Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Augmented Deep Reinforcement Learning for Online Energy Minimization of Wireless Powered Mobile Edge Computing

Mobile edge computing (MEC) offers an opportunity for devices relying on wireless power transfer (WPT), to accomplish computationally demanding tasks. Such WPT-powered MEC systems have yet to be optimized for long-term efficiency, due to random and changing task demands and wireless channel states of the devices. This paper presents an augmented two-staged deep Q-network (DQN), referred to as “TS-DQN,” for online optimization of WPT-powered MEC systems, where the WPT, offloading schedule, channel allocation, and the CPU configurations of the edge server and devices are jointly optimized to minimize the long-term average energy requirement of the systems. The key idea is to design a DQN for learning the channel allocation and task admission, while the WPT, offloading time and CPU configurations are efficiently optimized to precisely evaluate the reward of the DQN and substantially reduce its action space. Another important aspect is that a new action generation method is developed to expand and diversify the actions of the DQN, further accelerating its convergence. As validated by simulations, the proposed TS-DQN is much more energy efficient and converges much faster, than its potential alternative directly using the state-of-the-art Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient algorithm to learn all decision variables.
Modified Jacobi-Perron Algorithm and Generating Markov Partitions for Special Hyperbolic Toral Automorphisms

His main idea is to construct a bounded domain $X$ and a partition $\{X_{i} : i=1,2,3\}$ on the expanding invariant plane $\mathbb{P}$ with respect to a linear map $L_{B}^{-1}$ which induces the Markov endomorphism on $X$with structure matrix $B$ by using the generating method of fractal curves. The purpose of this paper is to study more precisely the generating method of these domains. For this purpose, we introduce the concept of tilings of $\mathbb{P}$ by three kinds of parallelograms and the concept of the substitution $\Sigma$ on the configurations of parallelograms. (See Figure 1.) Using this idea, on the special class for $B$ such that $B=A_{1}A_{2}\cdots A_{k}$ , where
Near-Infrared Observations of Hot Spots in the Circumnuclear Rings of NGC 2997 and NGC 6951

Near-infrared observations of NGC 2997 and NGC 6951 reveal complete rings of symmetrically placed hot spots, which are star-forming complexes. The masses of the complexes range from a few times 104 to a few times 105 M⊙ in both galaxies. The regular hot-spot spacings of about 200 pc in a ring 55 pc thick in NGC 2997 and 380 pc in a ring 150 pc thick in NGC 6951 are consistent with formation by a large-scale gravitational instability in the rings. Visual extinction is estimated to be up to 3 mag around the ring in NGC 2997 and up to 5 mag in NGC 6951, as dust lanes spiral in and cross the ring. Hubble Space Telescope observations reveal smaller super–star clusters within the large complexes. These clusters have power-law luminosity functions with an exponent of approximately -2 in both galaxy rings, the same as for star-forming complexes in the disks of normal spiral galaxies.
ASYMPTOMATIC MALARIA INFECTION AND ANAEMIA AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN IPOGUN, ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Malaria is a global problem and one of the five major childhood killers in tropical Africa, causing the death of one in every 20 of the under-five years old in the region. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among school children in Ipogun, Ondo State. A total of 109 students were recruited for this study and consisted of 52 males and 57 females with their age ranging from 10 to 19 years. Five milliliter of venous blood specimen was obtained from participants. Malaria diagnosis and haemoglobin estimation were carried out using standard techniques. A total of 55 (50.5%) out 109 students were infected with malaria parasite in this study. Gender (P=0.1022), age (P=0.0.0942), occupation of student parents (P=.03304) and body weight index (P=0.4788) did not significantly affect the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria. Asymptomatic malaria was a risk factor for anaemia among the students (OR=5.172; 95%CI=1.765, 15.158; P=0.0031). Measures to reduce the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria are advocated.
Generalized concept of flares on late-type stars

Abstract Different kinds of stellar flares – very fast flares (0.1–10 s spikes), impulsive flares lasting 100–1000 s and flares with a long decay of the soft X-rays over hours–days – are described. Impulsive flares arises as a consequence of the energy input into the magnetically confined plasma. There is reason to suppose that these flares, which occur mainly on active red dwarfs (UV Cet-type), are a result of evolution of local magnetic fields, and they develop in low-lying loops. The response of the outer atmosphere of a star to impulsive heating is considered. It allows us to understand the origin of the X-ray and optical flare radiation in the framework of a uniform approach. In particular, optical radiation of sources formed during the gas-dynamic process considered does describe the flare observations quite well. Long-decay X-ray flares (LDF), which are more typical for components of RS CVn binaries, especially, for late-type subgiants, are a result of post-eruptive energy release. The duration of .
Formation of discharge plasma on the surface of cathodes with different dielectric constants

We present a detailed study of the spatial and temporal evolution of visible light emission from plasma formed on the surface of ferroelectrics [Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 and BaTiO3] and a printed-circuit board under the application of a high-voltage pulse. For all samples studied, plasma formation occurs within the first 5 ns from the start of the high-voltage pulse. It is shown that the plasma appears at the edges of the front strip electrodes. Further, the plasma spreads along the dielectric surface covering it partially. It is found that the uniformity of the plasma and the distance of its propagation along the surface depend on the properties of the dielectric, the polarity and amplitude of the high-voltage pulse, and the vacuum conditions. A qualitative model which explains the observed experimental data is suggested.
Prosthetic valve thrombosis: literature review and two case reports

Prosthetic heart valve thrombosis is one of the most dangerous prosthetic valve complications. Proper monitoring and management of these patients help to prevent this complication. Fluoroscopy is advantageous in cases of thrombosis to assess the function of the prosthetic valve by measuring opening and closing angles. We describe two cases of aortic mechanical valve thrombosis with different mechanisms of thrombus formation. The ﬁ rst case was a 48-year-old woman admitted to the hospital because of shortness of breath during minimal exertion and signiﬁ cantly reduced exercise tolerance. Due to rheumatic heart disease the patient underwent aortic and mitral mechanical prosthesis and has been using warfarin in therapeutic norms. During echocardioscopy aortic prosthesis obstruction and severe tricuspid valve regurgitation were observed. The patient was scheduled for aortic root and TV prosthesis surgery. The second patient also had aortic mechanical valve due to severe aortic stenosis caused by rheumatism and presented with organizing pneumonia and progressing respiratory failure as complications of the COVID-19 infection and was admitted with dyspnea, cough, and weakness. Aortic prosthetic valve thrombosis was diagnosed despite optimal treatment and therapeutic INR.
Wave after wave: unboxing 40 years of auditing ethics research

Purpose To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that aims to present a comprehensive view of the auditing ethics literature by unboxing 40 years of efforts in the field. Design/methodology/approach This study combined bibliometric, social network and content analysis by analyzing 114 articles published in accounting and top business ethics journals on the Web of Science database from 1980 to 2021. Findings The results show a rising interest in this topic and reveal auditors’ ethical decision-making and moral reasoning as the most discussed topics in the literature. The work also clusters the literature according to keywords and scopes, identifying literature gaps and suggesting new avenues for future research. Practical implications The research results assist provide an overarching image of the auditing ethics field. In addition, these results draw possible future avenues to bridge the void in the current auditing ethics literature by presenting indispensable directions for potential research. For example, future research could pay more attention to whistleblowing, fraud, personal auditor characteristics, auditor ethical sensitivity, auditor ethical conflict, ethical climate and underreporting of time. Moreover, the rapidly changing business environment necessitates the auditing ethics research to move to more practical implications to mitigate previous mistakes and avoid any future risks. Originality/value All crises are an ideal breeding ground to motivate fraud and audit failures. In fact, auditing ethics research has been subordinated to the different economic crises. However, despite increasing awareness of the topic’s relevance, no comprehensive study focuses on auditing ethics literature. Now, the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis are producing a new wave of financial distresses and avoiding former mistakes is timelier than ever. With this novel and integrated approach, this work goes one step forward, developing a comprehensive picture of the auditing ethics literature.
Performance of microbiological tests for tuberculosis diagnostic according to the type of respiratory specimen: A 10-year retrospective study

Background The microbial diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) remains challenging and relies on multiple microbiological tests performed on different clinical specimens. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs), introduced in the last decades has had a significant impact on the diagnosis of TB. However, questions remain about the use of PCRs in combination with conventional tests for TB, namely microscopy and culture. We aimed to determine the performance of microscopy, culture and PCR for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis according to the type of clinical specimen in order to improve the diagnostic yield and to avoid unnecessary, time and labor-intensive tests. Methods We conducted a retrospective study (2008-2018) on analysis (34’429 specimens, 14’358 patients) performed in our diagnostic laboratory located in the Lausanne University Hospital to compare the performance of microbiological tests on sputum, induced sputum, bronchial aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). We analysed the performance using a classical “per specimen” approach and a “per patient” approach for paired specimens collected from the same patient. Results The overall sensitivities of microscopy, PCR and culture were 0.523 (0.489, 0.557), 0.798 (0.755, 0.836) and 0.988 (0.978, 0.994) and the specificity were 0.994 (0.993, 0.995), 1 (0.999, 1) and 1 (1, 1). Microscopy displayed no significant differences in sensitivity according to the type of sample. The sensitivities of PCR for sputum, induced sputum, bronchial aspirate and BAL were, 0.821 (0.762, 0.871), 0.643 (0.480, 0.784), 0.837 (0.748, 0.904) and 0.759 (0.624, 0.865) respectively and the sensitivity of culture were, 0.993 (0.981, 0.998), 0.980 (0.931, 0.998), 0.965 (0.919, 0.988), and 1 (0.961, 1) respectively. Pairwise comparison of specimens collected from the same patient reported a significantly higher sensitivity of PCR on bronchial aspirate over BAL (p < 0.001) and sputum (p < 0.05) and a significantly higher sensitivity of culture on bronchial aspirate over BAL (p < 0.0001). Conclusions PCR displayed a higher sensitivity and specificity than microscopy for all respiratory specimens, a rational for a smear-independent PCR-based approach to initiate tuberculosis microbial diagnostic. The diagnosis yield of bronchial aspirate was higher than BAL. Therefore, PCR should be systematically performed also on bronchial aspirates when available.
Hematological and Biochemical Assessment of Children Infected with Measles Virus: 2022 Outbreak in Pakistan

Measles is a contagious disease caused by an RNA virus. Resurgence of measles after Covid-19 and its severity among children has led to many speculations about the Measles vaccination coverage and its efficacy. In this study, the clinical data of children <9 years (n=19) admitted at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in the measles ward was analyzed. The blood samples were processed for hematology and routine biochemistry tests. The results obtained were statistically analyzed on SPSS-21 software by using One-Way ANOVA for Complete Parameters (CP), Kruskal Wallis, and Mann-Whitney test for Differential leucocyte count (DLC) and Biochemical parameters. A p<0.05 was considered significant. The results suggest no significant difference in Complete blood parameters (CP) among non-vaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated patients. Among DLC Basophils level was significantly different (p=0.024), being lower in partially vaccinated than non-vaccinated patients. Biochemical parameters showed that serum urea level was significantly different (p=0.013), showing a decline in fully vaccinated patients as compared to non-vaccinated patients. Moreover, a significantly higher level of Alkaline phosphatase as compared to the normal range was observed in fully vaccinated patients. However, lower levels of MCH, MCV, MCHC, RBC, Hb, eosinophils, and a higher level of RDW-CV were observed overall as compared to the normal range (healthy individuals). The results suggest improvements are needed in vaccination strategies for effectively controlling the disease. Anemic conditions in overall measles patients indicate poor health conditions. This study contains a limited sample size, further research on measles virus (MeV) mutations, and vaccine optimization could be helpful for the complete eradication of measles from Pakistan.
Robustness of Residual Network in Predicting PR Interval Trained Using Noisy Labels

The PR interval represents the time required from the electrical impulse to advance from the atrium to AV node and His-Purkinje system until the ventricular myocardium begins to depolarize. PR interval prolongation has been associated with significant increases in atrial fibrillation, heart failure and mortality. Over the past years, multiple deep learning models have been proposed to interpret electrocardiogram $(ECG)$ signals. Despite initial success, these models are often trained and validated using datasets that contain partially incorrect labels. These “noisy” labels exist because of the way the annotated data was collected and pose challenges for model training and validation. As a result, a residual neural network (ResNet), trained on noisy data, was proposed to estimate $PR$ intervals. $In$ addition, an electrophysiologist performed a blinded manual adjudication on a stratified sample to validate the accuracy of both the model and the noisy labels. The conclusion is that a ResNet trained on noisy data can correctly estimate $PR$ intervals and outperforms the noisy labels it was trained on.
Rule Generation from Several Types of Table Data Sets and Its Application: Decision-Making with Transparency and an Improved Execution Environment

This paper copes with rule generation from table data sets and applies the obtained rules to decision support. Here, two types of table data sets are considered. One type of them is speciﬁed as a Deterministic Information System (DIS). The other type is speciﬁed as a Non-deterministic Information System (NIS) for dealing with incomplete information. Two rule generation algorithms are reﬁned and newly implemented in Python. Every obtained rule is applied as evidence of decision-making. Therefore, the reasoning process preserves its transparency, which will be an essential characteristic for Explainable AI. The decision support environment is strengthened due to some described improvements and is also brushed up in Python. Some running videos of Python are available on the web page. This framework applies to almost any table data sets
Factors Associated with the Outcome of a Pediatric Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit in Resource-Limited Setup: Cross-Sectional Study

Background Critical care is a multidisciplinary and interprofessional specialty devoted to treating patients who already have or are at danger of developing acute, life-threatening organ dysfunction. Due to the higher disease load and mortality from preventable illness, patient outcomes in intensive care units are challenging in settings with inadequate resources. This study aimed to determine factors associated with outcomes of pediatric patients admitted to intensive care units. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at Wolaita Sodo and Hawassa University teaching hospitals in southern Ethiopia. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Normality tests using the Shapiro–Wilk and Kolmogorov–Smirnov data were normally distributed. The frequency, percentage, and cross-tabulation of the different variables were then determined. Finally, the magnitude and associated factors were first analyzed using binary logistic regression and then multivariate logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results A total of 396 Pediatric ICU patients were included in this study, and 165 (41.7%) deaths were recorded. The odds of patients from urban areas (AOR = 45%, CI 95%: 8%, 67% p-value = 0.025) were less likely to die than those in rural areas. Patients with co morbidities (AOR = 9.4, CI 95%: 4.5, 19.7, p = 0.000) were more likely to die than pediatric patients with no co-morbidities. Patients admitted with Acute respiratory distress syndrome (AOR = 12.86, CI 95%: 4.3, 39.2, p = 0.000) were more likely to die than those with not. Pediatric patients on mechanical ventilation (AOR = 3, CI 95%: 1.7, 5.9, p = 0.000) more likely to die than not mechanically ventilated. Conclusion Mortality of paediatric ICU patients was high (40.7%) in this study. Co-morbid disease, residency, the use of inotropes, and the length of ICU stay were all statistically significant predictors of death.
Effects of Customized Aggression Reduction Interventions with Male Adolescents: A Single-Case Research Design

ABSTRACT Aggression during adolescence can lead to unhealthy outcomes. Prior research suggests that youth with disruptive behaviors filter information in a distorted manner and struggle with social information processing skills. Teaching effective social processing skills can help reduce aggressive behaviors. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of customized aggression interventions on adolescent males. We used a theory-informed framework to guide the development of the interventions using an N = 1/ABA single-case research design with four male adolescents aged 13–14 who volunteered to participate in our study. A female licensed clinical mental health counselor designed and delivered the interventions and collected the outcome data. Participants completed a series of temporal assessments examining proactive, reactive, and total aggression. We hypothesized that customized interventions would be an effective means to address and reduce problematic aggressive behaviors. The data produced small to large effect sizes for three of the four participants, and statistically significant differences were observed between phases. The results have implications for the contributions of utilizing social information processing theory-informed customized aggression interventions with adolescents using single-case research design methodology.
Heart Rate Variability by Dynamical Patterns in Windows of Holter Electrocardiograms: A Method to Discern Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Heart Transplant Patients Shortly after the Transplant

Background: The Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) provides a long signal that represents the heart’s responses to both autonomic regulation and various phenomena, including heart tissue remodeling. Loss of information is a common result when using global statistical metrics. Method: Breaking the signal into short data segments (e.g., windows) provides access to transient heart rate characteristics. Symbolization of the ECG by patterns of accelerations and/or decelerations allows using entropic metrics in the assessment of heart rate complexity. Two types of analysis are proposed: (i) visualization of the pattern dynamics of the whole signal, and (ii) scanning the signal for pattern dynamics in a sliding window. The method was applied to a cohort of 42 heart transplant (HTX) recipients divided into the following groups: a left ventricle of normal geometry (NG), concentrically remodeled (CR), hypertrophic remodeled (H), and to the control group (CG) consisting of signals of 41 healthy coevals. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to assess group differences. Statistical conclusions were verified via bootstrap methods. Results: The visualization of the group pattern dynamics showed severely limited autonomic regulations in HTX patients when compared to CG. The analysis (in segments) prove that the pattern dynamics of the NG group are different from the pattern dynamics observed in the CR and H groups. Conclusion: Dynamic pattern entropy estimators tested in moving windows recognized left ventricular remodeling in stable HTX patients.
Methyl monolayers suppress mechanical energy dissipation in micromechanical silicon resonators

The quality factor and long-term stability of megahertz-range micromechanical silicon resonators can be significantly improved by a methyl monolayer directly bonded to the silicon surface. Mechanical energy dissipation in functionalized resonators is shown to be a sensitive function of surface chemistry. At least 18% and 41% of the dissipation in H-terminated and long-chain alkyl-terminated resonators, respectively, is surface related. Surface-induced dissipation is poorly correlated with the mechanical properties of the terminating layer, but may be related to the surface defect density.
The effect of tip curvature on the prebreakdown density change streamer in cyclo-hexane

The effect of tip curvature on the generation and propagation of prebreakdown density change streamers in cyclo-hexane was investigated. The streamer inception voltage increased with tip curvature, which was higher for a positive point than a negative one. The initial structure of the streamer was a single filament for both polarities in cyclo-hexane. The structure of the negative streamer changed from spherical to pagoda-like and bush-like with increasing applied voltage or tip curvature. A slim channel connecting the streamer with the needle tip was observed for a tip radius larger than 5 /spl mu/m, but not for that smaller than 3 /spl mu/m. For positive streamers, on the other hand, the structure changed from bush-like to filamentary with increasing tip curvature or applied voltage. There exists a critical tip curvature to generate a positive filamentary streamer. Both the length and the propagating speed of the streamer at its inception voltage increased with the tip curvature.