Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Employing Machine Learning to Estimate Hallmark Measures of Physical Activities from Wrist-worn Devices Across Age Groups

Wrist-worn fitness trackers and smartwatches are proliferating with an incessant attention towards health tracking. Given the growing popularity of wrist-worn devices across all age groups, a rigorous evaluation for recognizing hallmark measures of physical activities and estimating energy expenditure is needed to compare their accuracy across the lifespan. The goal of the study was to build machine learning models to recognize physical activity type (sedentary, locomotion, and lifestyle) and intensity (low, light, and moderate), identify individual physical activities, and estimate energy expenditure. The primary aim of this study was to build and compare models for different age groups: young [20-50 years], middle (50-70 years], and old (70-89 years]. Participants (n = 253, 62% women, aged 20-89 years old) performed a battery of 33 daily activities in a standardized laboratory setting while wearing a portable metabolic unit to measure energy expenditure that was used to gauge metabolic intensity. Tri-axial accelerometer collected data at 80-100 Hz from the right wrist that was processed for 49 features. Results from random forests algorithm were quite accurate in recognizing physical activity type, the F1-Score range across age groups was: sedentary [0.955 – 0.973], locomotion [0.942 – 0.964], and lifestyle [0.913 – 0.949]. Recognizing physical activity intensity resulted in lower performance, the F1-Score range across age groups was: sedentary [0.919 – 0.947], light [0.813 – 0.828], and moderate [0.846 – 0.875]. The root mean square error range was [0.835 – 1.009] for the estimation of energy expenditure. The F1-Score range for recognizing individual physical activities was [0.263 – 0.784]. Performances were relatively similar and the accelerometer data features were ranked similarly between age groups. In conclusion, data features derived from wrist worn accelerometers lead to high-moderate accuracy estimating physical activity type, intensity and energy expenditure and are robust to potential age-differences.
Experimental Evidence on the Effectiveness of Non-Experts for Improving Vaccine Demand

We experimentally vary signals and senders to identify which combination will increase vaccine demand among a disadvantaged population in the United States – Black and White men without a college education. Our main finding is that laypeople (non-expert concordant senders) are most effective at promoting vaccination, particularly among those least willing to become vaccinated. This finding points to a tradeoff between the higher qualifications of experts on the one hand, but lower social proximity to lowsocio-economic status populations on the other hand, which may undermine credibility in settings of low trust.
Ecological Plasticity and Stability of Spring Bread Wheat Varieties by Yield Level in Agro-Ecological Zones of the Forest-Steppe and Polissia of Ukraine

The weather conditions in the two ecological zones Forest-Steppe and Polissia of Ukraine differed considerably in temperature regime and rainfed environments both during growing season as a whole and during particular phases of plant development. This made it possible to estimate spring bread wheat varieties by the levels of realizing their plant productivity potential. The productivity of spring wheat plants mainly depends on the growing zone (29.2%), hydrothermal vegetation conditions (16.3%), as well as their interaction (27.1%). There have been identified the varieties of spring bread wheat Simkoda myronivs’ka, Struna myronivs’ka, MIP Zlata (UKR), Koksa (POL), Leguan (CZE) with increased yield level that were recommended to be grown in ecological zones Forest-Steppe and Polissia. The calculation of ecological plasticity and stability allowed differentiating the varieties of spring bread wheat in accordance with their responsiveness to variatione of growing conditions as well as with adaptive potential. High plasticity by yield level under growing conditions of the Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones was determined in the varieties: Koksa (POL) (bi = 1.02), Simkoda myronivs’ka (UKR) (bi = 1.02), Granny (AUT) (bi = 1, 03), Heroinia (UKR) (bi = 1.01), Etiud (UKR) (bi = 1.02). These varieties may be characterized by adaptive properties as intensive ones with a pronounced response to the environment, i.e. relatively high grain yields may be resulted from a specific response to more favorable growing conditions. There were identified the most stable varieties for terms of yield in two ecological zones Yasna (POL), Siuita, Panianka, Kharkivs’ka 26, Elehiia myronivs’ka (UKR).
Evaluation of the Adsorption Efficiency on the Removal of Lead(II) Ions from Aqueous Solutions Using Azadirachta indica Leaves as an Adsorbent

The efficiency of Azadirachta indica (neem leaves) on the removal of Pb(II) ions by adsorption from aqueous solution was investigated in this study. The efficiency of these leaves (without chemical or thermal treatment) for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions has not previously been reported. Batch experiments were performed to study the effect of the particle size, pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, initial Pb(II) ion concentration, and temperature. The maximum removal of 93.5% was achieved from an original Pb(II) ion solution concentration of 50 mg/L after 40 min, at pH 7, with 0.60 g of an adsorbent dose. The maximum adsorption capacity recorded was 39.7 mg/g. The adsorption process was also studied by examining Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin isotherm, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. The results revealed that the adsorption system follows the pseudo-second-order model and fitted the Freundlich model. Several thermodynamic factors, namely, the standard free energy (∆G°), enthalpy (∆H°), and entropy (∆S°) changes, were also calculated. The results demonstrated that the adsorption is a spontaneous, physical, and exothermic process. The surface area, pore size, and volume of adsorbent particles were measured and presented using a surface area analyzer (BET); the morphology was scanned and presented with the scanning electron microscope technique (SEM); and the functional groups were investigated using μ-FTIR.
Semi-synthesis of Chitosan with HighMolecular Weight and EnhancedDeacetylation Degree

Novel triblock copolymers of poly(L-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-sebacate-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(L-lactide) were synthesized by Ring-Opening Polymerization (ROP) of different ratios of L-lactide with three pre-prepared poly(ethylene glycol)-sebacate-poly(ethylene glycol) polymers A, B and C have different poly(ethylene glycol) molecular weight (2000, 4000, and 10000 g/mole). The triblock copolymers were used to produce nine triblock copolymers having new different lactide chain length (n=10, 25 and 50), coded AL10, AL25, AL50, BL10, BL25, BL50, CL10, CL25, and CL50, respectively. Nine networks were prepared from triblock copolymers with cross-linked sodium alginate, S1-S9. All those polymer networks were loaded with 50 IU of insulin. Each component of the polymer network groups was mixed with cross-linked hydroxyl ethyl cellulose to form SH1-SH9 from S1-S9 fiber IPN’s. These samples were coated with gelatin cross-linked with two different ratios of gluteraldehyde, 20% and 40% w/w by one layer and two layers. Insulin release study at pH 1.2 and 8.4 for 24 hours was performed. Hydrolytic degradation studies were followed at three different pH, 1.2, 7 and 8.4 for 7 weeks with 40% as maximum degradation.
Dynamic strain sensing system using a SOA based fiber ring laser with fiber Bragg gratings and an AWG demodulator

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are popular sensing elements and have a wide application of strain monitoring in the area of structural health monitoring, medical and aerospace due to the features of electromagnetic interference resistance, high sensitivity and simplicity. Here, a simple intensity demodulation configuration based on a semiconductor ring laser is proposed for FBG dynamic strain sensing system. Due to the characteristics of semiconductor optical amplifier, it can act as the gain medium as well as light source. An arrayed waveguide grating module is adapted to be the wavelength demodulator. It is feasible for this configuration to respond when FBG is subjected to dynamic strains at a high frequency. Additionally, a simultaneous dual-channel interrogation system is in detail discussed. This interrogation scheme can be widely utilized in structure health monitoring because of its low insertion loss, high stability and low cost.
3D reconstruction of uneven-aged forest in single tree scale using digital camera and SfM-MVS technique

ABSTRACT This study highlights the potential of hand-held digital cameras and SFM-MVS to produce a 3D reconstruction of individual trees at the single tree level in a deciduous and uneven-aged forest (faculty of natural resource, Tarbiat Modares University-area with about 2400 m2 and 35 trees). A high coefficient of the determinant (R 2 = 98%) was observed between DBH derived from both filed measurements and the SfM-MVS technique. The percentage of the coefficient of variation of the root mean square error (CV(RMSE)%) and Bias of the technique to estimate DBH of the trees were 5.66% and −0.09%, respectively. The technique demonstrated a good linear relationship between the estimated tree height via field measurement and SfM-MVS (R 2 = 89%), with a percentage of 14.84 for CV(RMSE)% and −11.27 for Bias. Furthermore, the technique’s performance in the 3D reconstruction of single trees showed an omission of 11.42%, commission error of 0%, and overall accuracy of 88.57%. The technique exhibited an accuracy of about −0.33 m for estimating trees’ location in the forest area. Finally, the findings suggested combining the SfM-MVS technique with a digital camera could be useful for 3D reconstruction of single trees and estimating tree attributes in uneven-aged and multi-structure forests.
Reliability and protection in distribution power system considering customer-based indices

A stable and reliable electric power supply system is a pre-requisite for the technological and economic growth of any nation. Nigeria's power supply has been experiencing incessant power interruptions caused by a failure in the distribution system. This paper developed a system planning approach as part of the key mitigation strategies for improved reliability and protection of the distribution network. The developed algorithm is tested using 33kV feeder supplying electricity to Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State, Nigeria. A customer-based reliability index was used as a tool to evaluate the reliability assessment of the feeder test system. The result showed that alternative 3 gives better results in terms of improvement of the system average interruption duration index (SAIDI), which in turn gives the minimum interrupted energy. Also, it is found that a greater number of sectionalizing switches do not give better results. It is very important to place the sectionalizing switches at a strategic location. If it is located at such points that will facilitate to sectionalize the faulty sections faster and to make the supply available to the unfaulty part of the network. Hence the utility company should apply this mitigation algorithm for system reliability improvement, depending on their needs and requirements. Thus, utilities can optimize network performance and better serve customers by adopting mitigation strategies in addressing trouble-prone areas to achieve a stable and reliable supply. http://dx.doi. org/10.4314/njt.v39i4. 28
Influence of heat pump drying on tomato flavor

ABSTRACT Tomato flavor from a heat pump dehumidifier dryer was characterized and compared to fresh and freeze-dried tomato samples for the retention of fresh flavor compounds. The monitored quality parameters were nonvolatile, volatile, and odor intensity. There were no differences in nonvolatile profiles; however, significant changes in key odor-impact volatiles were observed. Commercial spray-dried tomato was also evaluated to examine thermally induced volatile changes. The volatile and sensory profiles of heat pump dried tomato were comparable to freeze-dried tomato, with good retention of fresh aroma. In contrast, loss of compounds contributing to fresh green aroma ((E)-2-hexenal, 1-penten-3-one, 1-hexanol) and presence of heat-induced compounds (dimethyl sulfide, furfural, pyrrole derivatives) were detected in the spray-dried tomato.
The selection of marketplace mode and reselling mode with demand disruptions under cap-and-trade regulation

ABSTRACT This paper studies a cooperating mode selection problem of a manufacturer who sells its products through an offline channel and an online platform under cap-and-trade regulation. The platform can operate with marketplace or reselling mode. We investigate the manufacturer's optimal operational decisions and selection of the platform's modes considering demand disruptions. First, when the carbon cap decreases in the application process, this regulation is firstly easy and then hard to be implemented if the cross-channel effect is small. Even though the platform increases its commission rate, greater cross-channel effect can still bring more production. Second, the increase of demand disruptions brings more profits for the manufacturer and the platform. Specifically, considering demand disruptions, the total profit with reselling mode in decentralised case is larger than that in centralised case under some situations. Third, without demand disruptions, the manufacturer prefers marketplace mode (reselling mode) if the commission rate is low (high). However, demand disruptions make the manufacturer's mode selection a little complicated. Lastly, without demand disruptions, the two firms can be coordinated with reselling mode but cannot be coordinated with marketplace mode. With demand disruptions, the two firms can be coordinated with the two modes in some situations.
Structural and compositional variations of basic Cu(II) chlorides in the herbertsmithite and gillardite structure field

Abstract Natural samples of the substituted basic Cu(II) chloride series, Cu4-xM2+x (OH)6Cl2 (M= Zn, Ni, or Mg) were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in order to elucidate compositional boundaries associated with paratacamite and its congeners. The compositional ranges examined are Cu3.65Zn0. 35(OH)6Cl2 - Cu3.36Zn0. 64(OH)6Cl2 and Cu3.61Ni0. 39(OH)6Cl2 - Cu3.13Ni0. 87(OH)6Cl2, along with a single Mg-bearing phase. The majority of samples studied have trigonal symmetry (R3̅m) analogous to that of herbertsmithite (Zn) and gillardite (Ni), with a ≈ 6.8, c ≈ 14.0 Å. Crystallographic variations for these samples caused by composition are compared with both published and new data for the R3m sub-cell of paratacamite, paratacamite-(Mg) and paratacamite-(Ni). The observed trends suggest that the composition of end-members associated with the paratacamite congeners depend upon the nature of the substituting cation.
The joint evolution of learning and dispersal maintains intraspecific diversity in metapopulations

The evolution of dispersal tendencies and of cognitive abilities have both been intensely studied. Yet little attention has been given to the question of how these two aspects may relate to each other, as a result of their joint evolution. On the one hand, learning abilities may help dispersers to cope with their new habitat. On the other hand, dispersal may sometimes reduce the need for learning, because local environments may differ in how much there is to learn. To get a better understanding of this relationship, we built an individual-based simulation in which both learning speed and dispersal tendency were free to evolve. We found that both positive and negative correlations could evolve between these traits, depending on properties both of local patches and of the metapopulation as a whole. We also found that dispersal stabilized the co-existence of different cognitive types in the metapopulation, underscoring its importance for maintaining biodiversity within species.
Biodiversity of AM Fungi in Coffee Cultivated on Eroded Soil

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMFs) play an important role in soil improvement, leading to the enhanced growth and yield of the host plants. The diversity, abundance, and richness of AMFs were evaluated in eight coffee plantations (Coffea arabica L.) with different erosion degrees. The results indicated that 26 AMFs morphotypes scattered across four genera were recovered and included five species. Funneliformis species were the most dominant representatives of the total isolates followed by Claroideoglomus, Rhizoglomus, Gigaspora, Acaulospora, Glomus, Diversispora, Septoglomus, and Scutellospora. The highest diversity and richness were found in non-eroded agroecosystems, followed by sites with a minimum erosion, and the lowest values were reported within the highly eroded agroecosystems. These results suggest that eroded soil affects AMF fungi, creating the need to carry out studies that allow for the implementation of cultural practices where biodiversity and soil are preserved.
Theoretical Investigation on Performance Characteristics of Aerostatic Journal Bearings with Active Displacement Compensator

Active aerostatic bearings are capable of providing negative compliance, which can be successfully used to automatically compensate for deformation of the machine tool system in order to reduce the time and improve the quality of metalworking. The article considers an aerostatic radial bearing with external combined throttling systems and an elastic displacement compensator, which is an alternative to aerostatic bearings with air flow rate compensators. The results of the mathematical modeling and theoretical research of stationary and nonstationary modes of operation of bearings with slotted and diaphragm throttling systems are presented. A counter-matrix sweep method has been developed for solving linear and nonlinear boundary value problems in partial derivatives with respect to the function of the square of the pressure in the bearing gap and inter-throttling bearing cavities for any values of the relative shaft eccentricity. A numerical method is proposed for calculating the dynamic quality criteria, and the transfer function of the dynamic compliance of a bearing with small displacements is considered as a linear automatic control system with distributed parameters. An experimental verification of the theoretical characteristics of the bearing was carried out, which showed a satisfactory correspondence among the compared data. It is shown that bearings with a throttle system have the best quantitative and qualitative load characteristics. The possibility of optimal determination of the values of a number of important parameters that provide the bearing with optimal performance and a high stability margin is established. It is shown that bearings with an elastic suspension of the movable sleeve allow one to compensate for significant movements, which can be larger than the size of the air gap by an order of magnitude or more. In these conditions, similar bearings with air flow compensators would be obviously inoperative.
Luminescence of ZnO nanocrystals in silica synthesized by dual (Zn, O) implantation and thermal annealing

Zinc blende ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) were synthesised in amorphous silica by high-fluence dual (Zn, O) ion implantation and subsequent thermal annealing in air. We observed the formation of core/shell nanoparticles at the depth of maximum Zn concentration as a result of an incomplete oxidation process. The silica matrix with ZnO NCs exhibits an intense white-greenish emission. Low-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy revealed various radiative recombination mechanisms in the zinc blende ZnO NCs involving intrinsic defects that act as donors and acceptors.
Two-Step Enzymatic Synthesis of Biocompatible Polymers Made from Cholic Acid

Polyesters are known biodegradable materials that are frequently used for biomedical applications that require biocompatibility. Their synthesis usually requires transition metal catalysts, which may become a source of contamination. In addition, using such compounds translates to extensive purification procedures, which do not agree with green chemistry principles. In addition to being renewable, enzymes such as lipases are milder for biological systems, and were studied for both ring-closure and ring-opening reactions. Here, Candida antarctica lipase B was used in ring-closure, reducing a two-step synthesis to a single step with 58% yield. The bile acid-containing macrocycles were subsequently polymerized with the same enzyme; relatively high molar masses (40 000 g/mol) were obtained. The conditions for the enzymatic ring-closure and ring-opening reactions were established through the reaction of thapsic acid with 1,10-decanediol. The di- and tetralactones afforded semicrystalline polymers with relative.
Using Shapley additive explanations to interpret extreme gradient boosting predictions of grassland degradation in Xilingol, China

Abstract. Machine learning (ML) and data-driven approaches are increasingly used in many research areas. Extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) is a tree boosting method that has evolved into a state-of-the-art approach for many ML challenges. However, it has rarely been used in simulations of land use change so far. Xilingol, a typical region for research on serious grassland degradation and its drivers, was selected as a case study to test whether XGBoost can provide alternative insights that conventional land-use models are unable to generate. A set of 20 drivers was analysed using XGBoost, involving four alternative sampling strategies, and SHAP (Shapley additive explanations) to interpret the results of the purely data-driven approach. The results indicated that, with three of the sampling strategies (over-balanced, balanced, and imbalanced), XGBoost achieved similar and robust simulation results. SHAP values were useful for analysing the complex relationship between the different drivers of grassland degradation. Four drivers accounted for 99 % of the grassland degradation dynamics in Xilingol. These four drivers were spatially allocated, and a risk map of further degradation was produced. The limitations of using XGBoost to predict future land-use change are discussed.