Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Frequency Domain Approach for Predicting the Signal Strength of Tsunamis at Coastal Tide Gauges

ABSTRACT Breaker, L.C. ; Murty, T.S. , and Carroll, D. , 2014. A frequency domain approach for predicting the signal strength of tsunamis at coastal tide gauges. A method for predicting the signal strength of a tsunami at coastal tide gauges once the event is underway is presented. It is based on the calculation of a transfer function for a linear system whose input is obtained from Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) bottom pressure recorders (BPRs) and the output from coastal tide gauges. To perform the calculations, a data window for the input and output signals must initially be chosen that requires a compromise between signal purity and resolution. Limited experience suggests that windows in the range of 6–12 hours duration are a reasonable choice for 1-minute data. The method is illustrated with three examples, the first two taken from the tsunami generated by the Great Tōhoku Earthquake of 2011 and the third from the tsunami generated by the Chilean earthquake of 2010. Magnitude spectra from the transfer functions in each case reflect the influence of oscillations present in the tide gauge data, a requirement that must be met if the transfer functions are to be of predictive value. The magnitude spectra for each of two pairs of DART BPRs employed in two cases were generally similar, suggesting that the results are robust in the sense that they are not strongly location dependent. This approach provides an alternate view of the forecasting process that should be useful in identifying spectral components in the coastal response that may be critical to the forecast. Once implemented, the method will be rapid, easily competing with other precomputed database methods. Finally, with further development the method could be used to augment other tsunami forecast methodologies that are presently in use.
Factors Associated with Otitis Media Among Pediatrics in Two Government Hospitals in Arba Minch, Southern Ethiopia

Background Bacterial otitis media (OM) is a common infection among the pediatric community worldwide and is the first reason for prescribing antibiotics in pediatric practices. However, if not promptly diagnosed and appropriately treated, it may persist and cause severe intra- and extra-cranial hard-to-cure complications. Hence, knowing the magnitude, etiology, and antibiotic susceptibility profile is very important for the proper management. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in 312 pediatrics (1 to 18 years) attending the Ear Nose Throat outpatient departments of the two title hospitals from 25 February to 30th August 2022. Patients were chosen through a systematic random sampling method. Data were obtained by means of a semi-structured questionnaire. Samples were collected to identify the causative bacteria as per microbiological guidelines. The antibiotic susceptibility test was done according to the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion; SPSS version 25 was used for the analysis. Results The overall prevalence of otitis media was 67.3% (n=210); CSOM showed a slight preponderance (n=107) Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria were present in 59.8% (n=137) and 40.1% (n=92), respectively. Otitis media was predominantly caused by S. aureus (n=52, 56.5%), followed by Proteus spp. (n=33, 24%). Gram-negative bacteria were highly resistant to co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, piperacillin, and tetracycline, whereas their positive counterparts were considerably penicillin and co-trimoxazole resistant. Overall, 61.5 and 19.2% of the isolates were MDR and XDR, respectively. MRSA, MR-CoNs, and VRE were 38.4% (n=20), 17.1% (n=5), and 58.3% (n=12), respectively; 19.7% (n=25) of Gram-negative bacteria produced ESBL, and 7% (n=9) were carbapenem-resistant. History of exposure to loud noise [AOR=3.4; CI=1.14–10.23; P-value=0.028] and family history of smoking at home [AOR=2.9; CI=1.18–7.25; P-value=0.020] have the greatest odds of otitis media. Conclusion Overall, the prevalence of otitis media is showing an upward trend, and MDR among bacterial isolates is increasing alarmingly.
GNSS-INS-dynamic fusion with robustness to outliers based on external force state estimation

Multi-source information fusion state estimation algorithms are an important means for drones to perceive ego-state, and accurate and robust estimation of external forces is crucial for precise control of quadrotors. This paper proposes a method that integrates a dynamic model into a multi-rate extended Kalman filter (EKF) framework on manifold. By estimating the magnitude of the external force acting on vehicle, meanwhile, a dynamic constraint on velocity loop is established to reduce the discrepancy between the model-predicted motion and the actual motion. Moreover, the estimated external force is integrated into the zero velocity update criterion for zero speed judgment, effectively reducing false detections while improving the accuracy of zero speed state recognition. However, multi-source measurements significantly increase the probability of data signal errors. To address this issue, we use a robust estimation algorithm to improve EKF’s sensitivity to abnormal measurements, flexibly adjusting measurement weights while rejecting unreasonable measurements. Validation with open-source indoor and outdoor datasets shows that our algorithm improves pose estimation performance while maintaining accurate positioning accuracy compared to non-dynamic fusion under the same filtering parameters, particularly in global navigation satellite system short time denied. It provides accurate external force estimation, offering multi-source data support in areas such as human–machine interaction and carrying variable mass payloads.
Dry Friction and Wear Behavior of Laser-Sintered Graphite/Carbon Fiber/Polyamide 12 Composite

Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) are being used extensively in modern industries that require a high strength-to-weight ratio, such as aerospace, automotive, motorsport, and sports equipment. However, although reinforcement with carbon fibers improves the mechanical properties of polymers, this comes at the expense of abrasive wear resistance. Therefore, to efficiently utilize CFRPs in dry sliding contacts, solid lubricant is used as a filler. Further, to facilitate the fabrication of objects with complex geometries, selective laser sintering (SLS) can be employed. Accordingly, in the present work, graphite-filled carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 12 (CFR-PA12) specimens were prepared using the SLS process to explore the dry sliding friction and wear characteristics of the composite. The test specimens were aligned along four different orientations in the build chamber of the SLS machine to determine the orientation-dependent tribological properties. The experiments were conducted using a pin-on-disc tribometer to measure the coefficient of friction (COF), interface temperature, friction-induced noise, and specific wear rate. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of tribo-surfaces was conducted to specify the dominant wear pattern. The results indicated that the steady-state COF, contact temperature, and wear pattern of graphite-filled CFR-PA12 are orientation-independent and that the contact temperature is likely to approach an asymptote far below the glass transition temperature of amorphous PA12 zones, thus eliminating the possibility of matrix softening. Additionally, the results showed that the Z-oriented specimen exhibits the lowest level of friction-induced noise along with the highest wear resistance. Moreover, SEM of tribo-surfaces determined that abrasive wear is the dominant wear pattern.
Synchronous dynamics and rates of extinction in spatially structured populations

We explore extinction rates using a spatially arranged set of subpopulations obeying Ricker dynamics. The population system is subjected to dispersal of individuals among the subpopulations as well as to local and global disturbances. We observe a tight positive correlation between global extinction rate and the level of synchrony in dynamics among thesubpopulations. Global disturbances and to a lesser extent, migration, are capable of synchronizing the temporal dynamics of the subpopulations over a rather wide span of the population growth rate r: Local noise decreases synchrony, as does increasing distance among the subpopulations. Synchrony also levels off with increasing r: in the chaotic region, subpopulations almost invariably behave asynchronously. We conclude that it is asynchrony that reduces the probability of global extinctions, not chaos as such: chaos is a special case only. The relationship between global extinction rate, synchronous dynamics and population growth rate is robust to changes in dispersal rates and ranges.
Impact of Store Attributes on Customer Loyalty: Moderating Effects of Salespeople Support

The purpose of this research paper is to examine the direct and moderating impact of store attributes on customer loyalty. Although several store attributes have been identified in the existing literature, this study focuses on three key attributes, which include store assortment, store environment, and price promotions. The existing literature on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty has helped hypothesize the role of salespeople support as a boundary condition for store attributes-customer loyalty relationship. Customer responses were collected from Punjab (the largest province of Pakistan) by using survey technique. For this purpose, an online questionnaire was distributed that resulted in 303 customer responses. Data were then analyzed through the software package of Smart PLS.The results indicate that eachstore assortment, store environment and price promotions have a positive impact on customer loyalty. Salespeople support has been found to moderate the impact of store assortment on customer loyalty. Studying the direct effects of store attributes on customer loyalty, particularly in the context of Pakistan, is a major contribution of this study. Another contribution is to hypothesize and test the effects of salespeople support as a boundary condition (moderator) for store attributes-customer loyalty relationship. Managerial implications of the research findings and opportunities for future researchers are discussed towards the end of the research paper.
Multivariate Temporal Self-Attention Network for Subsurface Thermohaline Structure Reconstruction

Argo observations are spatially sparse and temporally uneven, whereas satellites can provide high-resolution and continuous observations at the sea surface. The reconstruction of subsurface thermohaline structure using multisource remote sensing data is thus of great significance for investigating the ocean interior dynamics. Aiming at the existing problems of temporal feature extraction and nonlinear relationship fitting, this article proposes a multivariate temporal self-attention network (MTSAN) to effectively reconstruct the subsurface temperature anomaly (STA) and subsurface salinity anomaly (SSA) in the Pacific Ocean. The model integrates multisource remote sensing data, including sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface salinity (SSS), wind speed, absolute dynamic topography (ADT), and significant wave height (SWH). In order to better extract the complex small- and medium-scale signals, a two-branch asymmetric residual module based on dilation causal convolution is designed to enhance the representation ability. Moreover, zonal weighted loss function with comprehensive indicators is proposed, in order to minimize the real error of grids and raise the accuracy of self-attention network. MTSAN reconstructs the STA and SSA during the El Ni<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\tilde {\mathrm {n}}\text{o}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> event, and the results show that it has good performance for spatial distribution, vertical variation, and temporal extension. The overall <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and RMSE of STA are 0.536 and 0.241 °C, respectively, and the overall <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$R^{2}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> and RMSE of SSA are 0.645 and 0.037 psu, respectively. In addition, the results of comparison experiments illustrate the superiority of MTSAN over other machine learning and deep learning-based methods. Overall, we provide a new temporal self-attention approach to accurately reconstruct the 3-D thermohaline structure using high-resolution quasi-real-time satellite observations.
Quantification of spin-charge interconversion in highly resistive sputtered 
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:msub><mml:mi>Bi</mml:mi><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:msub><mml:msub><mml:mi>Se</mml:mi><mml:mrow><mml:mn>1</mml:mn><mml:mo>−</mml:mo><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml

The development of spin-orbitronic devices, such as magneto-electric spin-orbit logic devices, calls for materials with a high resistivity and a high spin-charge interconversion efficiency. One of the most promising candidates in this regard is sputtered Bi$_x$Se$_{1-x}$. Although there are several techniques to quantify spin-charge interconversion, to date reported values for sputtered Bi$_x$Se$_{1-x}$ have often been overestimated due to spurious effects related to local currents combined with a lack of understanding of the effect of the interfaces and the use of approximations for unknown parameters, such as the spin diffusion length. In the present study, non-local spin valves are used to inject pure spin currents into Bi$_x$Se$_{1-x}$, allowing us to directly obtain its spin diffusion length as well as its spin Hall angle, from 10 K up to 300 K. These values, which are more accurate than those previously reported in sputtered Bi$_x$Se$_{1-x}$, evidence that the efficiency of this material is not exceptional. Indeed, the figure of merit for spin-charge interconversion, given by the product of these two parameters, is slightly under 1 nm. Our work demonstrates the importance of considering all material parameters and interfaces when quantifying the spin transport properties of materials with strong spin-orbit coupling.
Orange Peel Waste as Feedstock for the Production of Glycerol-Free Biodiesel by the Microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata

The bioconversion of agri-food waste into high-value products is gaining growing interest worldwide. Orange peel waste (OPW) is the main by-product of orange juice production and contains high levels of moisture and carbohydrates. In this study, the orange waste extract (OWE) obtained through acid hydrolysis of OPW was used as a substrate in the cultivation of the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata. Photoheterotrophic (PH) and Photoautotrophic (PA) cultivations were performed in OWE medium and f/2 medium (obtained by supplementing OWE with macro- and micronutrients of f/2 medium), respectively, for 14 days. The biomass yields in PA and PH cultures were 390 mg L−1 and 450 mg L−1, while oil yields were 15% and 28%, respectively. The fatty acid (FA) profiles of PA cultures were mostly represented by saturated (43%) and monounsaturated (46%) FAs, whereas polyunsaturated FAs accounted for about 10% of the FAs. In PH cultures, FA profiles changed remarkably, with a strong increase in monounsaturated FAs (77.49%) and reduced levels of saturated (19.79%) and polyunsaturated (2.72%) FAs. Lipids obtained from PH cultures were simultaneously extracted and converted into glycerol-free biodiesel using an innovative microwave-assisted one-pot tandem protocol. FA methyl esters were then analyzed, and the absence of glycerol was confirmed. The FA profile was highly suitable for biodiesel production and the microwave-assisted one-pot tandem protocol was more effective than traditional extraction techniques. In conclusion, N. oculata used OWE photoheterotrophically, resulting in increased biomass and oil yield. Additionally, a more efficient procedure for simultaneous oil extraction and conversion into glycerol-free biodiesel is proposed.
In Vitro Efficacy of Antivirals and Monoclonal Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Lineages XBB.1.9.1, XBB.1.9.3, XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, XBB.2.4, BQ.1.1.45, CH.1.1, and CL.1

The spread of COVID-19 continues, expressed by periodic wave-like increases in morbidity and mortality. The reason for the periodic increases in morbidity is the emergence and spread of novel genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2. A decrease in the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) has been reported, especially against Omicron subvariants. There have been reports of a decrease in the efficacy of specific antiviral drugs as a result of mutations in the genes of non-structural proteins. This indicates the urgent need for practical healthcare to constantly monitor pathogen variability and its effect on the efficacy of preventive and therapeutic drugs. As part of this study, we report the results of the continuous monitoring of COVID-19 in Moscow using genetic and virological methods. As a result of this monitoring, we determined the dominant genetic variants and identified the variants that are most widespread, not only in Moscow, but also in other countries. A collection of viruses from more than 500 SARS-CoV-2 isolates has been obtained and characterized. The genetic lines XBB.1. 9.1, XBB.1. 9.3, XBB.1. 5, XBB.1. 16, XBB.2. 4, BQ.1. 1.45, CH.1. 1, and CL.1, representing the greatest concern, were identified among the dominant variants. We studied the in vitro efficacy of mAbs Tixagevimab + Cilgavimab (Evusheld), Sotrovimab, Regdanvimab, Casirivimab + Imdevimab (Ronapreve), and Bebtelovimab, as well as the specific antiviral drugs Remdesivir, Molnupiravir, and Nirmatrelvir, against these genetic lines. At the current stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of mAbs developed against early SARS-CoV-2 variants has little prospect. Specific antiviral drugs retain their activity, but further monitoring is needed to assess the risk of their efficacy being reduced and adjust recommendations for their use.
Systematic Study of Wettability Alteration of Glass Surfaces by Dichlorooctamethyltetrasiloxane Silanization—A Guide for Contact Angle Modification

To investigate the effects of wettability on multiphase flow in porous media, glass bead packs or micromodels are commonly used. Their wettability can be altered by the surface treatment method–silanization. Although silanization is widely used for glass wettability modification, comparable systematic approaches over a large range of geometries, treatment conditions, and measurement systems are scarce. In this work, dichlorooctamethyltetrasiloxane (Surfasil) treatment was systematically investigated, resulting in a guide for achieving a wide range of contact angles. Initially, the influence of the Surfasil solvent, treatment time, and Surfasil-to-solvent ratio was investigated on glass plates using the sessile drop method. By varying these variables, it was possible to achieve a wide range of comparable, repeatable, and stable contact angles, from approximately 20–95° for air–water systems. Due to the linear increase of contact angle with larger Surfasil exposure, either due to the time or concentration, contact angle tuning is possible until the critical point. Beyond the critical point of exposure, a system-specific plateau value is reached, independent of the approach. After establishing a clear relationship between the parameters and contact angles, the same treatment parameters were applied to single beads, micromodels, and beadpacks with heptane as the chosen solvent. Optical image analysis was used for the microchips, and micro CT data analysis was used for the bead packs. The treatment appeared to be transferable to all geometries, resulting in similar wetting conditions within the limitations of the measurements. It is concluded that a glass plate can be used as an analogue for obtaining the contact angle alteration trends for more complex porous media with similar compositions. Data analysis methods and surface roughness could have an effect on the obtained contact angle spread.
Ledderhose’s Disease: An Up-to-Date Review of a Rare Non-Malignant Disorder

Plantar fibromatosis (or Ledderhose’s disease) is a rare benign condition, difficult to treat, defined by gradual-growing nodules in the central medial part of the plantar fascia, with the possibility of sclerosis and shrinkage of the entire fascia or, rarely, contractures of the toes. From a histopathological point of view, it is linked to Dupuytren’s contracture of the hand and Peyronie’s disease of the penis, being part of a large group of fibromatoses, based on a proliferation of collagen and fibroblasts. Its etiology is still not fully understood, even though it has been associated with trauma, diabetes mellitus, use of anticonvulsants, frozen shoulder, alcohol consumption, and liver disease. Typically, ultrasound confirms the diagnosis, and magnetic resonance imaging is used for more aggressive and advanced types. Several conservative treatment techniques, such as steroid injections, verapamil, imatinib, radiation therapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, tamoxifen, sorafenib, mitomycin C, and collagenase, have been documented. When non-operative care fails, surgical measures may be considered, even though recurrence is expected. We attempted to provide a better understanding of this disease by covering all of the important aspects: its history, clinical and radiologic findings, diagnosis, pathophysiology features, conservative and surgical treatment, recurrence rate, and prognosis.
Integrate-and-fire circuit for converting analog signals to spikes using phase encoding

Processing sensor data with spiking neural networks on digital neuromorphic chips requires converting continuous analog signals into spike pulses. Two strategies are promising for achieving low energy consumption and fast processing speeds in end-to-end neuromorphic applications. First, to directly encode analog signals to spikes to bypass the need for an analog-to-digital converter. Second, to use temporal encoding techniques to maximize the spike sparsity, which is a crucial parameter for fast and efficient neuromorphic processing. In this work, we propose an adaptive control of the refractory period of the leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron model for encoding continuous analog signals into a train of time-coded spikes. The LIF-based encoder generates phase-encoded spikes that are compatible with digital hardware. We implemented the neuron model on a physical circuit and tested it with different electric signals. A digital neuromorphic chip processed the generated spike trains and computed the signal’s frequency spectrum using a spiking version of the Fourier transform. We tested the prototype circuit on electric signals up to 1 kHz. Thus, we provide an end-to-end neuromorphic application that generates the frequency spectrum of an electric signal without the need for an ADC or a digital signal processing algorithm.
Desert dust aerosols observed in a tropical humid city: a case study over Hong Kong

Observations from the AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) sunphotometers, MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite images, back-trajectory modelling and ‘in-situ’ PM10 measurements in Hong Kong confirmed that two dust storms on 16–17 April 2006 and 27–30 April 2009, with source areas in northwest China, affected the city. The impacts of the dust on the air quality of Hong Kong were quantified using aerosol optical properties from AERONET data and local PM10 (particle size less than 10 μm) concentrations. Combined analysis of back trajectories and the microphysical properties of the dust aerosols from AERONET inversion data suggest that the dust particulates are sometimes associated with industrial chemicals on arrival in Hong Kong. This is the first remote-sensing study to observe the presence and characteristics of Asian dust carried into the humid tropical region of south China.