Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structural health monitoring of a composite wind turbine blade using fiber Bragg grating sensors

In this study, a down-scaled wind turbine blade was designed and fabricated using glass and carbon fiber materials for the skin and stiffener, respectively. In the course of its fabrication, an array of FBG (fiber Bragg grating) sensors was embedded in the composite laminates. The embedded FBG sensor array was used to measure the residual strain in the stiffener before and after the curing process, and after fabrication of the blade, the FBG array was used to monitor the structural conditions, including structural dynamic behavior during the structural testing of the blade. The results of the tests showed that the FBG sensor array effectively measured the residual strain distribution of the blade stiffener before and after the curing process. And the measured natural frequencies and mode shapes by the FBG array matched the results obtained from the FE analysis and conventional accelerometers.
A Live Attenuated COVID-19 Candidate Vaccine for Children: Protection against SARS-CoV-2 Challenge in Hamsters

Children are at risk of infection from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 virus (SARS-CoV-2) resulting in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its more severe forms. New-born infants are expected to receive short-term protection from passively transferred maternal antibodies from their mothers who are immunized with first-generation COVID-19 vaccines. Passively transferred antibodies are expected to wane within first 6 months of infant’s life, leaving them vulnerable to COVID-19. Live attenuated vaccines, unlike inactivated or viral-protein-based vaccines, offer broader immune engagement. Given effectiveness of live attenuated vaccines in controlling infectious diseases such as mumps, measles and rubella, we undertook development of a live attenuated COVID-19 vaccine with an aim to vaccinate children beyond 6 months of age. An attenuated vaccine candidate (dCoV), engineered to express sub-optimal codons and deleted polybasic furin cleavage sites in the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 WA/1 strain, was developed and tested in hamsters. Hamsters immunized with dCoV via intranasal or intramuscular routes induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies and exhibited complete protection against the SARS-CoV-2 wild-type isolates, i.e., the Wuhan-like (USA-WA1/2020) and Delta variants (B.1.617.2) in a challenge study. In addition, the dCoV formulated with the marketed measles–rubella (MR) vaccine, designated as MR-dCoV, administered to hamsters via intramuscular route, also protected against both SARS-CoV-2 challenges, and dCoV did not interfere with the MR vaccine-mediated immune response. The safety and efficacy of the dCoV and the MR-dCoV against both variants of SARS-CoV-2 opens the possibility of early immunization in children without an additional injection.
Fourier Finite-Element Method with Linear Basis Functions on a Sphere: Application to Elliptic and Transport Equations

AbstractThe Fourier finite-element method (FFEM) on the sphere, which performs with an operation count of O(N2 log2N) for 2N × N grids in spherical coordinates, was developed using linear basis functions. Dependent field variables are expanded with the Fourier series in the longitude, and the Fourier coefficients are represented with a series of first-order finite elements. Different types of pole conditions were incorporated into the Fourier coefficients of the scalar and vector variables in order to avoid discontinuity at the poles. For the Laplacian operator, the linear element was defined as a function of the sine of latitude instead of the latitude. The FFEM was applied to the derivatives of the first- and second-order elliptic equations and the transport equations. The scale-selective high-order Laplacian-type filter was implemented as a hyperviscosity. For the first-order derivative the fourth-order convergence rate of the accuracy, as is expected from the theoretical analysis, was achieved. Ellipt.
A Multi-Ingredient Supplement Protects against Obesity and Infertility in Western Diet-Fed Mice

The Western diet (WD) predisposes to bodyweight gain and obesity and is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative damage, inflammation, and multisystem disease, even affecting the reproductive organs, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we investigated the effects of multi-ingredient supplementation (MIS) with antioxidants, phytonutrients, and vitamins (‘Fertility Enhancer’; FE) on white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and infertility in WD-fed C57BL/6J mice. Five-month-old male (M) and female (F) mice were fed a low-fat diet (LF) or a high fat/sucrose WD (HF) for six weeks, followed by six weeks of LF (3.64 kcal/g), HF (4.56 kcal/g), or HF combined with FE (4.50 kcal/g). A sub-set of animals were sacrificed at 12 weeks, while the remainder were harem-mated in a 1:2 male-to-female ratio, and singly housed during the gestational period. Two-way, factorial ANOVA analysis revealed a main effect of diet on bodyweight (BW), total body fat, % body fat, white adipose tissue mass, and liver lipid content (all p < 0.001), driven by the anti-obesogenic effects of the ‘Fertility Enhancer’. Similarly, a main effect of diet was found on PGC1-α mRNA levels (p < 0.05) and mitochondrial protein content (p < 0.001) in perigonadal WAT, with PGC1-α induction and higher complex II and complex III expression in FE vs. HF animals. Copulatory plug counts were higher in FE vs. HE couples (30% vs. 6%), resulting in more litters (4 vs. 0) and higher copulatory success (67% vs. 0%). Although the trends of all histology outcomes were suggestive of a benefit from the FE diet, only the number of atretic follicles and testicular mass were significant. Ovarian IL-1β mRNA induction was significantly attenuated in the FE group (p < 0.05 vs. HF) with CASP1 attenuation trending lower (p = 0.09 vs. HF), which is indicative of anti-inflammatory benefits of the ‘Fertility Enhancer. ’ We conclude that supplementation with specific phytonutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins may have utility as an adjunctive therapy for weight management, fatty liver disease, and infertility in overweight and obese couples.
Facilitation of a free-roaming apex predator in working lands: evaluating factors that influence leopard spatial dynamics and prey availability in a South African biodiversity hotspot

Apex predators ideally require vast intact spaces that support sufficient prey abundances to sustain them. In a developing world, however, it is becoming extremely difficult to maintain large enough areas to facilitate apex predators outside of protected regions. Free-roaming leopards (Panthera pardus) are the last remaining apex predator in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, and face a multitude of threats attributable to competition for space and resources with humans. Using camera-trap data, we investigated the influence of anthropogenic land modification on leopards and the availability of their natural prey species in two contrasting communities—primarily protected (Cederberg) and agriculturally transformed (Piketberg). Potential prey species composition and diversity were determined, to indicate prey availability in each region. Factors influencing spatial utilisation by leopards and their main prey species were also assessed. Estimated potential prey species richness (Cederberg = 27, Piketberg = 26) and diversity indices (Cederberg—H′ = 2.64, Ds = 0.90; Piketberg—H′ = 2.46, Ds = 0.89), supported by both the Jaccard’s Index (J = 0.73) and Sørensen’s Coefficient (CC = 0.85), suggested high levels of similarity across the two regions. Main leopard prey species were present in both regions, but their relative abundances differed. Grey rhebok, klipspringer, and rock hyrax were more abundant in the Cederberg, while Cape grysbok, Cape porcupine, chacma baboon, and common duiker were more abundant in Piketberg. Leopards persisted across the agriculturally transformed landscape despite these differences. Occupancy modelling revealed that the spatial dynamics of leopards differed between the two regions, except for both populations preferring areas further away from human habitation. Overall, anthropogenic factors played a greater role in affecting spatial utilisation by leopards and their main prey species in the transformed region, whereas environmental factors had a stronger influence in the protected region. We argue that greater utilisation of alternative main prey species to those preferred in the protected region, including livestock, likely facilitates the persistence of leopards in the transformed region, and believe that this has further implications for human-wildlife conflict. Our study provides a baseline understanding of the potential direct and indirect impacts of agricultural landscape transformation on the behaviour of leopards and shows that heavily modified lands have the potential to facilitate mammalian diversity, including apex predators. We iterate that conservation measures for apex predators should be prioritised where they are present on working lands, and encourage the collaborative development of customised, cost-effective, multi-species conflict management approaches that facilitate coexistence.
A Generalized Error Component Model with Heteroscedastic Disturbances

This paper generalizes the one-way error component model from the homoskedastic to the heteroskedastic case. Unlike P. Mazodier and A. Trognon's (1978) heteroskedastic two-way error component model, an explicit form for V11/2 is obtained that allows the computation of generalized least squares as a simple modification of J. A. Hausman's (1978) procedure for the homoskedastic case. Two methods for estimating the variance components are proposed. The first estimates the variance components based on ordinary least squares and within residuals. The second uses the minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimation procedure suggested by C. R. Rao (1970). These methods are then applied to the estimation of gasoline demand for eighteen OECD countries over the period 1964-78. Copyright 1988 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
White light emitting diodes with super-high luminous efficacy

We fabricated three types of high luminous efficacy white light emitting diodes (LEDs). The first was a white LED with a high luminous efficacy (ηL) of 249 lm W−1 and a high luminous flux (ϕv) of 14.4 lm at a forward-bias current of 20 mA. This ηL was approximately triple that of a tri-phosphor fluorescent lamp (90 lm W−1). The blue LED used as the excitation source in this white LED had a high output power (ϕe) of 47.1 mW and a high external quantum efficiency (ηex) of 84.3%. The second was a high-power white LED, fabricated from the above high-power blue LED, and had a high ϕe of 756 mW at 350 mA. ϕv and ηL of the high-power white LED were 203 lm and 183 lm W−1 at 350 mA, respectively. The third was a high-power white LED fabricated from four high-power blue LED dies. ϕv and ηL of the high-power white LED were 1913 lm and 135 lm W−1 at 1 A, respectively. The white LED had a higher flux than a 20 W-class fluorescent lamp and 1.5 times the luminous efficacy of a tri-phosphor fluorescent lamp (90 lm W−1).
Optimal Multi-Objective Linearized Impulsive Rendezvous

The multi-objective optimization of linearized impulsive rendezvous is investigated in this paper and this optimization includes the minimum characteristic velocity, the minimum time of flight, and the maximum safety performance index, of which the trajectory safety performance index is defined as the minimum relative distance between a chaser and a target in the chaser's free-flying path. A theoretical model for calculating this safety performance index is provided. The three-objective optimization model is proposed based on the Clohessy-Wiltshire system, wherein a generalized inverse matrix solution for linear equations is applied to avoid handling the terminal equality constraints. The multi-objective nondominated sorting genetic algorithm is employed to obtain the Pareto solution set. The proposed approach is evaluated using the -V-bar homing and +V-bar homing rendezvous missions. It is shown that tradeoffs between time of flight, fuel cost, and passive trajectory safety for rendezvous trajectory is quickly demonstrated by the approach. By identifying multiple solutions, the approach can produce a variety of missions to meet different needs.
Cerebral Hemodynamics and Microvasculature Changes in Relation to White Matter Microstructure After Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: An A-CAP Pilot Study

Advanced neuroimaging techniques show promise as a biomarker for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). However, little research has evaluated cerebral hemodynamics or its relation to white matter microstructure post-mTBI in children. This novel pilot study examined differences in cerebral hemodynamics, as measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and its association with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics in children with mTBI or mild orthopedic injury (OI) to address these gaps. Children 8.00–16.99 years of age with mTBI (n = 9) or OI (n = 6) were recruited in a pediatric emergency department, where acute injury characteristics were assessed. Participants completed DTI twice, post-acutely (2–33 days) and chronically (3 or 6 months), and fNIRS ∼1 month post-injury. Automated deterministic tractography was used to compute DTI metrics. There was reduced absolute phase globally and coherence in the dorsolateral pre-frontal cortex (DLPFC) after mTBI compared to the OI group. Coherence in the DLPFC and absolute phase globally showed distinct associations with fractional anisotropy in interhemispheric white matter pathways. Two fNIRS metrics (coherence and absolute phase) differentiated mTBI from OI in children. Variability in cerebral hemodynamics related to white matter microstructure. The results provide initial evidence that fNIRS may have utility as a clinical biomarker of pediatric mTBI.
Seasonal Adaptation: Geographic Photoperiod–Temperature Patterns Explain Genetic Variation in the Common Vole Tsh Receptor

The vertebrate photoperiodic neuroendocrine system uses the photoperiod as a proxy to time the annual rhythms in reproduction. The thyrotropin receptor (TSHR) is a key protein in the mammalian seasonal reproduction pathway. Its abundance and function can tune sensitivity to the photoperiod. To investigate seasonal adaptation in mammals, the hinge region and the first part of the transmembrane domain of the Tshr gene were sequenced for 278 common vole (Microtus arvalis) specimens from 15 localities in Western Europe and 28 localities in Eastern Europe. Forty-nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; twenty-two intronic and twenty-seven exonic) were found, with a weak or lack of correlation with pairwise geographical distance, latitude, longitude, and altitude. By applying a temperature threshold to the local photoperiod–temperature ellipsoid, we obtained a predicted critical photoperiod (pCPP) as a proxy for the spring onset of local primary food production (grass). The obtained pCPP explains the distribution of the genetic variation in Tshr in Western Europe through highly significant correlations with five intronic and seven exonic SNPs. The relationship between pCPP and SNPs was lacking in Eastern Europe. Thus, Tshr, which plays a pivotal role in the sensitivity of the mammalian photoperiodic neuroendocrine system, was targeted by natural selection in Western European vole populations, resulting in the optimized timing of seasonal reproduction.
The complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy (Thelypteridaceae)

Abstract Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy (Thelypteridaceae) is endemic to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and Asia Pacific. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of C. dentata was assembled using next-generation sequencing data. The complete chloroplast genome was 151,662 bp in length and had a typical quadripartite structure, which consisted of a small single-copy region (21,776 bp) and a large single-copy region (82,624 bp) that were separated by a pair of inverted repeats (23,631 bp each). A total of 131 genes were predicted, including 89 protein coding (CDS), 34 tRNA, and eight rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome was 42.48%. Based on the concatenated shared unique CDS sequence dataset, phylogenetic analysis using both the maximum-likelihood and the Bayesian inference methods revealed that C. dentata is placed within Thelypteridaceae and is closely related to Christella appendiculata. Such genetic information would be useful for studies on the evolution pattern in ferns. The availability of chloroplast genome sequence for the species also paves the way to resolving the complicated relationship among members of Christella.
Athermalization of a silica-based waveguide with a UV-induced Bragg grating on a crystallized glass substrate

To realize athermal glass films, formation of Ge-B-SiO/sub 2/ and F-B-SiO/sub 2/ films by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) was examined on several substrates with various thermal expansion coefficients. Waveguide Bragg gratings were fabricated by irradiation with a KrF excimer laser light through a phase mask. A temperature dependence of the Bragg wavelength as low as 4 pm//spl deg/C was obtained in a 6GeO/sub 2/-13B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-81SiO/sub 2/ (mol%) core and 13B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-87SiO/sub 2/ (mol%) cladding waveguide or in a 13B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-87SiO/sub 2/ (mol%) core, 6GeO/sub 2/-13B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-81SiO/sub 2/ (mol%) grating layer and 6F/sub 2/-10B/sub 2/O/sub 3/-84SiO/sub 2/ (mol%) cladding waveguide on crystallized glass substrates with a thermal expansion coefficient of -2.0 /spl times/ 10/sup -6///spl deg/C. Such temperature sensitivity is one third of conventional waveguide Bragg grating devices.
Transmissive Metasurfaces Assisted Wireless Communications on Railways: Channel Strength Evaluation and Performance Analysis

We propose a new wireless paradigm for railways – transmissive metasurface (TMS) assisted communications. It compensates for the Doppler shift brought by high mobility and reduces signal degradation due to train carriages. Specifically, the elements of the TMS panel attached to train windows manipulate the links between the base station (BS) and the onboard users. One fundamental problem with it is: does the channel introduced by TMS outperform the traditional direct channel? To answer this, we compare the gains of direct and cascaded channels and introduce the cascaded-outperform-direct probability (CODP), which is the probability that the latter exceeds the former. We then derive two simplified closed-form CODP expressions by approximating the cascaded channel gain as mixed Gaussian and Gamma distributions. Moreover, BS-related parameters impact the CODP; we show that the CODP has (i) global maximum points concerning the azimuth angle of the path from the BS to the TMS, the distance from the BS to the railway, and the BS height, respectively, and (ii) a minimum point in terms of the azimuth angle of the path from the BS to the TMS. Finally, we provide numerical results to verify our analysis and derivations.
Resonance Properties of Bi-Helix Media at Microwaves

ABSTRACT In this paper, a novel inclusion shape (bi-helix) for artificial magnetic composites is studied. The developed analytical model is used to analyze the eigenmodes and frequency dispersion of the polarizabilities. Experimental investigations (cavity measurements) reveal the main features of the physical phenomena of electromagnetic excitation of individual bi-helix particles. Sheet samples of bi-helix composites are studied by free space measurements. The results lead to the conclusion that the use of new particles can help to improve electromagnetic parameters of magnetic composites. In particular, the magnetic moments appear to be larger than in conventional inclusions, and the resonance frequency of the magnetic permeability is different from that of the effective permittivity.
Relay-Assisted Platooning in Wireless Networks: A Joint Communication and Control Approach

This paper addresses the problem of the joint design of the mobile communication system and the control scheme for enabling vehicle platooning applications. Vehicles communicate essential information for platooning control through multi-hop vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and are assisted in this task by Road Side Units (RSU), when available. While classical approaches, adopted in previous and current mobile systems, consider the application needs solely as requirements for the communication network, we advocate a bi-directional interaction of application and communication network. We first study the impact of different communication strategies on the application-level performance, namely the inter-vehicle distance in the platoon. Such schemes introduce a tradeoff between the packet delivery rate and the additional delay introduced by relaying. In order to assess the impact of both metrics, we start by developing a Markov model for the different communication links (inter-vehicle and vehicle-to-RSU). We then propose a cross-layer approach that adapts the application layer (platoon control parameters) to the observed Medium Access Control (MAC) layer performance. We demonstrate via simulations the benefit of the proposed relaying scheme, and that a joint design of application and communication systems is essential for enabling the integration of industrial applications in future generation networks.
A THREE DIMENSIONAL FINITE ELEMENT METHOD FOR A BIOLOGICAL ACTIVE SOFT TISSUE

We present a nite element method for large deformations response of an active incom- pressible nonlinear elastic and transversely isotropic soft tissue. The functional form of the strain energy function presented describes the mechanical properties of the active biological soft tissue and uses a time-dependent activation function. In addition we give the nite element equations for such a constitutive law. Assuming negligible body forces and inertia, a three-dimensional cylindrical ele- ment is used to obtain solution to an active contraction of a nite thick-wall anisotropic cylinder. The problem is chosen for the existence of an exact solution for the nite element model validation. R esum e. Nous pr esentons une m ethode d' el ements nis pour la simulation en elasticit e non lin eaire et en grandes d eformations des d eplacements d'un tissu musculaire actif, incompressible, transversalement isotrope. La fonction d' energie pr esent ee ici d ecrit les propri et es m ecaniques du tissu actif et fait intervenir une fonction d'activation d ependant du temps. Supposant les forces internes et d'inertie n egligeables, nous utilisons un el ement cylindrique pour calculer les d eplacements lors de la contraction active d'un cylindre ni a paroi epaisse et anisotrope. Les cas tests choisis permettent de valider la m ethode gr^ ace a la connaissance d'une solution analytique.