Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 Vaccine Perceptions among Ebola-Affected Communities in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2021

Populations affected by humanitarian crises and emerging infectious disease outbreaks may have unique concerns and experiences that influence their perceptions toward vaccines. In March 2021, we conducted a survey to examine the perceptions toward COVID-19 vaccines and identify the factors associated with vaccine intention among 631 community members (CMs) and 438 healthcare workers (HCWs) affected by the 2018–2020 Ebola Virus Disease outbreak in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. A multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of vaccine intention. Most HCWs (81.7%) and 53.6% of CMs felt at risk of contracting COVID-19; however, vaccine intention was low (27.6% CMs; 39.7% HCWs). In both groups, the perceived risk of contracting COVID-19, general vaccine confidence, and male sex were associated with the intention to get vaccinated, with security concerns preventing vaccine access being negatively associated. Among CMs, getting the Ebola vaccine was associated with the intention to get vaccinated (RR 1.43, 95% CI 1.05–1.94). Among HCWs, concerns about new vaccines’ safety and side effects (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57–0.91), religion’s influence on health decisions (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.34–0.61), security concerns (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.37–0.74), and governmental distrust (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.35–0.70) were negatively associated with vaccine perceptions. Enhanced community engagement and communication that address this population’s concerns could help improve vaccine perceptions and vaccination decisions. These findings could facilitate the success of vaccine campaigns in North Kivu and similar settings.
A Study of Multiscale Initial Condition Perturbation Methods for Convection-Permitting Ensemble Forecasts

AbstractThe impacts of multiscale flow-dependent initial condition (IC) perturbations for storm-scale ensemble forecasts of midlatitude convection are investigated using perfect-model observing system simulation experiments. Several diverse cases are used to quantitatively and qualitatively understand the impacts of different IC perturbations on ensemble forecast skill. Scale dependence of the results is assessed by evaluating 2-h storm-scale reflectivity forecasts separately from hourly accumulated mesoscale precipitation forecasts.Forecasts are initialized with different IC ensembles, including an ensemble of multiscale perturbations produced by a multiscale data assimilation system, mesoscale perturbations produced at a coarser resolution, and filtered multiscale perturbations. Mesoscale precipitation forecasts initialized with the multiscale perturbations are more skillful than the forecasts initialized with the mesoscale perturbations at several lead times. This multiscale advantage is due to greater.
High Acoustic Impedance and Attenuation Backing for High-Frequency Focused P(VDF-TrFE)-Based Transducers

Backing materials with tailored acoustic properties are beneficial for miniaturized ultrasonic transducer design. Whereas piezoelectric P(VDF-TrFE) films are common elements in high-frequency (>20 MHz) transducer design, their low coupling coefficient limits their sensitivity. Defining a suitable sensitivity–bandwidth trade-off for miniaturized high-frequency applications requires backings with impedances of >25 MRayl and strongly attenuating to account for miniaturized requirements. The motivation of this work is related to several medical applications such as small animal, skin or eye imaging. Simulations showed that increasing the acoustic impedance of the backing from 4.5 to 25 MRayl increases transducer sensitivity by 5 dB but decreases the bandwidth, which nevertheless remains high enough for the targeted applications. In this paper, porous sintered bronze material with spherically shaped grains, size-adapted for 25–30 MHz frequency, was impregnated with tin or epoxy resin to create multiphasic metallic backings. Microstructural characterizations of these new multiphasic composites showed that impregnation was incomplete and that a third air phase was present. The selected composites, sintered bronze–tin–air and sintered bronze–epoxy–air, at 5–35 MHz characterization, produced attenuation coefficients of 1.2 and >4 dB/mm/MHz and impedances of 32.4 and 26.4 MRayl, respectively. High-impedance composites were adopted as backing (thickness = 2 mm) to fabricate focused single-element P(VDF-TrFE)-based transducers (focal distance = 14 mm). The center frequency was 27 MHz, while the bandwidth at −6 dB was 65% for the sintered-bronze–tin–air-based transducer. We evaluated imaging performance using a pulse-echo system on a tungsten wire (diameter = 25 μm) phantom. Images confirmed the viability of integrating these backings in miniaturized transducers for imaging applications.
The Entrepreneurial University's Impact on Regional Socioeconomic Development: The “Alumni Policymaker” Mechanism

Research has examined the impact of the “entrepreneurial university” on regional socioeconomic development by focusing on the entrepreneurial intentions and performance of alumni, staff, and students. The study of impact, to date, has focused on direct and short-term mechanisms, such as alumni's entrepreneurial activities, faculty spin-outs, and active public engagement with policy agendas. Our point of departure is in conceptualizing and empirically testing a longer-term and more systemic mechanism. We theorize and empirically test how the entrepreneurial university imprints on its graduates, some of whom take on leadership positions in innovation policymaking years later. We test this relationship by employing a text-as-data approach to examine the extent to which innovation policy leaders speak about startup-centric innovation, comparing the media coverage of entrepreneurial university alumni relative to their peers. Our original dataset comprises the 485 individuals who held senior innovation policy positions in East Asia's eleven largest economies from 1998 to 2019, detailing their educational background and media coverage (10,816 documents). We conceptualize the “alumni policymaker” mechanism, which constitutes entrepreneurial university alumni shaping the future of national innovation policy by referring to startup-centric innovation three times more than their peers. Those who completed MBAs at entrepreneurial universities express an even greater preference for startup-centric innovation policy.
Decentralised fully probabilistic design for stochastic networks with multiplicative noise

ABSTRACT In this paper, we present an innovative decentralised control framework, designed to address stochastic dynamic complex systems that are influenced by multiple multiplicative noise factors. Our advanced approach builds upon the foundation of conventional Decentralised Fully Probabilistic Design (DFPD) by refining the Riccati equation to accommodate multiple noise sources effectively. By embracing the inherent stochastic nature of complex systems, our methodology fully characterises their dynamic behaviours using probabilistic state–space models, delivering a comprehensive representation of subsystem components. Importantly, the DFPD approach also incorporates system and input constraints by characterising their corresponding ideal distributions, ensuring optimal functionality and performance while adhering to permissible boundaries. To further enhance system performance, we introduce a probabilistic message passing architecture that enables seamless communication between neighbouring subsystems and promotes harmonised decision-making among local nodes. To demonstrate the efficacy of our proposed framework, we employ a three-inverted pendulum system as a numerical example and compare its performance to that of the conventional DFPD. Through this comparison, we showcase the advantages of our novel decentralised control approach in handling complex systems with multiple noise factors.
Behaviors of AlGaN Strain Relaxation on a GaN Porous Structure Studied with d-Spacing Crystal Lattice Analysis

The high porosity of a GaN porous structure (PS) makes it mechanically semi-flexible and can shield against the stress from the thick growth template on an overgrown layer to control the lattice structure or composition within the overgrown layer. To understand this stress shield effect, we investigated the lattice constant variations among different growth layers in various samples of overgrown Al0.3Ga0. 7N on GaN templates under different strain-relaxation conditions based on d-spacing crystal lattice analysis. The fabrication of a strain-damping PS in a GaN template shields against the stress from the thick GaN template on the GaN interlayer, which lies between the PS and the overgrown AlGaN layer, such that the stress counteraction of the AlGaN layer against the GaN interlayer can reduce the tensile strain in AlGaN and increase its critical thickness. If the GaN interlayer is thin, such that a strong AlGaN counteraction occurs, the increased critical thickness can become larger than the overgrown AlGaN thickness. In this situation, crack-free, thick AlGaN overgrowth is feasible.
On a two-dimensional binary process

We consider a two-dimensional stochastic process of binary variables x ij defined so that the conditional distribution of x ij given its predecessors depends only on x i–1j and x ij–1 Properties of the equilibrium distribution, when this exists, are investigated using three different representations of the process and explicit results are given in some special cases.
Robotic Writing of Arbitrary Unicode Characters Using Paintbrushes

Human handwriting is an everyday task performed regularly by most people. In the domain of robotic painting, multiple calligraphy machines exist which were built to replicate some aspects of human artistic writing; however, most projects are limited to a specific style of handwriting, often Chinese calligraphy. We propose a two-stage pipeline that allows industrial robots to write text in arbitrary typefaces and scripts using paintbrushes. In the first stage, we extract a set of strokes from character glyphs which are similar to how humans choose strokes during writing. In the second stage, we generate corresponding brush trajectories by applying a brush model to the extracted strokes. Our brush model computes the required brush pressure to achieve the given stroke width while also accounting for brush lag. We also present a method to automatically measure the parameters needed to predict brush lag by painting and recording calibration patterns. Our method generates trajectories for text in any given typeface, which, when executed by a robotic arm, results in legible written text. We can render most writing systems, excluding emoji and ligatures, in which arbitrary texts can be specified to write.
Stability and Well-posedness in Integrable Nonlinear Evolution Equations

This dissertation is concerned with analysis of orbital stability of solitary waves and well-posedness of the Cauchy problem in the integrable evolution equations. The analysis is developed by using tools from integrable systems, such as higherorder conserved quantities, Bäcklund transformation, and inverse scattering transform. The main results are obtained for the massive Thirring model, which is an integrable nonlinear Dirac equation, and for the derivative NLS equation. Both equations are related with the same Kaup-Newell spectral problem. Our studies rely on the spectral properties of the Kaup-Newell spectral problem, which convey key information about solution behavior of the nonlinear evolution equations.
Spanish Validation of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale Among Mexican University Students.

Introduction the rate of death by suicide has increased in Mexico, representing a significant public health problem. To prevent and treat this phenomenon, it is crucial to identify reliable suicide risk factors among Mexicans. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide has demonstrated empirical support for the role of thwarted belongingness, perceived burdensomeness, and acquired capability in the development of suicidal desire and behaviors. The measure of the theory's constructs-the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS)-has also shown good psychometric qualities. Objective translate, culturally adapt and validate these instruments. Method 495 university students from Mexico City participated in two independent samples (n = 239; n = 256). For the INQ, the available version in Spanish was used. For the ACSS, the most current version in English was used. Based on the results from the first sample, items were modified, eliminated, or added for the second sample. Results the INQ demonstrated good fit (RMSEA = .054, TLI = .97, IFI = .97, NFI = .95) with an internal consistency of . 77 and . 87 for thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, respectively. The ACSS obtained similar results (RMSEA = .011, CFI = .99, TLI = .99, IFI = .99, NFI = .91); the internal consistency was . 77. Discussion and conclusions the Spanish version of the instruments display good psychometric properties and can be used to measure the constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide. However, further replication is needed to support generalizability in other Spanish-speaking populations.
The Co-factor Matrix of the Iteration Method by Correcting Characteristic Value

In the parameter estimation, there exist two problems: changing the equivalences of the equations makes estimation results biased; determining the ridge parameter k is very difficult and random. To solve the two problems, this paper presents the iteration method by correcting characteristic value. The co-factor matrix Q is derived firstly, then proves that Q is just the Kaley inverse N -1 of N in the case of rank-full, which is Moore-Penrose inverse N + of N in the case of rank-defect.
Sodium Salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Sodium Alginate-Graft-Poly(Acrylonitrile): II Superabsorbency, Salt Sensitivity and Swelling Kinetics of Hydrogel, H-Na-PCMSA-g-PAN

The water absorption measurements of a novel superabsorbent anionic hydrogel, H-Na-PCMSA-g-PAN, has been reported first time in water with a poor conductivity, 0.15 M saline (NaCl, CaCl2, and AlCl3) solutions, and simulated urine (SU) solutions at various times. The hydrogel has been prepared by the saponification of the graft copolymer, Na-PCMSA-g-PAN (%G = 316.53, %GE = 99.31). Results indicated that as compared to the swelling capacity values evaluated in water with a poor conductivity, the ability of the hydrogel to swell in various saline solutions with the same concentration is significantly reduced at all different durations. The swelling tends to be Na+ > Ca2+ > Al3+ at the same saline concentration in the solution. Studies of the absorbency in various aqueous saline (NaCl) solutions also revealed that the swelling capacity decreased as the ionic strength of the swelling medium rose, which is consistent with the experimental results and Flory’s equation. Furthermore, the experimental results strongly suggested that second-order kinetics governs the swelling process of the hydrogel in various swelling media. The swelling characteristics and equilibrium water contents for the hydrogel in various swelling media have also been researched. The hydrogel samples have been successfully characterized by FTIR to show the change in chemical environment to COO− and CONH2 groups after swelling in different swelling media. The samples have also been characterized by SEM technique.
Key Factors That Influence the Frequency Range of Measured Leak Noise in Buried Plastic Water Pipes: Theory and Experiment

The frequency range of the leak noise in buried water pipes, measured using acoustic correlators, depends significantly on the type of pipe and its location as well as the type of sensors used. Having a rough idea of this frequency range can be beneficial for operators prior to conducting tests; however, there is currently no method of predicting it except through practical experience, and no model-based approach yet exists. This issue is addressed in the present paper by using a concise and relatively simple analytical model of the water-pipe–soil system combined with the sensors’ frequency response. The influence of the various physical parameters of the system, such as the pipe and soil properties and the sensor type, on the cross-power spectral density (CPSD) of leak noise signals and, furthermore, the frequency range are investigated. The main factors that affect the bandwidth are the distance between the sensors, wave speed of the predominantly fluid-borne wave in the pipe and the attenuation of this wave. It is shown that the external medium has a profound effect on the propagation and, in turn, on the bandwidth. The approach to predicting this bandwidth is validated using experimental data from three different test sites.
Reconstruction of bubble trajectories and velocity estimation

This thesis addresses the problem of tracking bubble trajectories and velocities in transparent fluids, in particular we deal with water. It belongs to the area known as fluid imaging. Using long exposure images with the aid of computerized tomography, we are able to track the trajectories of micro–bubbles by first reconstructing the fluid volume containing the bubbly flow. From this volumetric data we then extract bubble trajectories by following the streaks left behind by each moving bubble. Consequently, these streaks are used to estimate bubble velocities. All of this is achieved using a limited number of consumer quality video cameras. In addition, we show how similar data that might be obtained from tracer particles could be used to calculate the velocity vector field within the fluid interior.
A Study on Dynamic Time Warping Based on Different Constraints

This paper studies dynamic time warping (DTW) based on different constraints in matching two different patterns. Two trajectories in batch process can be matched reasonably in endpoint constraints, different local continuity constraints (Itkura constraint, Sakoe Chiba constraint) and different global constraints (Itkura constraint、Sakoe Chiba constraint) respectively, and minimum normalized total distance between two trajectories can be obtained based on dynamic time warping, then optimal path can be found to reconcile two different trajectories. Data trajectories from an industrial polymerization reactor are used to illustrate the implementation and the performance of this method.
Analyzing Fish Condition Factor Index Through Skew-Gaussian Information Theory Quantifiers

Biological-fishery indicators have been widely studied. As such the condition factor (CF) index, which interprets the fatness level of a certain species based on length and weight, has been investigated, too. However, CF has been studied without considering its temporal features and distribution. In this paper, we analyze the CF time series via skew-gaussian distributions that consider the asymmetry produced by extreme events. This index is characterized by a threshold autoregressive model and corresponds to a stationary process depending on the shape parameter of the skew-gaussian distribution. Then we use the Jensen–Shannon (JS) distance to compare CF by length classes. This distance has mathematical advantages over other divergences such as Kullback–Leibler and Jeffrey’s, and the triangular inequality property. Our results are applied to a biological catalogue of anchovy (Engraulis ringens) from the northern coast of Chile, for the period 1990–2010 that consider monthly CF time series by length classes and sex. We find that for high values of shape parameter, JS distance tends to be more sensible to detect discrepancies than Jeffrey’s divergence. In addition, the body condition of male anchovies with higher lengths coincides with the ending of the moderate-strong El Nino event 91–92 and for both males and females, the smaller lengths coincide with the beginning of the strong El Nino event 97–98.
Aggression and spatial positioning of kin and non-kin fish in social groups

Abstract Group-living animals are faced with the challenge of sharing space and local resources amongst group members who may be either relatives or non-relatives. Individuals may reduce the inclusive fitness costs they incur from competing with relatives by either reducing their levels of aggression toward kin, or by maintaining physical separation between kin. In this field study, we used the group-living cichlid Neolamprologus multifasciatus to examine whether within-group aggression is reduced among group members that are kin, and whether kin occupy different regions of their group’s territory to reduce kin competition over space and local resources. We determined the kinship relationships among cohabiting adults via microsatellite genotyping and then combined these with spatial and behavioral analyses of groups in the wild. We found that aggressive contests between group members declined in frequency with spatial separation between their shelters. Female kin did not engage in aggressive contests with one another, whereas non-kin females did, despite the fact these females lived at similar distances from one another on their groups’ territories. Contests within male–male and male–female dyads did not clearly correlate with kinship. Non-kin male-male and male–female dyads lived at more variable distances from one another on their territories than their corresponding kin dyads. Together, our study indicates that contests among group members can be mediated by relatedness in a sex-dependent manner. We also suggest that spatial relationships can play an important role in determining the extent to which group members compete with one another.
On application of inverse radon transform for diagnostics of asymmetric plasmatic radiation sources

The distribution of radiation intensity in plasma that cannot be considered as cylindrically. symmetric is reconstructed from side-on radiation profiles by application of the inverse Radon transform. The side-on radiation profiles can be usually measured in a smaller number of projection planes than needed for obtaining sufficiently accurate results by usage of the relevant programme involved in the environment MATLAB. Therefore, a method is proposed for completing the set of measured side-on profiles with a number of other side-on profiles obtained from the measured data by an interpolation. Some illustrative examples are presented.
Fast SVM Classification Algorithm Based on Similarity Analysis

Aiming at the bottleneck of SVM that the speed of classification depends on the number of support vectors,this paper proposes a fast classification algorithm for SVM.In feature space it constructs the minimum spanning by introducing the similarity measure and divides the support vectors into groups according to the maximum similarity.The determinant factor and the adjusting factor are found in each group by some rules.In order to simplify the support vectors,it takes the linear combination of determinant factor and adjusting factor to fit the weighted sums of support vectors in feature space,so that the speed of classification is improved.Experimental results show that the algorithm can get higher reduction rate of classification time by minor loss of classification accuracy and it can satisfy the requirements of real-time classification.