Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Measuring shared responses across subjects using intersubject correlation

Our capacity to jointly represent information about the world underpins our social experience. By leveraging one individual’s brain activity to model another’s, we can measure shared information across brains—even in dynamic, naturalistic scenarios where an explicit response model may be unobtainable. Introducing experimental manipulations allows us to measure, for example, shared responses between speakers and listeners, or between perception and recall. In this tutorial, we develop the logic of intersubject correlation (ISC) analysis and discuss the family of neuroscientific questions that stem from this approach. We also extend this logic to spatially distributed response patterns and functional network estimation. We provide a thorough and accessible treatment of methodological considerations specific to ISC analysis, and outline best practices.
An Investigation Into the Advancements of Edge-AI Capabilities for Structural Health Monitoring

The aim of this study is to investigate the capabilities of edge-AI in the field of structural health monitoring, with a particular emphasis on detecting cracks in concrete bridges. Comprehensive literature suggests that edge-AI approaches have not been utilized in the structural health monitoring domain (SHM). This article proposed two novel frameworks: an edge-AI framework for the SHM domain and a cloud-edge adaptive intelligence for crack detection (CEAIC) to utilize edge-AI approaches for real-time scenarios. The framework incorporates a novel edge-AI framework, the crowd intelligence approach, and the CrANET framework to perform weakly supervised crack segmentation. Quantization approaches are used to transform the deep learning model into an optimized model to be compatible with edge devices. The edge-AI experiments for the cracks detection task are conducted using Kneron KL520 and Google Coral development board. A responsive website has been developed to demonstrate the real-world implications of the CEAIC framework. This study has the potential to provide a cost-effective and reliable solution for real-time monitoring and assessment of concrete bridge cracks, thereby improving the safety and longevity of bridges. The outcomes of this research endeavor will furnish us with invaluable insights regarding the feasibility and potential advantages of incorporating edge AI into the SHM domain.
Landslide vulnerability mapping using GIS and spatial statistical analysis

数値標高データ, 地質図, 自然環境情報GISデータ, 地すべり分布図ならびにGISソフトウェアを使用して, 富山県全域を対象とした地すべり関連GISデータを整備した。 このデータセットから, 有効起伏量, 高度分散異常量, 地質区分, 構造線からの距離, 植生区分の指標データを作成し, 既存の地すべり防止区域の面積率を事前確率としたWeights of Evidence解析を行ったところ, 高度分散異常量>地質区分および植生区分>有効起伏量および構造線からの距離の順で地すべり地との関連が高いと判断された。 この解析より得られたスコアマップからROC曲線を作成して精度検証を行い, 偽陽性率が0. 2のときの地すべり評価マップを作成した。 定量的, デジタル的に作成した本研究のマップは, 定性的, アナログ的に作成された従来の地すべり危険地・危険度マップを補完することが可能であると考えられた。
Surgical management of periventricular glioma: decision-making and preoperative assessment of resectability

Objective. Periventricular gliomas (PVG) are deep-seated tumors with wide invasion into cerebral core structures accompanied by high rates of postoperative deterioration and early relapse. The purpose of this study was to define the preoperative neuroimaging signs as the factors determining the early postoperative outcome in patients with high-grade PVG. Materials and methods. The clinical records of 132 (50 females and 82 males) consecutive patients with a mean age 45.9 years (range 21–69) undergoing image-guided surgery for PVG at a single academic institution were retrospectively analyzed. There were 52 (39.4 %) WHO grade III gliomas, and 80 (60.6 %) of patients had WHO grade IV gliomas. Results. Postoperative median KPS score significantly raised from 67.4 to 82.0, as well as a number of patients with the KPS score ≥ 70: from 18 (13.6 %) to 109 (82.6 %) with p<0.01. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that poor postoperative functional status was associated with basal ganglia involvement (OR 2.75, 95% CI 0.93–8.09, p = 0.07), the higher EOR grade (OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.15–9.43, p = 0.03), and hydrocephalus (OR 5.08, 95% CI 1.49–17.35, p = 0.09). Total/subtotal resection was carried out in 84 (63.6 %) cases; in 48 (36.4 %) cases, the partial resection was performed. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that three factors decreased the likelihood of total/subtotal resection in PVG: basal ganglia invasion (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06–0.55, p< 0.01), minor extraventricular part (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.17–0.94, p = 0.04), and contralateral side extension (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16–0.92, p = 0.03). In contrast, the presence of tumor-associated cyst (OR 3,73, 95% CI 1.32–10.54, p = 0.01) increased odds of total/subtotal resection. The four-tear grading system of PVG integrating statistically identified factors of total/subtotal resection and risks of postoperative neurological deterioration was developed. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that overall median survival was 17.7 ± 1.9 months for patients with high-grade PVG. The survival analysis using Cox regression model revealed that age over 45 years (HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.06–2.99; p = 0.03) and higher tumor WHO grade (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.27–3.95; p = 0.005) significantly decreased survival rates. Conclusions. The proposed grading system provides the possibility of preoperative evaluation of PVG resectability that in combination with 3D surgical planning and image-guided resection allows performing maximal safe resections and preventing of postoperative neurological deficits.
An Improved Mutated Predictive Control for Two-Level Voltage Source Inverter With Reduced Switching Losses

This paper presents an approach called the mutated model predictive control strategy to reduce switching losses and enhance the efficiency of voltage source inverter (VSI) operating with a three-phase configuration. The high number of semiconductor commutations in VSIs can lead to significant switching losses, which reduces efficiency and requires large heat sinks. Conventional model predictive control (MPC) applies switching states directly to the VSI without modulation; the selection of the optimal state is accomplished by evaluating criterion. However, since the two zero vectors (V0, V7) generate identical output voltage vectors(VVs), only a single zero voltage vector can be chosen. In contrast, the proposed method uses both zero vectors based on the operating condition. The approach involves using a switching strategy with pre-condition to select the suitable zero vector between (V0, V7) and apply it for the next sampling period. The efficacy of the proposed approach is validated by conducting simulations utilizing Matlab/Simulink and PLECS software, as well as an experimental test setup is utilized, which includes a three-phase VSI connected to a resistive-inductive load. The VSI is controlled using a dSPACE MicroLabBOX. The results clearly demonstrate the superiority of the proposed control strategy, specifically in terms of reducing switching losses and improving the efficiency of the VSI.
From centralized to distributed mobility management. A contribution to future mobile networks

Over the last few years, IP-based mobility management in the Internet has been one of the most active research fields in communications. Mobility management protocols are responsible for maintaining the ongoing communications while the user roams among distinct networks and also to provide reachability to the mobile users in such heterogeneous environment in terms of access. Existing IP mobility support protocols are all based on a centralized mobility anchor that manages the traffic and signaling of the mobile nodes. However, centralized mobility management protocols need to be redesigned in order to cope with the recent trends in mobile Internet and current increasing mobile data traffic demand. In order to address these limitations which inherently occur in Centralized Mobility Management (CMM) protocols, Distributed Mobility Management (DMM) solutions are being developed to efficiently handle the current mobile traffic explosion. In DMM, the core idea is that the mobility anchors are distributed within the network, topologically closer to the users, with the aim to provide an almost optimal routing support and an efficient use of network resources to improve the scalability required for next generation mobile networks. However, and as already alluded above, despite the fact that a number of mobility management approaches are in-design phase towards a more distributed operation aiming to mitigate the problems related to centralized operation, there are instances where DMM incurs higher costs and the performance of the network might be compromised. In fact, in some of these cases, CMM seems to solve the mobility problem more efficiently and therefore should be preferred. In this context, future mobile network architectures might potentially exhibit a hybrid centralized-distributed behavior in which the mobility management of some traffic will be kept centralized, while mobility support for other applications can be distributed. To cope with this evolution, the thesis concerns analysing, designing, and evaluating IPv6 mobility management protocols. Specifically, we propose three novel approaches which cover each of this evolutionary stage. Our first scheme, LinkWork Mobile MPLS is a centralized solution. The second proposal called DM3 is based on the distributed paradigm. Finally, the third proposal is a Hybrid DMM solution, suitable to tackle future mobile network architectures. In order to evaluate the proposed schemes, we carry out analysis and simulations to measure the performance of the protocols in terms of mobility cost and handover latency.
DEPREMLERDE GÖZLENEN ETKİLERİN GÖNÜLLÜ KATILIMIYLA HIZLI BİR ŞEKİLDE TOPLANMASI

Bu calisma, afete mudahale calismalarindaki bilgi triyajinin zorluklarini gonullu kaynakli veriler ile nasil kolaylastirilabilecegini gostermektedir. Son zamanlarda, afet yonetiminde verinin toplanmasinda yeni yaklasimlar gorulmektedir. Bilgi ve iletisim, riskli davranislari onlemenin en onemli kose taslarindan olmasindan dolayi kitle kaynak yonetimiyle sismik riskin azaltilmasinda ileri teknolojiler kullanilir. Ulkemizin bulundugu cografi bolgedeki doga kaynakli tehlike turleri ve teror olaylari basta olmak uzere gundelik yasantimizda karsilasabilecegimiz her turlu afet ve acil durum olaylarinin gercek zamanli tespiti ve raporlanmasi oldukca onemlidir. Insanlarin can ve mal guvenligini saglamak, karsilasilan afetin etki alani ve etki derecesini hizli ve guvenilir bir sekilde tespit etmek amaciyla afet veya acil durum olaylarinin sistematik bir sekilde raporlanmasi gerekmektedir. Her bir afet veya acil durum olayi mekânsal veri ozelligi de tasidigindan, bu olaylar cografi bilgi sistemi cozumlerinde gercek nesneler olarak tanimlanir ve bu nesneler arasindaki iliskilerin modellenmesine yonelik veri tabanlari gelistirilir. Hizli durum tespitine yonelik bu calismalarda kitle-kaynak (crowdsourcing) yonetiminden etkin bir sekilde yararlanilir. Kitle-kaynak yeni bir olgu olmayip gecmiste de kullanici katilimlarini toplamak icin bircok durumda kullanilmistir [1]. Bu calismada cografi bilgi teknolojileri ve mobil uygulama kullanilarak gonullu katilimi ile depremlerde yeni bir hasar belirleme yontemi arastirilmistir. Bu metot, depremi ilk hisseden yani depremden ilk olarak etkilenen kisilerin gozlemleri, tanikliklarina dayanir. Gercek zamanli bilgiler depremden etkilenen kisilerle dogrudan baglanti kurularak toplanmaktadir. Arastirma, afet ve acil durum anlarinda hasar ve kayiplarinin azaltilmasi, toplumsal bilgilendirme hizmetleri, kitle kaynak kullanimi konularindaki literature onemli katkilar saglamayi hedeflemektedir.
Selective mPGES-1 Inhibitor Ameliorated Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in the Rat Model

Endogenous prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis conditions. However, the overexpression of PGE2 in response to various inflammatory stimulations is an important target of anti-inflammatory drugs. Both inducible COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and mPGES-1 (microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1) enzymes are responsible for the inflammatory overexpressed PGE2 production. Among them, mPGES-1 is regarded as a more promising ideal target for anti-inflammatory drugs without the gastrointestinal and cardiovascular side effects. As our continuous research for the discovery of novel mPGES-1 inhibitors, we have characterized MPO-0144 as a selective mPGES-1 inhibitor with a selectivity index of >270 over COX-1 and >25 over COX-2, respectively. Herein, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of MPO-0144 in an adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model. MPO-0144 attenuated the inflammatory responses without severe gastrointestinal side effects and organ toxicities. These overall data suggest a possibility that MPO-0144 downregulates PGE2 production by potent mPGES-1 and weak COX-2 inhibitory activities, thus attenuating the paw swelling in AIA (adjuvant-induced arthritis) rat models. MPO-0144 also exhibited favorable ADMET profiles. However, MPO-0144 did not show any inhibitory effects on human mPGES-1 enzyme at a high concentration. Therefore, MPO-0144 represents a valuable pharmacological tool for the study of regulation of inducible mPGES-1 in an inflammatory arthritis rat model.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL DEPTH STRUCTURE OF THE CRUST BENEATH THE TOHOKU DISTRICT, THE NORTHEASTERN JAPAN ARC

A new technique for determining the three-dimensional seismic velocity structure of a crust is proposed. The principle of the technique is to relate travel time anomalies only to those thickness anomalies of the granitic and the basaltic layers, whose seismic velocities have been shown to be almost constant in the lateral direction at least beneath the land area of Japan. We determine the lateral variations of the depth of the Conrad discontinuity beneath the Tohoku District, the northeastern part of Honshu, Japan by applying the technique to arrival time data from local earthquakes. The results show that the Conrad is deep beneath the central part of the Tohoku District and becomes shallower toward both the eastern and western coast lines. They also show that the Conrad becomes deeper to the north and is located at a depth ranging from 14 to 18km. The resulting Conrad depth at the western part of the profile along the Kesennuma-Oga is consistent with that derived from explosion seismic experiment. However, our result in the eastern part of the profile suggests that the Conrad is located at a depth of about 14km, which is deeper by 6km than that derived from explosion seismic experiment.
Waterbomb Origami Mechanism Pneumatic Manipulator Design Based on DH Parameter Method and Symmetric Folding Hypothesis

As robotics and materials science develop, origami mechanical structures have gradually attracted attention in the research field due to their lightweight, foldable, and multifunctional characteristics. As one of them, the water elastic origami mechanism, with its unique structure and flexibility, provides a new perspective and possibility for the design of pneumatic manipulators. This study proposes a research on the design of a pneumatic manipulator for a water elastic paper folding mechanism by the DH parameter method and the symmetric folding assumption, in response to the issue of insensitivity of the manipulator. Firstly, the dynamic factors of the hydroelastic mechanical mechanism, including its degree of freedom and reaction force, are explored. Secondly, the DH parameter method is used to design and optimize the configuration of the paper folding manipulator, making its operation more accurate and capable of handling more types of tasks. Finally, the symmetrical folding assumption is used to guide the design of the water elastic origami mechanism, in order to create a more stable and reliable pneumatic manipulator. Results showed that the recognition accuracy of cola bottles, dental floss boxes, cubes, cylinders, sponge cubes, and glasses boxes reached 100%. From this, it can be seen that these data clearly demonstrate that the object recognition system can maintain high recognition accuracy for various different objects and shapes, proving the effectiveness and reliability of the system.
Microbial divergence and evolution. The case of anammox bacteria

Species differentiation and the appearance of novel diversity on Earth is a major issue to understand the past and future of microbial evolution. Herein, we propose the analysis of a singular evolutive example, the case of microorganisms carrying out the process of anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation). Anammox represents a singular physiology active on Earth from ancient times and, at present, this group is still represented by a relatively limited number of species carrying out a specific metabolism within the Phylum Planctomycetota. The key enzyme on the anammox pathway is hydrazine dehydrogenase (HDH) which has been used as a model in this study. HDH and rRNA (16S subunit) phylogenies are in agreement suggesting a monophyletic origin. The diversity of this singular phylogenetic group is represented by a few enriched bacterial consortia awaiting to be cultured as monospecific taxa. The apparent evolution of the HDH genes in these anammox bacteria is highly related to the diversification of the anammox clades and their genomes as pointed by phylogenomics, their GC content and codon usage profile. This study represents a clear case where bacterial evolution presents a paralleled genome, gene and species diversification through time from a common ancestor; a scenario that most times is masked by a web-like phylogeny and the huge complexity within the prokaryotes. Besides, this contribution suggests that microbial evolution of the anammox bacteria has followed an ordered, vertical diversification through Earth history and will present a potentially similar speciation fate in the future.
A Novel Design of Random Number Generators Using Chaos-Based Extremum Coding

This paper proposes a new chaos-based extremum coding method to realize a true random number generator (RNG). Based on the chain rule, we innovatively introduce two parameters into the dynamics of chaotic systems to modulate the speed and amplitude of state responses. Then, by discretizing the continuous modulated chaotic system, the corresponding discrete chaotic system can be obtained, which allows the use of low-cost micro-controllers for implementation, enhancing system stability, and reducing costs. Also, a novel chaos-based extremum coding approach is proposed for generating a random extremum-coded sequence (RECS). Using this RECS to switch and decide modulation parameters significantly improves the randomness of the sequences generated by the RNGs. To highlight the contribution of this RNG design, the randomness and security of the RNGs are evaluated by statistical tests such as NIST, Diehard, and ENT. Through comparisons with recent published works, the results show that the proposed chaotic extremum-coded RNG can demonstrate superior performance with a higher level of randomness.
Perceived School Environment and Physical Activity Behaviour among Flemish Adolescents

The first aim of this study was to examine and compare in-school and out-of-school physical activity in a sample of Flemish adolescents aged 15–18 years. Secondly, this study aimed at determining whether sociodemographic, sports club membership and perceived school physical activity (PA) environment variables were predictors of school-related and leisure-time PA. The sample comprised 436 boys and 312 girls with a mean age of 16,2 years (SD = 1,3). Socio-demographic variables (gender, age and education type), PA behaviour in diverse domains, sports club membership and perceived social and physical school environment variables related to PA were assessed by questionnaire. Average in-school PA levels were significantly lower than selfreported amounts of out-of-school PA and accounted for only 5%–10% of total PA. This pattern was observed among both boys and girls and was consistent across the different grades. A positive agreement was observed between in-school and out-of-school PA. However, approximately half of the adolescents (53,9%) with the lowest in-school activity compensated out of school. Education type (general education) and perceived physical school environment regarding PA were significant predictors of school-related PA (summation of in-school PA and active transport to school). Gender (boys) and current sports club membership were significant predictors of leisure-time PA (summation of out-of-school PA and active transport during leisure time). Our findings highlight the importance of development of school-community sport links in promoting PA among adolescents.
Chemical assessment of Icelandic geothermal fluids for direct applications

This research deals with the chemical assessment of geothermal fluids for direct applications from low-temperature geothermal fields in Iceland. In addition, geothermal brine, geothermally heated groundwater, cold spring water, seawater or a mixture of two of these different fluids were evaluated for direct use or for use via a heat exchanger for space heating, balneotherapy, agriculture, aquaculture, and industrial applications. In order to fulfil the objectives, all the water samples were analysed and compared with the standards and guidelines for physicochemical parameters as well as for trace elements. The results revealed that, in some cases, there is the possibility of scaling and corrosion from low-temperature geothermal waters, brine and heated groundwater. The risk of amorphous silica scaling was observed only for brine water and the risk of magnesium silicate scaling was observed both for low-temperature geothermal water and heated groundwater. No scaling is likely to occur due to the mixing of brine water from Svartsengi and cold groundwater from Lágar at 40°C and 15°C, which are the ideal temperatures for balneotherapy and agriculture. Geothermal brine is effective for balneotherapeutic applications. A mixture of 37% brine and 63% cold groundwater at a temperature of 40°C also appears to be effective for this purpose as is sea water if it is heated to a temperature of 40°C. Some geothermal waters are permissible for agricultural application with respect to EC, TDS, sodium percent, SAR, boron toxicity and trace elements. Brine and sea water should not be used for this purpose. Dissolved H2S gas in geothermal fluids was identified as a major limiting factor for aquaculture applications, even after mixing with 90% cold groundwater. Geothermal fluids that contain H2S are not suitable for food processing industries because of their taste and odour and sometimes because of high concentrations of trace elements such as fluoride and boron. Cold spring waters are suitable for this purpose.