Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Area and Energy Efficient Short-Circuit-Logic-Based STT-MRAM Crossbar Array for Binary Neural Networks

Spin-transfer-torque magnetoresistive random-access memory (STT-MRAM) is a promising candidate for future memory systems, however, implementing highly parallel neuro-inspired computing with standard STT-MRAM arrays faces the power consumption challenges due to the low resistance characteristics of the magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ). In this brief, we propose a novel in-memory computing (IMC) architecture for binary neural network (BNN). The proposed design is constructed with short-circuit-logic-based 3-transistor and 2-MTJ (3T2J-S) bit-cell to implement XNOR operations and series-connected crossbar array for bit-counting operations. By further sharing the active region, the layout area of the proposed 3T2J-S bit-cell is reduced by 20% compared with the conventional STT-MRAM crossbar bit-cell. Moreover, the proposed design can optimize the write asymmetry issue of STT-MRAM, thereby reducing the voltage required for the write operation. Furthermore, the proposed 3T2J-S bit-cell has the same on/off ratio as the conventional one, and can increase the inference frequency by 10.6% due to the reduction of the bit-cell resistance.
Performance of regional climate model RegCM4 with a hydrostatic or non‐hydrostatic dynamic core at simulating precipitation extremes in China

In this study, we investigated the performance of RegCM4 with a hydrostatic or non‐hydrostatic dynamic core and different land surface models at simulating the mean and extreme precipitation during 1991–1999 in China and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (JJJ) in northern China. The resolutions were 12 km with the whole of China included and 3 km nested over the JJJ region. The observed daily precipitation data comprised the CN05.1 data set from China Meteorological Administration. First, RegCM4 with a hydrostatic dynamic core forced by the Max Planck Institute Earth System Model (MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR) that participated in CMIP6 was used to simulate the east Asia area at a resolution of 12 km. Next, the RegCM4 results with 12 km resolution forced RegCM4 with a non‐hydrostatic dynamic core (RegCM4‐NH) to run over the JJJ region with a 3 km convection‐permitting scale through one‐way nesting. The results showed that RegCM4 with a hydrostatic and non‐hydrostatic core could obtain more detailed seasonal and annual precipitation in China and the JJJ region relative to MPI‐ESM1.2‐HR although their performance varied over different regions. RegCM4 with the community land surface model 4.5 (CLM4.5) generally performed better at simulating the mean and extreme precipitation over the four subregions of China than that with the Biosphere–Atmosphere Transfer Scheme because of more detailed descriptions of land surface processes of CLM4.5. RegCM4‐NH with convection‐permitting resolution improved the simulations of heavy precipitation extremes over JJJ compared with RegCM4 with a hydrostatic core and resolution of 12 km. In addition, RegCM4‐NH with CLM4.5 performed better at simulating heavy precipitation extremes over JJJ compared with all other simulations, with higher correlation coefficients and larger relative root mean squared errors.
Development of 3D-Printed Bicompartmental Devices by Dual-Nozzle Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) for Colon-Specific Drug Delivery

Dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling (FDM) is a 3D printing technique that allows for the simultaneous printing of two polymeric filaments and the design of complex geometries. Hence, hybrid formulations and structurally different sections can be combined into the same dosage form to achieve customized drug release kinetics. The objective of this study was to develop a novel bicompartmental device by dual-nozzle FDM for colon-specific drug delivery. Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were selected as matrix-forming polymers of the outer pH-dependent and the inner water-soluble compartments, respectively. 5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) was selected as the model drug. Drug-free HPMCAS and drug-loaded PVA filaments suitable for FDM were extruded, and their properties were assessed by thermal, X-ray diffraction, microscopy, and texture analysis techniques. 5-ASA (20% w/w) remained mostly crystalline in the PVA matrix. Filaments were successfully printed into bicompartmental devices combining an outer cylindrical compartment and an inner spiral-shaped compartment that communicates with the external media through an opening. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray tomography analysis were performed to guarantee the quality of the 3D-printed devices. In vitro drug release tests demonstrated a pH-responsive biphasic release pattern: a slow and sustained release period (pH values of 1.2 and 6.8) controlled by drug diffusion followed by a faster drug release phase (pH 7.4) governed by polymer relaxation/erosion. Overall, this research demonstrates the feasibility of the dual-nozzle FDM technique to obtain an innovative 3D-printed bicompartmental device for targeting 5-ASA to the colon.
Advances in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer: implementation in Latin America and the Caribbean

ABSTRACT This report describes the status of childhood cancer control initiatives in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Progress between 2017 and 2023 is measured using the outcome indicators from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) childhood cancer logic model aligned with the World Health Organization Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC). This report also describes the advances, barriers, and facilitators for the implementation of the GICC at the Regional level. Methods used in this report encompassed a comprehensive approach, incorporating a literature review, interviews, surveys, and a Delphi study developed by the technical team of the PAHO Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Department and by the GICC LAC working group. Since 2017, there has been a substantial increase in the number of countries that have included childhood cancer in their national regulations. Currently, 21 LAC countries are involved in the GICC implementation, activities, and dialogues. However, the objectives for 2030 will only be achieved if Member States overcome the barriers to accelerating the pace of initiative implementation. There is an urgent need to increase the efforts in childhood cancer control in LAC, especially regarding the prioritization of timely detection, essential diagnostics, access to cancer treatment, palliative care, and close follow-up of children and adolescents with cancer.
The Conservative Dimension in the Regeneration Projects of Military Urban Brownfields: The Case of the Historic City of Tlemcen

"The Regeneration of urban brownfields is currently one of the strategies for densification and urban sustainability. However, as an architectural intervention, it is not an easy task and usually leads to two opposing dilemmas; demolition and/or conservation. This difficulty was observed in the regeneration projects of the colonial military brownfields in the city of Tlemcen, where the actors involved adopted different approaches, some of which damaged the existing architectural heritage and its values. The aim of this article is therefore to analyse the transformation processes of the military brownfields studied and to assess their conservation dimension. The latter is considered to be an indicator that makes it possible, on the one hand, to detect the modality of appropriation of the colonial architectural heritage within the projects analysed and, on the other hand, to assess their sustainability from a heritage perspective. This research was therefore based on the following scientific methods: in-situ observation, historical analysis, comparative analysis and semi-structured interviews. The results obtained for the two main study cases showed that the regeneration of the Bedeau barracks has a higher conservative dimension than that of the African hunter’s barracks and can consequently be considered more sustainable in heritage terms. "
PIPTO: Precise Inertial-Based Pipeline for Threshold-Based Fall Detection Using Three-Axis Accelerometers

After traffic-related incidents, falls are the second cause of human death, presenting the highest percentage among the elderly. Aiming to address this problem, the research community has developed methods built upon different sensors, such as wearable, ambiance, or hybrid, and various techniques, such as those that are machine learning- and heuristic based. Concerning the models used in the former case, they classify the input data between fall and no fall, and specific data dimensions are required. Yet, when algorithms that adopt heuristic techniques, mainly using thresholds, are combined with the previous models, they reduce the computational cost. To this end, this article presents a pipeline for detecting falls through a threshold-based technique over the data provided by a three-axis accelerometer. This way, we propose a low-complexity system that can be adopted from any acceleration sensor that receives information at different frequencies. Moreover, the input lengths can differ, while we achieve to detect multiple falls in a time series of sum vector magnitudes, providing the specific time range of the fall. As evaluated on several datasets, our pipeline reaches high performance results at 90.40% and 91.56% sensitivity on MMsys and KFall, respectively, while the generated specificity is 93.96% and 85.90%. Lastly, aiming to facilitate the research community, our framework, entitled PIPTO (drawing inspiration from the Greek verb “πι´πτω”, signifying “to fall”), is open sourced in Python and C.
EMG-Based Cross-Subject Silent Speech Recognition Using Conditional Domain Adversarial Network

Machine learning techniques have achieved great success in electromyography (EMG) decoding, but EMG-based cross-subject silent speech recognition (SSR) received less attention because of its high individual variability. Therefore, this article explores the field of cross-subject SSR to improve the recognition performance of EMG data collected from new subjects. First, this article reports on applying time-series features and 1-D convolutional neural networks (1D-CNNs) for cross-subject SSR. Second, this article proposes using a conditional domain adversarial network (CDAN) to solve the problem of reduced cross-subject SSR accuracy in the few samples’ data sets. It innovatively integrates the maximum mean difference (MMD) loss to get an improved CDAN (ICDAN). While 1D-CNN is a feature extraction network that can meet the needs of cross-subject SSR in large data sets, the recognition effect will be weakened in small data sets. Adding an ICDAN network after the feature extraction network can improve the problem of data distribution differences between the two domains, and further enhance recognition performance. The results show that the 1D-CNN model based on time-series features yields better results in the SSR of new subjects, and the ICDAN model can further improve the classification accuracy of cross-subjects in a few sample data sets by 14.88%.
Hijab and the Republic: Uncovering the French Headscarf Debate

The hijab is arguably the most discussed and controversial item of women's clothing today. It has become the primary global symbol of female Muslim identity for Muslims and non-Muslims alike, and is the focus of much debate in the confrontation between Islam and the West. Nowhere has this debate been more acute or complex than in France. In "Hijab and the Republic", Bronwyn Winter provides a riveting account of the controversial 2003 French law to ban Islamic headscarves and other religious signs from public schools. While much has been written on the subject, Winter offers a unique feminist perspective, carefully delineating its political and cultural aspects.To understand the current controversy, the author traces the history of secularism in France and the shift in interpretations of Islam before turning to a review of the more recent past. Drawing on both scholarly literature and popular commentary, she examines the headscarf debate from its inception in 1989 through fluctuations in its intensity in public consciousness over the 1990s to its surging significance in the wake of 9/11 and the consequent shift in global politics. Winter argues convincingly that the issue must be understood within the specific historical and cultural context of France and through a feminist lens, since gender is fundamental to the debate about veiling Muslim women. "Hijab and the Republic" presents a fresh and richly detailed examination of a subject that remains at the forefront of discussion about Islam and the West.
Extension program needs by farmers in Tanzania: a descriptive study

The agricultural sector in Tanzania is the backbone of economic and social development of her citizens who’s liveli-hood depends on this sector for more than seventy five percent of the economy. Until significant efforts are undertaken to the make the agricultural sector move forward, Tanzania will lag behind in food security and abject poverty alleviation. Strengthening agricultural extension services is paramount for attainment of genuine economic growth in the country and sub-Saharan Africa as a whole. This descriptive study explored the extent to which Extension Programs meet farmer needs in the Ngorongoro district of Tanzania. The main objectives of this study were to: (1) identify the perceptions of farmers regarding extension program needs, (2) identify the priorities farmers place on selected extension programs, (3) identify types of recommended extension improved practices that have been implemented by district farmers during the past 10 years, (4) identify the factors that affect implementation of Extension program recommended practices that address farmer priorities and (5) identify selected demographic data and analyze comparisons among variables. A descriptive survey research design was used in collecting and analyzing the data. A questionnaire was designed and administered using a direct interview. Information was collected from randomly selected 139 respondents from two clusters (one cluster for pure pastoralists and another cluster for agro-pastoralists) from Ngorongoro district, Arusha region in Tanzania. Collected information was coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Descriptive statistical parameters such as frequencies, percentages, and chi-squares were used to report findings.
First report on detection of Hepatozoon ayorgbor in Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides and Hepatozoon colubri in Haemaphysalis sulcata and Hyalomma anatolicum: risks of spillover of Hepatozoon spp. from wildlife to domestic animals

This study aimed to detect Hepatozoon spp. in ticks infesting asymptomatic domestic animals and to provide insight into their potential spillover from wild to domestic animals. In total, 537 tick specimens were collected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, and morphologically identified. The most prevalent tick species was Haemaphysalis cornupunctata (69; 12.8%), followed by Haemaphysalis kashmirensis (62; 11.5%), Rhipicephalus microplus (58; 10.8%), Haemaphysalis montgomeryi (51; 9.5%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (49; 9.1%), each Haemaphysalis bispinosa and Haemaphysalis sulcata (43; 8.0%), each Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus turanicus (37; 6.9%), Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides (33; 6.1%) Hyalomma scupense (30; 5.6%), and Hyalomma isaaci (25; 4.7%). The extracted DNA from a subset of each tick species was subjected to PCR to amplify 18S rRNA fragments of Hepatozoon spp. By BLAST analysis, the Hepatozoon sp. detected in Hy. anatolicum infesting cows and in Ha. sulcata infesting sheep showed 99.7% maximum identity with Hepatozoon colubri. Similarly, the Hepatozoon sp. detected in R. haemaphysaloides infesting goats shared 99.49% maximum identity with Hepatozoon ayorgbor, and the Hepatozoon sp. detected in R. sanguineus infesting dogs exhibited 99.7% identity with Hepatozoon canis. Having an overall infection rate (9.3%; 16/172), the highest infection rate was recorded for each H. canis, and H. colubri (3.5%; 6/172), followed by H. ayorgbor (2.3%; 4/172). In the phylogenetic tree, H. colubri clustered with corresponding species from Iran, H. ayorgbor clustered with the same species from Croatia, Ghana, and Portugal, and H. canis clustered with the conspecifics from Iran, Israel, Romania, and Zambia. Regarding the potential spillover of Hepatozoon spp. from wildlife through ticks, free ranging animals was at higher risk compared to confined animals (RR = 3.05), animals consuming food from wildlife habitats were at higher risk compared to those consuming domestic food (RR = 3.06), and animals residing in farm buildings located in wildlife habitats were at higher risk compared to those residing in farm buildings located in villages (RR = 3.28). In addition to the first report on H. canis in R. sanguineus in Pakistan, this is the earliest data showing H. ayorgbor in R. haemaphysaloides and H. colubri in Ha. sulcata and Hy. anatolicum. These preliminary findings suggest a potential spillover of Hepatozoon spp. from wild to domestic animals via ticks under certain risk factors.
RIP CURRENT DETECTION IN AN OPEN AREA AND ALONG JETTY USING AI

The occurrence of drowning accidents on beaches is mainly caused by rip currents. In this study, we created a single AI model that can detect two types of rip currents with different characteristics: a flash rip current that occurs intermittently in open areas, and a fixed rip current that occurs along jetty. As a result of creating the AI model under various conditions, it was possible to detect the rip currents at each location with high accuracy at the stage of making the AI model. At the final point of the model’s evolution, the accuracy, the precision and the recall rates of the rip current detection were 87 percent, 48 percent and 100 percent, respectively. As a result of actually operating this AI model on the study beach, the single AI model could detect rip currents along the jetty and in the open area. However, it was confirmed that the AI model could not detect all rip currents which were continuously generated along the jetty.
Comparison of Policosanols via Incorporation into Reconstituted High-Density Lipoproteins: Cuban Policosanol (Raydel®) Exerts the Highest Antioxidant, Anti-Glycation, and Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Reconstituted high-density lipoproteins (rHDL) containing each policosanol from Cuba (Raydel®), China (Shaanxi Pioneer), and the United States (Lesstanol®) were synthesized to compare the physiological properties of policosanol depending on sources and origin countries. After synthesis with apolipoproteinA-I (apoA-I) into rHDL, all policosanols bound well with phospholipid and apoA-I to form discoidal rHDL. An rHDL containing Cuban policosanol (rHDL-1) showed the largest rHDL particle size of around 83 ± 3 nm, while rHDL containing Chinese policosanol (rHDL-2) or American policosanol (rHDL-3) showed smaller particles around 63 ± 3 nm and 60 ± 2 nm in diameter, respectively. The rHDL-1 showed the strongest anti-glycation activity to protect the apoA-I degradation of HDL from fructose-mediated glycation: approximately 2.7-times higher ability to suppress glycation and 1.4-times higher protection ability of apoA-I than that of rHDL-2 and rHDL-3. The rHDL-1 showed the highest antioxidant ability to inhibit cupric ion-mediated LDL oxidation in electromobility and the quantification of oxidized species. A microinjection of each rHDL into a zebrafish embryo in the presence of carboxymethyllysine (CML) showed that rHDL-1 displayed the strongest anti-oxidant activity with the highest embryo survivability, whereas rHDL-2 and rHDL-3 showed much weaker protection ability, similar to rHDL alone (rHDL-0). An intraperitoneal injection of CML (250 μg) into adult zebrafish caused acute death and hyperinflammation with an elevation of infiltration of neutrophils and IL-6 production in the liver. On the other hand, a co-injection of rHDL-1 resulted in the highest survivability and the strongest anti-inflammatory ability to suppress IL-6 production with an improvement of the blood lipid profile, such as elevation of HDL-C and lowering of the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride. In conclusion, Cuban policosanol exhibited the most desirable properties for the in vitro synthesis of rHDL with the stabilization of apoA-I, the largest particle size, anti-glycation against fructation, and antioxidant activities to prevent LDL oxidation. Cuban policosanol in rHDL also exhibited the strongest in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities with the highest survivability in zebrafish embryos and adults via the prevention of hyperinflammation in the presence of CML.
Seismic structure of the crust and the uppermost mantle beneath Kyushu, Japan, as derived from receiver function analyses: Implications for volcanic processes

Receiver function analyses are performed for understanding the processes of volcanic activity in Kyushu, Japan. We develop a new method to estimate geometries of dipping seismic velocity discontinuities from common conversion point stacking of receiver function and apply the method to detect discontinuities in the uppermost mantle beneath the Kyushu subdution zone. The multistage fast-marching method is applied to the ray tracing with taking account of refraction at dipping interfaces. We apply this method to synthetic data and confirm that geometries of dipping interfaces are successfully estimated. Although geometry of interfaces dipping at 30-70o cannot be correctly estimated with a 1-d velocity model, it can be correctly estimated when refraction at dipping interfaces is taken into account. The Philippine Sea slab subducting beneath Kyushu is young (26-50 Ma) and steeply dipping (at greater than 30o). We detect a seismic velocity contrast larger than 10% corresponding to the oceanic Moho down to 70-90 km in depth, implying that the subducting oceanic crust contains more than 3.0 wt. % of water down to this depth. We delineate the continental Moho with downward decreasing seismic velocity and the upper boundary of the slab with upward decreasing seismic velocity beneath the forearc region, implying the existence of serpentinite and/or free fluid which causes high pore pressure in the forearc mantle. Beneath the central Kyushu region, we also detect a discontinuity with downward decreasing seismic velocity at depths of 60-80 km, which is parallel to the oceanic Moho and 10 km shallower than it. This finding indicates that there is a sharp discontinuity between the anhydrous mantle wedge and the hydrous oceanic crust. The existence of such a sharp discontinuity would require a large temperature gradient around the boundary or a permeability barrier at the upper boundary of the slab. Aso Volcano experienced a huge pyroclastic eruption 90 thousand years ago, and formed a large caldera (18 km × 25 km). In order to examine the hypothesis of a magma body in the mid and lower crust that has been suggested geophysically and geochemically, we set seismic stations in Aso caldera and investigated the velocity structure beneath Aso caldera with a genetic algorithm inversion of receiver functions from the observed data. As a result, we detect a low velocity layer with S-wave velocity of 2.5 km/s at depths between 15 km and 20 km beneath the western and the northern parts of the caldera. We estimate that the low velocity layer contains at most 15 percent melt or 30 percent aqueous fluid. Fluid contained in the layer might be related to huge pyroclastic eruptions of Aso volcano.