Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Branch and Bound Experiments in Convex Nonlinear Integer Programming

The branch and bound principle has long been established as an effective computational tool for solving mixed integer linear programming problems. This paper investigates the computational feasibility of branch and bound methods in solving convex nonlinear integer programming problems. The efficiency of a branch and bound method often depends on the rules used for selecting the branching variables and branching nodes. Among others, the concepts of pseudo-costs and estimations are implemented in selecting these parameters. Since the efficiency of the algorithm also depends on how fast an upper bound on the objective minimum is attained, heuristic rules are developed to locate an integer feasible solution to provide an upper bound. The different criteria for selecting branching variables, branching nodes, and heuristics form a total of 27 branch and bound strategies. These strategies are computationally tested and the empirical results are presented.
Correlation coefficients and correlation ratios as estimates of observer weights in multiple‐observation tasks

Advantages of correlational methods are described for estimating the relative reliance or weight observers give to different elements of a complex display when performing auditory or visual discriminations. Correlational methods differ from other such methods by providing a least‐squares estimate of weights rather than a maximum‐likelihood estimate based on a presumed model. The main benefit is that these methods can be generally applied in cases where the statistical properties of elements are unknown, where correlations exist between elements, or where it is necessary to evaluate decision models that are inherently nonlinear.
Improvement of Performance of a Perforated Tube as a Noise Suppressor by Oblique Perforation

The aeroacoustic performances of different perforated tubes were experimentally investigated. The length and the exit diameter of the tubes were fixed at 50mm and 10mm, respectively. Sound pressure level and thrust due to the exerted jet of the perforated tubes were measured and compared with each other. A perforated tube with forward-slanted perforations showed favorable performance. The shock structure of an underexpanded jet was removed using the perforated tube so that the generation of screech tone component was eliminated. However, the perforated tube with forward-slanted perforations suffered a discrete noise component when the jet pressure was very low. When the sharp edges at the inner surface of the perforated tube were removed the discrete component was eliminated. Moreover, the reduction in tube thickness also improved the noise suppression performance of the forward-slanted oblique perforated tube.
Adsorption of Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cu(II) ions on azacrown ether grafted chitosan films

The adsorption and desorption of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions by porous azacrown ether grafted chitosan films (Ch-DAC) were studied in a batch adsorption system. The porous Ch-DAC films were prepared by hydroamination reaction of azacrown ether activated double bonds with chitosan by changing the proportion of Ch/DAC with 1:0, 1:0.125, 1:0.167, 1:0.25 and 1:0.5 ratios. Characteristics of the films such as pH of aqueous slurry, pH of zero-point charge (pHzpc), surface area and pore volume, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Field Emission - Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were investigated. Factors influencing adsorption performance such as pH of the solution, metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage and the DAC content were studied. Batch studies, investigating film adsorption capacity and adsorption isotherms for Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cu(II) ion adsorption equilibrium correlated well with Langmuir model. The maximum capacity for the adsorption of Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cu(II) ions calculated from the Langmuir isotherm was 256, 200 and 143 mg/g respectively. Compared with the pure non-grafted chitosan films, the azacrown ether films were proved to have better sorption performance for the Pb(II), Hg(II) and Cu(II) ions at pH 5 to 6.
Identification of miRNA–mRNA regulatory network associated with the glutamatergic system in post-traumatic epilepsy rats

Background Glutamate is one of the most important excitatory neurotransmitters in the mammalian brain and is involved in a variety of neurological disorders. Increasing evidence also shows that microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA pairs are engaged in a variety of pathophysiological processes. However, the miRNA and mRNA pairs that affect the glutamatergic system in post-traumatic epilepsy (PTE) remain unknown. Methods PTE rats were induced by injecting 0.1 mol/L, 1 μL/min FeCl2 solution. Behavioral scores and EEG monitoring were used to evaluate whether PTE was successfully induced. RNA-seq was used to obtain mRNA and miRNA expression profiles. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs associated with the glutamatergic system and then predict miRNA–mRNA interaction pairs. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR was used to further validate the expression of the differential miRNAs and mRNAs. The microRNA–mRNA was subject to the Pearson correlation analysis. Results Eight of the 91 differentially expressed mRNAs were associated with the glutamatergic system, of which six were upregulated and two were downregulated. Forty miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed, with 14 upregulated and 26 downregulated genes. The predicted miRNA–mRNA interaction network shows that five of the eight differentially expressed mRNAs associated with the glutamatergic system were targeted by multiple miRNAs, including Slc17a6, Mef2c, Fyn, Slc25a22, and Shank2, while the remaining three mRNAs were not targeted by any miRNAs. Of the 40 differentially expressed miRNAs, seven miRNAs were found to have multiple target mRNAs associated with the glutamatergic system. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR validation and Pearson correlation analysis were performed on these seven targeted miRNAs—Slc17a6, Mef2c, Fyn, Slc25a22, and Shank2—and six additional miRNAs selected from the literature. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR showed that the expression levels of the mRNAs and miRNAs agreed with the predictions in the study. Among them, the miR-98-5p–Slc17a6, miR-335-5p–Slc17a6, miR-30e-5p–Slc17a6, miR-1224–Slc25a22, and miR-211-5p–Slc25a22 pairs were verified to have negative correlations. Conclusions Our results indicate that miRNA–mRNA interaction pairs associated with the glutamatergic system are involved in the development of PTE and have potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for PTE.
Factors Associated with Engagement in University Life, and Help Seeking Attitudes and Behaviour in First Year Undergraduate Students

Students transitioning from secondary school to university may experience unique issues that impact their mental health. There is limited research, however, on what drives first year students to seek professional help for mental health problems. There is also a current lack of knowledge about the factors that may be associated with engagement with university life in students transitioning to university, and how engagement may be related to help seeking attitudes and behaviours in a first year university population. Data (N = 165) were drawn from two waves (Wave 1, February 2021, and Wave 4, June 2021) of a longitudinal study of Australian university students commencing study for the first time, which included measures of engagement, belonging, stigma and help seeking intentions and behaviours. The results showed that students with higher levels of depression stigma prior to commencing university at Wave 1 had less positive attitudes towards help seeking at Wave 4. Students had increased odds of seeking help for a mental health problem in Wave 4 if they had moved away for university, reported higher levels of mental health literacy or willingness to disclose, had lower levels of engagement with university life and were experiencing higher levels of general psychological distress. Students experiencing higher thwarted belongingness were also found to have lower levels of engagement with university at Wave 4. Both thwarted belongingness and stigma were found to be associated with engagement with university and help seeking behaviours and should be examined further.
The search for a universal equation of state correct up to very high pressures

The universal equations of state of solids recently proposed by several authors have been examined by comparing them with the theoretical results calculated by the augmented-plane-wave method and the quantum-statistical model proposed by Kalitkin and Kuz'mina from low to ultra-high pressures. It has been shown that the Vinet equation is in good agreement with the theoretical results both for the P - V relation and for the pressure dependence of the isothermal bulk modulus up to for monatomic solids and up to for diatomic solids. The Kumari - Dass and the Dodson equations become less successful below if the zero-pressure values for and are used. For monatomic solids the Holzapfel equation has a very similar structure to that of the Vinet equation at low and medium compressions and it is in good agreement with the theoretical values up to ultra-high pressures. For the application to polyatomic solids a remedy for the shortcomings of the Vinet equation at very high pressures is given on the basis of the quantum-statistical model. The resulting equation is in good agreement with the theoretical values from low to ultra-high pressures both for monatomic and for diatomic solids.
Eurasian otter Lutra lutra distribution and habitat use in a Mediterranean catchment managed for the control of invasive giant reed Arundo donax

We assessed the distribution and habitat use of Eurasian otter Lutra lutra on the middle course of the River Segura and its tributaries (Murcia, SE Spain) within the framework of the project LIFE13BIO/ES/001407 RIPISILVANATURA (2014–2019). Between April 2016 and June 2018, we surveyed for otter spraints 42 sampling stretches (mean length ± SD = 0.5 ± 0.2 km), covering a 109.8 km long section of the river. The study time frame coincided with the main restoration activities of the LIFE project, consisting in the eradication of widespread, invasive alien giant reed Arundo donax and plantation of autochthonous riparian vegetation. Otter habitat preferences were assessed by measuring ten environmental parameters potentially affecting its occurrence. The relationship between the presence/absence of the otter and habitat variables was evaluated by both linear multiple regression and non-parametric random forest regression model. Otters preferred river stretches crossing forested areas, avoided polluted waters and their occurrence was inversely related to the width of the emerged aquatic vegetation, mostly consisting of Arundo reed beds. Moreover, in managed stretches, otter marking intensity increased after the removal of alien reeds and was higher in RIPISILVANATURA restored transects (1.18 spraints/100 m) than in the downstream, unmanaged half of the watercourse (0.76 spraints/100 m). The combined effects of water pollution and giant reed spread may alter fish distribution and abundance, reducing prey availability to otters. The improvement of chemical and physical habitat quality of streams through alien reeds removal seems thus pivotal to enhance the recovery of otter's populations in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula.
Minjingu phosphate rock solubilization and potential for use of Klebsiella variicola-MdE4 and Klebsiella variicola-MdG1 as biofertilizer for maize production

Limited solubility of the Tanzania’s Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) in non-acidic soil conditions has held back its potential for widespread use in agricultural production. This study was designed to isolate, characterize and test phosphate-solubilizing bacteria for their potential to increase solubility of MPR and enhance maize plant growth under field conditions. Ten out of 19 isolates showing greatest phosphate solubilization indices on a Pikovskaya agar medium were further characterized for other plant-growth promoting traits including production of IAA, siderophores and ammonia. Two of them, namely isolates-MdE4 and MdG1 substantially outperformed other isolates in phosphate solubilization and production of IAA, ammonia and siderophores. The two isolates molecularly identified as Klebsiella variicola -MdE4 and K. variicola -MdG1 produced up 701, 699 and 750, 680 µg/ml of soluble phosphate from tricalcium phosphate and hard Minjungu rock phosphate, respectively. Additionally, Biorock P- a biofertilizer formulation containing MdE4 and MdG1 co-cultured in a molasses-based modified broth medium retained most of the phosphate solubilizing potential and other plant-growth promoting traits of MdE4 and MdG1. Co-application of MdE1 and MdG1-containing “bio-rock P” and inorganic phosphate at 20 kg P/ha resulted in higher maize grain yield than that of positive control (40 kg P/ha) under field conditions. The two isolates- Klebsiella variicola -MdE4 and K. variicola -MdG1 have the potential for use in
Book Reviews : Biped Locomotion (Dynamics, Stability, Control and Application)

The biped locomotion robot is a complex object for mechanical and mathematical study. In the single-support phase, the number of degrees of freedom differs from that in the double-support phase. Because of this, the motion equations for the biped robot are different for particular gait phases. These motion equations are essentially nonlinear and of high order. The monograph by Vukobratovich and coworkers is dedicated to the problems of biped gait dynamics and control tasks of biped locomotion. In Chapter 1, the authors present the results of extensive biped gait modeling. They developed the so-called method of prescribed synergy. This semi-inverse method supposes the prescribing of some robot coordinates, and the rest of the coordinates are determined based on
Membership status of TWA22AB

Abstract Using the ESO NTT/SUSI2 telescope, we observed TWA22AB during five different observing runs over 1.2 years to measure its trigonometric parallax and proper motion. HARPS at the ESO 3.6m telescope was also used to measure the system's radial velocity over 2 years. Based on trigonometric-parallax, proper-motion and radial-velocity measurements, we re-analyzed the membership of TWA22AB of the young, nearby associations TW Hydrae, β Pictoris and Tucana–Horologium.
Self-consistent Bohmian description of strong field-driven electron dynamics

Drawing from the Bohmian formulation of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation, we present a self-consistent hydrodynamical method to describe electron dynamics in strong field light-matter interactions. Prototypical implementation is made for one-dimensional H atom embedded in short and intense laser pulses. The method provides very accurate electron densities and yields quantum trajectories that shed light on the electron dynamics, beyond the strong-field approximation.
Towards a Characterization of Background Music Audibility in Broadcasted TV

In audiovisual contexts, different conventions determine the level at which background music is mixed into the final program, and sometimes, the mix renders the music to be practically or totally inaudible. From a perceptual point of view, the audibility of music is subject to auditory masking by other aural stimuli such as voice or additional sounds (e.g., applause, laughter, horns), and is also influenced by the visual content that accompanies the soundtrack, and by attentional and motivational factors. This situation is relevant to the music industry because, according to some copyright regulations, the non-audible background music must not generate any distribution rights, and the marginally audible background music must generate half of the standard value of audible music. In this study, we conduct two psychoacoustic experiments to identify several factors that influence background music perception, and their contribution to its variable audibility. Our experiments are based on auditory detection and chronometric tasks involving keyboard interactions with original TV content. From the collected data, we estimated a sound-to-music ratio range to define the audibility threshold limits of the barely audible class. In addition, results show that perception is affected by loudness level, listening condition, music sensitivity, and type of television content.
On the investigation of light-matter interactions in slab photonic crystal cavities

Keywords: Photonic crystals ; Finite element methods ; High-Q cavities ; Optical trapping ; Nonlinear optics ; Light-matter interaction These Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne EPFL, n° 6092 (2014)Programme doctoral PhotoniqueFaculte des sciences de baseInstitut de physique de la matiere condenseeLaboratoire d'optoelectronique quantiqueJury: Prof. N. Grandjean (president), Prof. R. Houdre (directeur), Prof. R. Baets, Prof. T. Krauss, Prof. V. Savona (rapporteurs) Public defense: 2014-2-21 Reference doi:10.5075/epfl-thesis-6092Print copy in library catalog Record created on 2014-02-18, modified on 2017-05-12
The International Prognostic Score and HIV status predict red cell concentrate transfusion needs in Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract Despite the burden of anemia among Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients, data evaluating red cell concentrate transfusion are limited. We retrospectively studied 285 newly diagnosed HL patients who received first-line adriamycin, bleomycin sulfate, vinblastine sulfate, and dacarbazine (ABVD) treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town. HIV prevalence in the cohort was 39.5% and 74.2% of patients had advanced stage HL. Patient prognosis was scored using the HL International Prognostic Score (IPS-7) and HL IPS-3. Seventy (24.6%) patients were transfused with a median of 2 (IQR 1–5) units per patient. Compared to HIV-negative patients, more HIV-positive patients were transfused (14.1% vs. 40.4%, p < .001) and received more units, median 2 (IQR 1–3) vs. 3 (IQR 2–5), p = . 035. HL IPS-7 (OR 2.1, p < .001) and HL IPS-3 (OR 2.6, p < .001) were independently associated with transfusion. HL IPS-7, HL IPS-3, and HIV positivity remained associated with transfusion after adjusting for covariates. For patients with newly diagnosed HL, HL IPS-7, HL IPS-3, and HIV status predicted transfusion.
Learning fuzzy control rules by vector simplex method

The learning of fuzzy control rules can be considered as a nonlinear optimization problem in which the objective function isn't differentiable. Also, the problem is usually defined as a multi-objective optimization problem (MOP) because of plural control targets. Since the objective function in a MOP is vector-valued, their set is a partially ordered set. Thus, in MOPs, a complete optimal solution, which minimizes all objectives simultaneously, does not necessarily exist. Pareto optimality is the representative concept of optimality in MOPs. When using Pareto-optimal solutions, it is very important for the decision maker (DM) to obtain the set of all Pareto-optimal solutions and to select one solution based on his global preference information. In this paper, we propose a multi-objective optimization method caalled the vector simplex method, which can obtain the approximate set of Pareto-optimal solutions directly and quickly. Also, we learn fuzzy control rules for an inverted pendulum by using the vector simplex method, and we show that this method is effective enough to learn fuzzy control rules in comparison with other optimization methods.
Modeling and Analysis of Simplified PV Module With Various Temperature And Irradiance Inputs Using MATLAB Simulink Algorithm

Photovoltaic (PV) systems offer a potential solution to the global energy crisis. Modeling study and analysis involving solar PV module is an important task in a PV system to be more user friendly, improve reliability and performance. However, the output characteristics of PV modules are nonlinear, since they are dependent on environmental conditions such as solar irradiance and temperature, as well as local climate conditions such as humidity and wind. The various methods used have some common gaps as the absence of step-by-step procedure which causes difficulties to understand. Indeed, accurate modeling of PV modules is important to provide a better understanding of their operation and output characteristics, since simulations can be used to understand the behavior of PV modules under various operating conditions. The objective of the project is first, to build and model a solar photovoltaic (PV) module algorithm using Matlab/Simulink. Second, to simulate and analyze the behavior of the model in various temperature and irradiance input conditions. Third, to validate the results obtained from the simulations by comparing the output characteristics with the manufacturer’s datasheet. The methodology used by presenting the principles of detailed modeling of PV modules using Matlab/Simulink software. The constructed model is taken from the equations obtained from the equivalent circuit of a single diode model. The PV Module block is a five-parameter model using a light-generated current source (IL), diode, series resistance (Rs), and shunt resistance (Rsh) to represent the irradiance and temperature-dependent I-V and P-V characteristics of the module. This method provides a simple, reliable, and highly flexible method to adapt PV modules to different environmental conditions such as irradiance, temperature and physical parameters of the solar modules such as resistance, current, voltage, ideality factors and others. The simulation results and data obtained show that the block module developed and simulated using Matlab/Simulink with various input values ​​of temperature and irradiance is almost identical to the real PV module and user-friendly.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Irvingia species using DArTseq generated markers

ABSTRACT Irvingia gabonensis and Irvingia wombolu trees indigenous to West and Central Africa are economically important owing to their valuable kernels. Massive fruit harvesting and reduction of forests land area has threatened their genetic diversity thus warranting conservation. This study reports the genetic diversity and population structure based on dominant markers of Irvingia accessions from Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon held at World Agroforestry field genebanks. A total of 60 samples and 6532 SilicoDArT markers revealed high genetic differentiation among populations (phiPT = 0.301, P = .001). The overall genetic diversity revealed by Nei’s gene diversity (He = 0.117) and percentage of polymorphic loci (39.60%) was low. I.gabonensis provenances from Cameroon and Nigeria were more diverse than Gabonese populations. Pairwise phiPT values calculated from AMOVA variances delineated I. wombolu and I. gabonensis. Population structure and cluster analysis based on Bayesian algorithm, DAPC and UPGMA methods placed Cameroon at the center of distribution of I. gabonensis accessions from Nigeria and Gabon. Gabonese accessions tend to cluster independent of Nigerian accessions while I. wombolu formed a distinct cluster from I. gabonensis. SilicoDArT markers were found suitable for population structure and differentiation analysis of Irvingia accessions and can guide future recollections to enrich genebank diversity and materials for domestication events.