Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Extended Perturbation Method: New Insights on the New Keynesian Model

This paper introduces the extended perturbation method, which improves upon standard perturbation by removing approximation errors under perfect foresight. For the New Keynesian model, we show that standard perturbation generates explosive sample paths because it does not account for the upper bound on inflation as implied by Calvo pricing. In contrast, extended perturbation generates stable dynamics as it enforces this bound. Extended perturbation also adds to existing evidence on downward nominal wage rigidities in the New Keynesian model, as we only find support for this friction when using standard perturbation but not when using the more accurate extended perturbation approximation.
Development and validation of the Exteroceptive Body Awareness (EBA-q) questionnaire

The conscious processing of body signals influences higher-order psychological and cognitive functions, including self-awareness. Dysfunctions in the processing of these signals has been connected to neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by altered states of self-consciousness. Studies indicate that perceiving the body through interoceptive signals (e.g., from internal organs such as heartbeat and breathing) is distinct from perceiving the body through exteroceptive signals (e.g., by relying on visual, tactile and olfactory cues). While questionnaires are available for assessing interoception, there are no validated self-report instruments for measuring bodily exterception. To fill this gap, we performed three studies to develop and validate a novel scale designed to assess bodily self-consciousness based on the processing of exteroceptive bodily signals. Exploratory factor analysis (Study 1, N = 302) led to an 18-item questionnaire comprised of four factors. We called this instrument Exteroceptive Body Awareness questionnaire (EBA-q). Confirmatory factor analysis (Study 2, N = 184) run on a second sample showed an acceptable fit for a bifactor model, suggesting researchers may use the questionnaire as a unidimensional scale reflecting exteroceptive bodily self-consciousness, or use each of its four sub-scales, reflecting “visuo-tactile body awareness”, “spatial coordination”, “awareness of body changes” and “awareness of clothing fit”. Overall EBA-q showed good internal consistency. Convergent and divergent validity were assessed via cross-validation with existing body awareness questionnaires (Study 3, N = 366) and behavioral measures (Study 3, N = 64) of exteroceptive and interoceptive bodily self-consciousness. Research applications are discussed within a multi-faceted model of exteroception and interoception as distinct, but at the same time interconnected, dimensions of bodily self-consciousness.
Plasma Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide: Potential Biomarkers to Differentiate Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke

Acute stroke management is critically time-sensitive and challenging. Blood-based biomarkers that can differentiate acute ischemic stroke (IS) from hemorrhagic stroke (HS) can greatly facilitate triage and early management. Admission blood samples obtained within 6 h of stroke symptom onset were analyzed in a derivation/validation design. GFAP, N-FL, NT-proBNP, copeptin, neutrophils (%), NLR, and platelet counts were assessed in the derivation cohort. The informative markers and the derived cutoff values were evaluated in the validation cohort. GFAP > 703 pg/mL showed a PPV of 76.9% and NPV of 95.8% for differentiating HS from IS. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that GFAP and NT-proBNP were independent variables associated with IS and HS differentiation. Furthermore, applying a combined cutoff (GFAP > 703 pg/mL and NT-proBNP ≤ 125 pg/mL) for HS detection increased the PPV in both the derivation and validation cohorts (93.3% and 100%, respectively). GFAP and NT-proBNP levels were validated as informative blood biomarkers in the differentiation of IS and HS and using a combination of GFAP and NT-proBNP is suggested as a feasible strategy to differentiate stroke subtypes in the hyperacute phase of stroke.
Air pollution in the United Kingdom

Indoor air pollution, D.R. Crummp urban air pollution in the United Kingdom, R.M. Harrison rural air pollution in the United Kingdom, D. Fowler et al global air pollution problems - present and future, R.G. Derwent the health effects of air pollution in the United Kingdom, J.G. Ayres current and future legislation - United Kingdom and Europe, M.L. Williams developments in air pollution measurement techniques, C.J. Dore and J. McGinlay quality assurance and quality control of ambient air quality, B. Sweeney et al.
Field guide to the echinoderms (sea cucumbers and sea stars) of Malaysia

ＳＥＡ ＣＵＣＵＭＢＥＲＳ（Ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ｌｉｓｔ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｃｕｃｕｍａｒｉｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｈｏｌｏｔｈｕｒｉｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｓｔｉｃｈｏｐｏｄｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｓｙｎａｐｔｉｄａｅ） ＳＥＡ ＳＴＡＲＳ（Ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ｌｉｓｔ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ａｃａｎｔｈａｓｔｅｒｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ａｓｔｅｒｏｐｓｅｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｅｃｈｉｎａｓｔｅｒｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｅｃｈｉｎａｓｔｅｒｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｍｉｔｈｏｒｏｄｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｏｐｈｉｄｉａｓｔｅｒｉｄａｅ；Ｆａｍｉｌｙ Ｏｒｅａｓｔｅｒｉｄａｅ）
Toroidal-Shaped Coils for a Wireless Power Transfer System for an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using communications, sensors, and navigation equipment will play a key role in future warfare. Currently, UAVs are monitored to prevent misfire and accidents, and the conventional method adopted uses wires for data transmission and power supply. The repeated connection and disconnection of cables increases maintenance time and harms the connector. For convenience and stability, a wireless power transfer system to power UAVs is needed. Unlike other wireless power transfer (WPT) applications, the size of the receiving coils must be small, so that the WPT systems can be embedded inside space-limited UAVs. The small size reduces the coupling coefficient and transfer efficiency between the transmitting and the receiving coils. In this study, we propose a toroidal-shaped coil for a WPT system for UAVs with high coupling coefficient with minimum space requirements. For validation, conventional coils and the proposed toroidal-shaped coil were used and their coupling coefficient and power transfer efficiency were compared using simulated and measured results. The simulated and measured results were strongly correlated, confirming that the proposed WPT system significantly improved efficiency with negligible change in the space requirement.
Fast finite‐time adaptive tracking control for non‐strict feedback stochastic nonlinear systems with full state constraints

This article focuses on the fast finite‐time adaptive tracking control for non‐strict feedback stochastic nonlinear systems. Random disturbances with constraints have rarely been considered in previous studies of fast finite‐time stabilization problems. The corresponding extension of the adaptive fast finite‐time stabilization mechanism to stochastic nonlinear systems with full‐state constraints is one of the innovations of this article. First, neural networks and barrier Lyapunov functions are utilized to handle the problems arising from the unknown nonlinear terms and the state constraints, respectively. Second, an adaptive fast finite‐time tracking control scheme for stochastic systems is designed based on the backstepping technique and a fast finite‐time control strategy, which allows all signals of the closed‐loop system to be bounded. Meanwhile, the designed controller guarantees a fast convergence of the tracking error to a small neighborhood of the origin under full‐state constraints. Finally, two examples are given to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Modeling the Transient Response of Tropical Convection to Mesoscale SST Variations

A cloud-resolving model coupled to a mixed layer ocean with an initial 500-km-wide, +3-K sea surface temperature (SST) patch is used to demonstrate the relationship between tropical mesoscale SST gradients and convection under different wind speeds. On these scales, boundary layer convergence toward hydrostatic low surface pressure is partially responsible for triggering convection, but convection subsequently organizes into cells and squall lines that propagate away from the patch. For strong wind (12 m s−1), enhanced convection is shifted downstream from the patch and consists of relatively small cells that are enhanced from increased moist static energy (MSE) flux over the patch. Convection for weak wind (6 m s−1) develops directly over the patch, merging in larger-scale coherent squall-line systems that propagate away from the patch. Squall lines decay after approximately 1 day, and convection redevelops over the patch region after 2 days. Decreasing patch SST from ocean mixing in the coupled simulations affects the overall strength of the convection, but does not qualitatively alter the convective behavior in comparison with cases with a fixed 3-K SST anomaly. In all cases, increased fluxes of heat and moisture, along with latent heating from shallow convection, initially generate lower pressure over the patch and convergence of the boundary layer winds. Within about 1 day, secondary convective circulations, such as surface cold pools, act to spread the effects of the convection over the model domain and overwhelm the effect of low pressure. SST anomalies (1 and 0.5 K) generate enhanced convection only for winds below 6 m s−1.
C4 Skills in the Engineering Graduate: A Study to Align Software Engineering Education With Market-Driven Software Industry Needs

Contribution: This article demonstrates and illustrates the implication of design-based learning (DBL) and plan, do, check, and act (PDCA) methodology to foster creativity, critical thinking, collaborative decision making, and communication skills ( ${C}4$ ) with realistic constraints, theory, and practical implementation in higher education. A research model is developed to measure ${S}$ ociety and life-long learning, environment and sustainability, leadership and collaboration, economical, communication and cooperation, thinking and problem solving, engagement, and design and development (SELECTED) aspects to measure skills of the student needed for the market-driven software industry. Background: Educators and industry experts believe that despite various efforts and collaborations, the expectation gap between academia and industry still exists while preparing engineering graduates for the market-driven software industry. For an engineering graduate, C4 skills are desirable to support the factor of SELECTED to accomplish sustainability goals. Intended Outcome: The objective is to explore the previously undiscovered relationship between C4 and program attainment factors through SELECTED knowledge access and sharing from knowledge areas of SWEBOOK as mediators to access the suitability of industry-ready graduates. Application Design: A series of experiments are conducted on students of three academic years (2017–2020) involving 180 students. The digital platform, Google Classroom, is a knowledge management platform for interaction, resource sharing, and accessing. Several evaluations through milestones identified using the C4-DBL-PDCA method are sequentially linked to the course throughout the semester. Findings: Results obtained from a series of statistical analyses show a positive and significant impact of C4 on SELECTED with acceptance for digital learning. The novelty of this research lies in discovering the relationship between these two in monitoring student activities and progress using the proposed research model and hypotheses.
Microbial mats : modern and ancient microorganisms in stratified systems

Introduction: Microbial Mats Matter as Marvelous Manifestations of Life, J.T. Staley Preface, J. Seckbach and A. Oren List of Authors and their Addresses PART 1: THE NATURE OF MICROBIAL MATS What are microbial mats? G. Gerdes Paper from Outer Space - On 'Meteorpapier' and Microbial Mats, A.Oren PART 2: MICROBIAL MATS IN THE GEOLOGICAL RECORD Microbial Mats on the Early Earth: The Archean Rock Record, M.M. Walsh Gunflint Chert Microbiota Revisited - Neither Stromatolites, nor Cyanobacteria, W.E. Krumbein Paleoenvironmental Context of Microbial Mat-Related Structures in Siliciclastic Rocks - Examples from the Proterozoic of India and South Africa, P.G. Eriksson et al Microbially Related Structures in Siliciclastic Sediment Resembling Ediacaran Fossils: Examples from India, Ancient and Modern, S.Banerjee et al Osmotrophic Biofilms: From Modern to Ancient, M.D. Brasier et al Microbial Mats as a Source of Biosignatures, E. Chacon Molecular Investigations and Experimental Manipulations of Microbial Mats: A View to Paleo-Microbial Ecosystems, S.J. Green and L.L. Jahnke Architecture of Archaeal-Dominated Microbial Mats from Cold Seeps in the Black Sea (Dnjepr Canyon, Lower Crimean Shelf), J. Reitner PART 3: MARINE, FRESHWATER, AND SOIL BIOFILMS Biodynamics of Modern Marine Stromatolites, D.M. Paterson et al Entophysalis Mats as Environmental Regulators, S. Golubic and R.M.M. Abed Diversity and Role of Cyanobacteria and Aerobic Heterotrophic Microorganisms in Carbon Cycling in Arid Cyanobacterial Mats,R.M.M. Abed et al Ooid Accreting Diatom Communities from the Modern Marine Stromatolites at Highborne Cay, Bahamas, J. Franks et al Exopolymers (Extracellular Polymeric Substances) in Diatom - Dominated Marine Sediment Biofilms, G.J.C. Underwood Microbial Mats from Wind Flats of the Southern Baltic Sea, K. Heyl et al Diazotrophic Microbial Mats, I. Severin and L.J. Stal Architectures of Biocomplexity: Lichen-Dominated Soil Crusts and Mats, M. Grube et al Iron and Bacterial Biofilm Development, O. Avidan et al PART 4 : MICROBIAL MATS IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS Mats of Filamentous and Unicellular Cyanobacteria in Hypersaline Environments, A. Oren Marine Hypersaline Microcoleus-Dominated Cyanobacterial Mats in the Saltern at Guerrero Negro, Baja California Sur, Mexico. A System-Level Perspective, D.J. Des Marais Environmental Dynamics, Community Structure and Function in a Hypersaline Microbial Mat, H.W. Paerl and A.C. Yanarell Biogeochemistry of Carbon Cycling in Hypersaline Mats: Linking the Present to the Past through Biosignatures, P.T. Visscher et al Phototrophic Biofilms from Rio Tinto, an Extreme Acidic Environment, the Prokaryotic Component, A. Aguilera et al Fluvial Bedform Generation by Biofilm Activity in the Berrocal Segment of Rio Tinto. Acidic Biofilms and Sedimentation, D.C. Fernandez-Remolar et al Cyanobacterial Mats of the Meltwater Ponds on the McMurdo Ice Shelf (Antarctica), A.D. Jungblut and B.A. Neilan Diversity and Ecology of Cyanobacterial Microflora of Antarctic Seepage Habitats. Comparison of King George Island, Shetland Islands, and
Big-eyed bugs of the Malagasy Region (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Lygaeoidea: Geocoridae)

A synopsis of the geocorine true bugs distributed in the Malagasy biogeographic region is presented, including the description Geocoris (Piocoris) petofii sp. n. and proposal of the new synonymy Geocoris (Geocoris) insularis China, 1955 = Geocoris (Geocoris) pallidipennis mauritii Stål, 1854. Keys, diagnoses, taxonomic notes, and distribution data for discussed species are provided.
Rheological Behavior in the Semisolid State of Al-Si-Cu Alloys Produced by ECAP

It is fundamental in thixoforming to have a refined microstructure that, when heated to the semisolid state, consists of a mixture of small spheres immersed in liquid as this ensures the best rheological properties. The present work therefore aims to analyze the rheological behaviour of aluminum-silicon-copper alloys, namely, Al5Si2.8Cu, Al6Si2.8Cu and Al7Si2.8Cu. The alloys were produced by conventional casting and then deformed by ECAP in one pass in a die containing two channels of the same cross-sectional area forming an angle of 120°. After being processed by ECAP, the alloys were heated to semisolid temperatures, i.e., temperatures corresponding to a solid fraction of 45 %, and kept in the semisolid state for 0, 30 and 90 s, after which they were subjected to hot compression tests. The structures of the three alloys had an excellent response to recovery and recrystallization mechanisms, with refined microstructures that led to the formation of very fine spheres immersed in liquid in the semisolid state. The best rheological behaviour was obtained for the Al5Si2.8Cu alloy, which had an apparent viscosity of the order of 103 Pa.s. The findings suggest that this simple ECAP process is a promising route for the production of semisolid feedstock for use in thixoforming.
Irrigation and its wider regional impacts in Australia

ABSTRACT Is the evidence sufficiently strong enough to justify the belief that irrigation (water applied) has a beneficial socio-economic impact on people in regional Australia? Using correlation coefficients, it was found that while a strong relationship existed between water applied and irrigators’ incomes (0.91) and production (0.87), the links were much weaker to dryland farmers’ incomes (0.49), the wider total regional income (0.41) and total employment (0.42). Weak links were found to exist with employment density (0.24), per capita incomes (0.03) and a measure of well-being (0.11) of people living in regions where more water was applied.
Resistance Exercise Training Rescues Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Skeletal Muscle of Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Background: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a dominant autosomal neuromuscular disorder caused by the inheritance of a CTG triplet repeat expansion in the Dystrophia Myotonica Protein Kinase (DMPK) gene. At present, no cure currently exists for DM1 disease. Objective: This study investigates the effects of 12-week resistance exercise training on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in skeletal muscle in a cohort of DM1 patients (n = 11, men) in comparison to control muscle with normal oxidative phosphorylation. Methods: Immunofluorescence was used to assess protein levels of key respiratory chain subunits of complex I (CI) and complex IV (CIV), and markers of mitochondrial mass and cell membrane in individual myofibres sampled from muscle biopsies. Using control’s skeletal muscle fibers population, we classified each patient’s fibers as having normal, low or high levels of CI and CIV and compared the proportions of fibers before and after exercise training. The significance of changes observed between pre- and post-exercise within patients was estimated using a permutation test. Results: At baseline, DM1 patients present with significantly decreased mitochondrial mass, and isolated or combined CI and CIV deficiency. After resistance exercise training, in most patients a significant increase in mitochondrial mass was observed, and all patients showed a significant increase in CI and/or CIV protein levels. Moreover, improvements in mitochondrial mass were correlated with the one-repetition maximum strength evaluation. Conclusions: Remarkably, 12-week resistance exercise training is sufficient to partially rescue mitochondrial dysfunction in DM1 patients, suggesting that the response to exercise is in part be due to changes in mitochondria.
Applying the free-slip boundary condition with an adaptive Cartesian cut-cell method for complex geometries

Abstract The slip condition at the interface of a multiphase flow can occur in situations including micro-and nano-fluidic flow, flow over hydrophobic surfaces, rising bubbles in quiescent liquid, and polymer extrusion processes. The aim of this work is to implement the free-slip boundary condition with an adaptive Cartesian grid method. The Navier-Stokes (NS) equations are solved by a cell-centered collocated finite volume method with adaptive mesh refinement. The arbitrarily-shaped solids imbedded in the computational domain are treated by the cut-cell method where the geometric properties of cut-cells near the boundary are computed through robust geometric operations. In discretized NS equations, the second-order-accurate center difference method is used to estimate the surface fluxes of the regular Cartesian cells in the bulk region, whereas the least-squares method is used to estimate the fluxes of the cut-cells near the boundary. A local coordinate system aligned with the normal and tangential directions of the solid boundary is defined for each cut-cell in order to properly implement the free-slip condition. The tangential velocities at the curved solid boundary are obtained using the free-slip condition and the principal curvatures of the solid surface. The proposed numerical method is implemented in the open-source code Gerris. Numerical tests have been carried out to validate our method. The tests confirm the excellent performances of the proposed method. Although our work focuses on the free-slip condition, the extension of the proposed method to more general slip conditions is straightforward.
Altered Metabolic Networks in Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy with Focal to Bilateral Seizures

This study was designed to identify whether the metabolic network changes in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) patients with focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures (FBTCS) differ from changes in patients without FBTCS. This retrospective analysis enrolled 30 healthy controls and 54 total MTLE patients, of whom 27 had FBTCS. Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) data and graph theoretical analyses were used to examine metabolic connectivity. The differences in metabolic networks between the three groups were compared. Significant changes in both local and global network topology were evident in FBTCS+ patients as compared to healthy controls, with a lower assortative coefficient and altered betweenness centrality in 15 brain regions. While global network measures did not differ significantly when comparing FBTCS− patients to healthy controls, alterations in betweenness centrality were evident in 13 brain regions. Significantly altered betweenness centrality was also observed in four brain regions when comparing patients with and without FBTCS. The study revealed greater metabolic network abnormalities in MTLE patients with FBTCS as compared to FBTCS− patients, indicating the existence of distinct epileptogenic networks. These findings can provide insight into the pathophysiological basis of FBTCS.
Context-Aware Worker Recruitment for Mobile Crowd Sensing Based on Mobility Prediction

Opportunistic worker (OW) selection is a challenging problem in mobile crowd sensing (MCS), where tasks are assigned to individuals to be completed seamlessly during their daily routines without any deviation from their usual routes. In this paper, we propose a novel framework named context-aware worker recruitment based on a mobility prediction model (CAMP) to address the OW selection problem in MCS. Unlike previous approaches that relied on worker mobility prediction models with limited accuracy or utility-based selection methods neglecting task distribution differences across locations, CAMP introduces a two-phase strategy for OW selection. In the first phase, we leverage a recurrent neural network-based prediction model specifically designed to forecast volunteer workers’ future locations with higher precision. This enhanced mobility prediction ensures more effective task assignments in the MCS system. In the second phase, CAMP employs a weighted-utility algorithm that takes into account the varying task distribution throughout the day across different locations. The key novelty of the CAMP framework lies in its combination of an accurate multi-output RNN model for predicting worker mobility and a unique weighted-utility worker selection algorithm that considers variations in task distribution across different locations and sensing cycles. To validate the effectiveness of the CAMP framework, we extensively evaluate it using real-world GPS data, specifically the Crawdad Roma/Taxi dataset. The results demonstrate that CAMP outperforms existing approaches, delivering a higher number of completed tasks while adhering to the same budget constraints.