at the integrated gate commutated thyristor (IGCT)-based high-capacity dc transformer (IGCT–HDCT), the asymmetric topology design and quasi-zero-loss switching composite modulation are proposed to achieve the construction of high efficiency and power density DCT. Through designing the snubber circuit and phase-shift ratio trajectory ingeniously, the zero-voltage switching-on and zero-current switching-off operation of the IGCT–HDCT can be maintained, which greatly reduces the switching loss and gives full play to the extremely low on-state loss characteristics of IGCT. Meanwhile, the full-range soft-switching operation (from no-load to full-load) can be achieved in the composite modulation without adding any auxiliary component. And the design of the snubber circuit is greatly simplified, which cannot only effectively limit the dv/dt and di/dt of power semiconductors, but also improves the power density and operating efficiency of IGCT–HDCT. Finally, the theoretical analysis of the proposed system solution is verified by building a 1.25 MW IGCT–HDCT engineering prototype, and the maximum operating efficiency reaches 98.6%–99.1%.
All-solid-state ultrafast lasers facilitate multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging

Improvements in ultrafast laser technology have enabled a new excitation mode for optical sectioning fluorescence microscopy: multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging. The primary advantages of this technique over laser scanning confocal imaging derive from the localized excitation volume; additional advantages accrue from the longer wavelength of the excitation source. Recent advances in all-solid-state, ultrafast (subpicosecond) laser technology should allow the technique to gain widespread use as a commercial instrument. In this paper, we review: optical sectioning fluorescence microscopy, multiphoton excitation fluorescence laser scanning microscopy, developments in laser physics which have enabled all-solid-state lasers to be used as excitation sources for multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging, and provide current data for all-solid-state ultrafast lasers. A direct comparison between confocal (488 nm) imaging and two-photon excitation (1047 nm) imaging of a mouse brain slice stained with the lipophilic dye FM4-64 shows two-photon imaging can provide usable images more than twice as deep as confocal imaging. Multi-mode images (both two- and three-photon excitation) are presented for fixed and living cells as examples of multiphoton excitation fluorescence imaging applied to developmental biology. Also, a comparison of the axial resolution of our system is presented for confocal imaging (488 nm) and two-photon imaging (1047 nm) with and without a confocal pinhole aperture.
Teaching ceramic materials in mechanical engineering: An active learning experience

Teaching in higher education is a very demanding task, as students have easy access to information through a computer or mobile device, and nothing seems to surprise them. One of the main concerns of Mechanical Engineering professors is the transmission of the best general competencies and scientific knowledge, and the development of skills that will be very useful in their future professional life in a global employment market. In this way, teachers must continually innovate to motivate students and catch their attention, adopting new teaching methodologies, such as active learning. The main objectives of this teaching methodology are: to provide advanced knowledge in engineering; resolve of engineering problems; experimentation and knowledge discovering and, improvement of soft skills. This paper describes a project entitled “Production of a ceramic component,” included in the Curricular Unit of Non-Metallic Materials, proposed to the students of the third year, the first semester of a Mechanical Engineering course. Each group is assigned a ceramic component and is asked to research and prepare an oral presentation and a poster where they describe all the stages of the manufacturing process. They must consider component requirements, and the scientific and technical details of its production from materials selection to its sale. To carry out this assignment, students must review their basic knowledge of materials science, technical drawing, and materials and manufacture of ceramic components (subjects previously taught in different courses), and search in databases of material properties. Although this assignment is very challenging and time-consuming, students report in informal conversations promoted by teachers that they enjoy it and feel very motivated. They consider that this type of work better prepares them for their future professional life, by improving their soft skills.
Mathematical Modeling and Validation of Retransmission-Based Mutant MQTT for Improving Quality of Service in Developing Smart Cities

Unreliable networks often use excess bandwidth for data integration in smart cities. For this purpose, Messaging Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) with a certain quality of service (QoS) is employed. Data integrity and data security are frequently compromised for reducing bandwidth usage while designing integrated applications. Thus, for a reliable and secure integrated Internet of Everything (IoE) service, a range of network parameters are conditioned to achieve the required quality of a deliverable service. In this work, a QoS-0-based MQTT is developed in such a manner that the transparent MQTT protocol uses Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)-based connectivity with various rules for the retransmission of contents if the requests are not entertained for a fixed duration. The work explores the ways to improve the overall content delivery probability. The parameters are examined over a transparent gateway-based TCP network after developing a mathematical model for the proposed retransmission-based mutant QoS-0. The probability model is then verified by an actual physical network where the repeated content delivery is explored at VM-based MQTT, local network-based broker and a remote server. The results show that the repeated transmission of contents from the sender improves the content delivery probability over the unreliable MQTT-based Internet of Things (IoT) for developing smart cities’ applications.
The circumstellar magnetic field of VX Sagittarii

OH maser emission from the circumstellar envelope of the M-type supergiant VX Sagittarii has been mapped at 1612 MHz in both hands of circular polarization using MERLIN, with an angular resolution of 0.4 arcsec and a velocity resolution of 0.3 km s−1. Four likely Zeeman pairs of maser components are identified, each with a similar Zeeman splitting. The inferred magnetic field strength is approximately −1 mG in each case, with the field directed towards us. The Zeeman components lie ∼ 1400 au from the star. The data lend support to the dipole magnetic field model which has recently been suggested for this circumstellar envelope.
Radio Photospheres of Long-Period Variable Stars

We report the detection of centimeter-wavelength emission from a sample of nearby long-period (Mira and semiregular) variables using the VLA. Six of the eight stars in the sample were detected. We find the continuum emission in the radio band to have a spectral index near 2.0, as expected for optically thick blackbody emission. The flux densities are a factor of ≈ 2 above the level expected from the optical photospheres of the stars. We monitored three stars over a period of nearly 2 yr and find flux density variations of less than ±15%. We partially resolved the stellar disk of W Hya and find an average diameter of 0. ″080 ± 0. ″015 and a brightness temperature of 1500 ± 570 K. Our observations suggest that long-period variables have a “radio photosphere” near 2R*, where R* is the stellar radius (defined by line-free regions of the optical spectrum). For the physical conditions expected in the radio photosphere, free electrons, obtained predominantly from the ionization of potassium and sodium, provide the dominant opacity through free-free interactions with neutral H and H2. A simple model with a single set of physical parameters can approximate all of our centimeter-wavelength data, as well as providing plausible sizes and brightness temperatures at far-IR wavelengths. At centimeter wavelengths, unity optical depth is achieved at a radius of about 4.8 × 1013 cm, where the density and temperature are ≈ 1.5 × 1012 cm-3 and ≈ 1630 K, respectively. The lack of variability of the centimeter-wavelength flux density for stars like o Ceti, R Leo, and W Hya limits variations of the temperature and/or radius of the radio photosphere to less than ±150 K and ±4 × 1012 cm. Also, any periodic shocks or disturbances near 2R* probably propagate outward at less than ≈ 5 km s-1 and/or are mostly damped. The radio photosphere lies just outside of a “molecular photosphere,” seen optically in strong absorption lines of metallic oxides, and just inside of the SiO maser shell and the dust formation zone. Indeed, the inner boundary of the SiO maser emission region may be determined by continuum opacity in the radio photosphere. Our study suggests that the density and temperature in the SiO shell are ≈ 5 × 1010 cm-3 and ≈ 1300 K, respectively. Extrapolating our model outward to ≳1014 cm radius, where significant dust is detected at 10 μm wavelength and H2O masers are found, gives densities ≲3 × 109 cm-3 and temperatures ≲1100 K. Based on the sample of stars we observed, it appears that the flux density at radio frequencies from long-period variables can be modeled with a simple formula. Given the excellent agreement between measured and modeled flux densities, it is possible that distances can be estimated from a flux density measurement with a precision of about 10%. Since the radio-frequency emission from long-period variables has a well-defined spectrum, is very compact, and is relatively constant in time, we suggest these stars can be used to determine the absolute flux density scale for millimeter- and submillimeter-wavelength interferometers.
Electromagnetic Wave Scattering from Annular Apertures in a Thick Conducting Plane

Abstract Electromagnetic wave scattering from multiple annular apertures in a thick conducting plane is investigated. A boundary-value problem of scattering from thick multiple annular apertures is rigorously solved by using the integral transform and superposition. The scattered fields are represented based on eigenfuction expansion in terms of discrete and continuous modes. The boundary conditions are enforced to obtain a set of simultaneous equations for the discrete modal coefficients. The transmission coefficient is represented in a fast-convergent series that is amenable to numerical analysis. The transmission and radiation behaviors are estimated in terms of aperture geometry.
What colour is a shadow?

What colour is a shadow? Black, grey, or some other colour? This article describes how to use a digital camera to test the hypothesis that a shadow under a clear blue sky has a blue tint. A white sheet of A4 paper was photographed in full sunlight and in shadow under a clear blue sky. The images were analysed using a shareware program called ImageJ. The average red, green and blue pixel values in a region of interest drawn on a photograph of the paper in sunlight and shadow were 0.3, 0.32, 0.38 and 0.2, 0.3, 0.5 respectively, demonstrating that a shadow under a blue sky has a blue tint. The experiment would be a useful exercise for a science class.
Grating-Type Soft-Focus Filter for Improving Picture Quality of Liquid Crystal Displays

A grating-type soft-focus filter was fabricated from a polymer film to transform the discontinuous picture of a liquid crystal display (LCD) into a continuous one. The soft-focus filter having a two-dimensional grating pattern with a sinusoidal cross section was photochemically formed on the film by proximity exposure through a photomask to ultraviolet light. When the LCD surface was covered with the soft-focus filter, the output light beam from the LCD was transformed into mainly nine beams as a result of (0, 0)- to (±1, ±1)-order diffractions with nearly equivalent intensities. Thereby, the picture discontinuity caused by the black matrix of the LCD was removed at a small expense of picture contrast.
Mitigation of Oscillations in Three Phase LCL-Filtered Grid Converters Based on Proportional Resonance and Improved Model Predictive Control

For three phase LCL-filtered gird converters, this paper designs a robust control strategy to reduce high frequency and subsynchronous or supersynchronous oscillations. Two components, namely the grid side inductor component and the LC filter component, constitute a three phase LCL-filtered grid converter. Model predictive control (MPC) with a disturbance observer is used to control the interconnection voltage of the LC filter. Proportional resonance (PR) control regulates the grid side current. It is possible to combine MPC with PR's advantages. The dynamic performance is enhanced by MPC's intrinsic ability to achieve active damping without extra control and reduce modulation latency. In addition to achieving zero steady state error, PR control greatly simplifies the control process when compared to the overall MPC of the entire grid converter. By analyzing the frequency response of the transfer function and output impedance, it is possible to determine that the proposed control has a sufficient phase margin and that, even when the system and control parameters change, the grid converters’ output impedance is always resistive or inductive at the entire frequency, suppressing subsynchronous and high frequency oscillations. To further reduce the oscillations and harmonics, an improved MPC control framework and a feedback compensation mechanism are proposed. The effectiveness and reliability of the proposed control in current tracking, harmonic suppression, and response to grid impedance variations are verified by comparative analysis of simulation results.
Characterization of neutral density profile in a wide range of pressure of cylindrical pulsed gas jets

The neutral density profile of cylindrical gas jets is measured with a Mach–Zehnder interferometer under a wide range of backing pressures. The sensitivity of this diagnostic together with the mathematical treatment of the data allows us to measure neutral densities for argon gas as low as 1017cm−3 for a 5 mm diam gas jet.
Analysis of genetic diversity and population structure of the indigenous and exotic wild Malus species using ISSR markers

The genetic diversity and population structure studies on 32 wild Malus species were conducted using the nine inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. The average value of diversity indices, viz. resolving power (Rp), polymorphic information content (PIC), effective multiplex ratio (EMR) and marker index (MI) of ISSR markers were 2.389, 0.388, 16.429 and 6.228, respectively, while the Jaccardâ€™s similarity coefficient ranged from 0.46 to 0.97. The cluster analysis divided the selected Malus species into two major clusters and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) further reconfirmed the result of the cluster analysis. The first three axes of PCoA explained 43.49% variation and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) explained 16% variation between the indigenous and exotic Malus populations. The studied Malus species were genetically differentiated into four distinct populations which were revealed through the model based population structure analysis. Thus, the present investigation revealed substantial genetic diversity among the studied wild Malus species and existing genetic diversity could be valuable genetic resources for future apple improvement programme.
Stochastic actor-oriented models for network change

A class of models is proposed for longitudinal network data. These models are along the lines of methodological individualism: actors use heuristics to try to achieve their individual goals, subject to constraints. The current network structure is among these constraints. The models are continuous time Markov chain models that can be implemented as simulation models. They incorporate random change in addition to the purposeful change that follows from the actors’ pursuit of their goals, and include parameters that must be estimated from observed data. Statistical methods are proposed for estimating and testing these models. These methods can also be used for parameter estimation for other simulation models. The statistical procedures are based on the method of moments, and use computer simulation to estimate the theoretical moments. The Robbins‐Monro process is used to deal with the stochastic nature of the estimated theoretical moments. An example is given for Newcomb's fraternity data, using a model tha.
Improved colour image vector quantisation by means of self-organising neural networks

The problem of colour quantisation is important in many respects: colour monitors can usually display only a limited number of contemporary colours, and some images need to be represented in an approximate, even if satisfying, way. This is particularly true for the dissemination of images through communications networks and to information terminals. Moreover, colour quantised images can be stored in less space. The colour quantisation algorithm introduced by the authors is based on a set of neural cells structured in a self-organising two-dimensional map. The proposed technique provides high quality images and its neural architecture makes the algorithm flexible even if different kinds of source image are used. The hardware implementation is easy to realise and gives real-time performance.