Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Madden‐Julian Oscillation and the Indo‐Pacific Warm Pool

A minimal model of the interaction of the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) with the Indo‐Pacific warm pool is presented. This model is based on the linear superposition of the flow associated with a highly simplified treatment of the MJO plus the flow induced by the warm pool itself. Both of these components parameterize rainfall as proportional to the column water vapor, which in turn is governed by a linearized moisture equation in which WISHE (wind induced surface heat exchange) plays a governing role. The MJO component has maximum growth rate for planetary wavenumber 1 and is equatorially trapped with purely zonal winds. The warm pool component exhibits a complex flow pattern, differing significantly from the classical Gill model as a result of the mean easterly flow. The combination of the two produce a flow that reproduces many aspects of the observed global flow associated with the MJO.
Tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐p‐metacirculants

A graph is half‐arc‐transitive if its full automorphism group acts transitively on its vertex set and edge set, but not arc set. A graph is said to be a bi‐Cayley graph over a group H if it admits H as a group of automorphisms acting semiregularly and with two orbits on the vertex set. In this paper, a classification is given of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive bi‐Cayley graphs over metacyclic p ‐groups for each odd prime p , and this is then used to give a classification of tetravalent half‐arc‐transitive graphs of order twice a prime cube.
Innovative Financing Mechanism for Environmental Protection: Applying PES in a Watershed Area in Albania

This paper aims at the discussion of innovative environmental financing mechanism developed throughout the world and in Albania. The premise of the paper is the fact that government financing and international assistance are not sufficient anymore to address global environmental and biodiversity protection issues. Therefore, new mechanisms, based on the active involvement of the private sector, need to be developed and implemented. The paper focuses on one particular financial mechanism to argue upon the role of private sector: Payment for Ecosystem Services. Based on the “beneficiary pays” principle, upon which PES is conceived, the paper discusses a possible implementation of PES in one study area: Bovilla watershed. This case study analysis identifies the cost and benefits of the scheme in the study area and gives an overview of the design of the scheme. Other innovative instruments are discussed, giving some insights one their use in the Albanian context. Received: 25 October 2021 / Accepted: 30 November 2021 / Published: 9 December 2021
Stability of periodically modulated rotating disk boundary layers

The linear stability properties of the boundary layer generated above a disk of infinite extent which rotates around its azimuth are explored for a novel configuration. The rotation rate is taken to be temporally periodic, motivated by findings from Thomas et. al. (Proc. Royal Soc. A, 2011) that the addition of an oscillatory component to an otherwise steady flow has stabilising effects. The vorticity-based methods that were first adopted by Davies and Carpenter (J. Comput. Phys., 2001) are utilised in a novel way for the solution of steady and temporally periodic eigenvalue dispersion relations. Validation of this method is provided by archetypal flow configurations such as the steady Blasius boundary layer and the temporally periodic Stokes layer, where Floquet theory is incorporated. Floquet stability theory is applied to the periodically modulated rotating disk for fixed wavenumber and fixed frequency disturbances, where it is shown that the addition of a modulated rotation rate has a stabilising effect on the boundary layer across a range of modulation frequencies. Confirmation is provided by frozen profile analyses and direct numerical simulations of the subsequent flow development. An energy analysis of the perturbation quantities is conducted to provide insights into the physical mechanisms for the stabilisation. The flow response to impulsive excitations in the periodically modulated rotating disk boundary layer is explored. Direct numerical simulations of radially homogeneous and inhomogeneous configurations are conducted and global stability behaviour is investigated.
Analysis of a constructive matheuristic for the traveling umpire problem

Abstract The Traveling Umpire Problem (TUP) is a combinatorial optimization problem concerning the assignment of umpires to the games of a fixed double round-robin tournament. The TUP draws inspiration from the real world multi-objective Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire scheduling problem, but is, however, restricted to the single objective of minimizing total travel distance of the umpires. Several hard constraints are employed to enforce fairness when assigning umpires, making it a challenging optimization problem. The present work concerns a constructive matheuristic approach which focuses primarily on large benchmark instances. A decomposition-based approach is employed which sequentially solves Integer Programming (IP) formulations of the subproblems to arrive at a feasible solution for the entire problem. This constructive matheuristic efficiently generates feasible solutions and improves the best known solutions of large benchmark instances of 26, 28, 30 and 32 teams well within the benchmark time limit. In addition, the algorithm is capable of producing feasible solutions for various small and medium benchmark instances competitive with those produced by other heuristic algorithms. The paper also details experiments conducted to evaluate various algorithmic design parameters such as subproblem size, overlap and objective functions.
DC-DC Boost Converters Parameters Estimation Based on Digital Twin

This paper presents the real-time monitoring of the degradation parameters of the DC-DC boost converter by utilizing the Digital Twin (DT) method. The DT is a real-time high-fidelity mathematical (digital) model that runs in parallel to the physical DC-DC boost converter, providing information for its monitoring and control using the measurement data coming from the sensors already existing in the asset. The digital model is obtained by means of the Backward Euler numerical methodology for discrete-time representation of the mathematical switching model of the physical system. The estimation of degradation parameters of the physical system is based on the data analysis carried out by comparing the data measured by the sensors existing in the physical system and the data coming from the digital model. The data analysis is done by applying the heuristic algorithm like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method. The proposed method is validated through the digital-switching model realized by means of the FPGA and it runs on a suitable control board. Experimental tests on the converter prototype are illustrated. For further validation, a sensitivity analysis is carried out.
Breaking Megrelishvili protocol using matrix diagonalization

In this article we conduct a theoretical security analysis of Megrelishvili protocol—a linear algebra-based key agreement between two participants. We study the computational complexity of Megrelishvili vector-matrix problem (MVMP) as a mathematical problem that strongly relates to the security of Megrelishvili protocol. In particular, we investigate the asymptotic upper bounds for the running time and memory requirement of the MVMP that involves diagonalizable public matrix. Specifically, we devise a diagonalization method for solving the MVMP that is asymptotically faster than all of the previously existing algorithms. We also found an important counterintuitive result: the utilization of primitive matrix in Megrelishvili protocol makes the protocol more vulnerable to attacks.
Influence of Market Development on Performance of Coffee Cooperative Societies in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Organizations operating in the business environment require a plan to help them get a competitive edge and improve their performance. Evidently, the constantly rising level of competition and the influx of new enterprises into the cooperative societies sector make it necessary for every cooperative society to develop strategies in order to ensure better and more enhanced performance. Specifically, the goal of this study was to determine the impact of growth strategies on the performance of coffee cooperative societies in Tharaka Nithi County. This was guided by the objective; to examine the influence of market development on the performance of coffee cooperative societies in Tharaka Nithi County. It was based on agency theory. A descriptive study technique was used, with a target population of 340 respondents drawn from the 34 coffee cooperative societies in Tharaka Nithi County as the participants. The population was divided into three separate strata, each of which consisted of a large number of highly trained society employees who will work together as a team. In order to choose a representative sample of 204 respondents from each stratum, stratified random selection was used. In order to gather information, respondents were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires. Data was analyzed using both descriptive statistics like mean as well as standard deviation and inferential statistics which included correlation and regression analysis. The research discovered a significant positive association between diversification strategy, product development strategy, market penetration strategy, market development strategy and performance of coffee cooperative societies in Tharaka Nithi County. Its regression analysis found that the collective usage of growth strategies was responsible for 45.6 percent of the variations in performance of these coffee cooperative societies. Based on the findings, diversification strategy had the largest impact on performance followed by market penetration while market development and product development strategy had the least influence on performance of coffee cooperative societies in Tharaka Nithi County. It is therefore, recommended that managers and shareholders of the cooperative societies that are yet to adopt growth strategies should adopt them to remain competitive and profitable in this turbulent business environment.
Assessment of the Hematopoietic Potential of Telfairia occidentalis Leaf Extract of on Male Wistar Rats

Aims: This study assess the haematopeotic potentials of Telfairia occidentalis (TO) leaf extract on male wistar rat. Methodology: A total of 20 wistar rats randomly distributed into four groups A to D were acclimatized for two weeks; group A served as control, while groups B C and D were gavaged 100 mg/kg b/w (UGU 1), 150 mg/kg b/w (UGU 2), 250 mg/kg b/w (UGU 3) of aqueous extract of TO respectively, once every 48 hours for 30 consecutive days. After the exposure period, the surviving rats were examined and sacrificed. Blood samples were collected for full blood count and blood film preparation. Results: The result of the study showed that TO casued an increase in white blood cell count (17.50±0.10 - 25.48±1.28 ×109cells/L), lymphocyte (2.45±1.35 - 15.86±2.66 ×109cells/L), mid-sized cell (3.38±0.42 – 4.61±0.60 ×109cells/L) and granulocyte (1.67±0.80 – 5.11±0.80 ×109cells/L) when compared to the Control. There was equally an increase in the platelet count (420.50±56.50 - 810.95±43.05× 109 cells/L) and platetocrit (0.33±0.05 – 0.58±0.03 ×109cells/L) when compared to the Control. However, there was a reduction in the red blood count (7.76.±0.06 - 6.28±0.25 ×109cells/L), haemoglobin (16.67±0.37 – 12.18±0.58 ×109cells/L) and hematocrit (41.47±0.27 – 33.55±1.25 ×109cells/L) of rats in treated group), (6.92±0.34 ×109cells/L) and when compared with the Control. Conclusion: This present study have validated the haematopeotic potential of Telfairia occidentalis leaf extract as it improved the haematological parameters of male wistar rats. The antioxidants exerted a multitude of beneficial effect on cellular functions of both innate and adaptive immune system.
Konstruksi Model Kualitas Laporan Keuangan Di Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to construct a financial report quality model that includes professional supervision as a moderator of the relationship between audit quality and competence and independence, and audit quality as a mediation effect of competence and independence on the quality of financial reports. Perceptions of Public Accountants (AP) on competence, independence, audit quality, professional supervision, and quality of financial reports are the subject matter of primary data collected by purposive sampling from 678 KAPs in Indonesia. Partial Least Square is used to analyze. The t test was applied to test the hypothesis. The research findings show that the financial report quality model is created by first strengthening the relationship between competence and independence with audit quality through professional supervision. The relationship between professional supervision and audit quality is getting stronger the tighter it is. Second, audit quality as a mediator has the potential to strengthen the impact of competence and independence on the quality of financial reports. The impact on the quality of financial reports increases along with audit quality.
Plastid dsRNA transgenes trigger phased small RNA-based gene silencing of nuclear-encoded genes

Abstract Plastid transformation technology has been widely used to express traits of potential commercial importance, though the technology has been limited to traits that function while sequestered in the organelle. Prior research indicates that plastid contents can escape from the organelle, suggesting a possible mechanism for engineering plastid transgenes to function in other cellular locations. To test this hypothesis, we created tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv. Petit Havana) plastid transformants that express a fragment of the nuclear-encoded Phytoene desaturase (PDS) gene capable of catalyzing post-transcriptional gene silencing if RNA escapes into the cytoplasm. We found multiple lines of direct evidence that plastid-encoded PDS transgenes affect nuclear PDS gene silencing: knockdown of the nuclear-encoded PDS mRNA and/or its apparent translational inhibition, biogenesis of 21-nucleotide (nt) phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs), and pigment-deficient plants. Furthermore, plastid-expressed dsRNA with no cognate nuclear-encoded pairing partner also produced abundant 21-nt phasiRNAs in the cytoplasm, demonstrating that a nuclear-encoded template is not required for siRNA biogenesis. Our results indicate that RNA escape from plastids to the cytoplasm occurs generally, with functional consequences that include entry into the gene silencing pathway. Furthermore, we uncover a method to produce plastid-encoded traits with functions outside of the organelle and open additional fields of study in plastid development, compartmentalization, and small RNA biogenesis.
A Novel Adaptive Noise Covariance Matrix Estimation and Filtering Method: Application to Multiobject Tracking

This article presents a novel online adaptive method for estimating the process and measurement noise covariance matrices in Kalman filters (KFs) to address the challenge of varying noise characteristics in practical applications. Specifically, the proposed method decomposes the noise covariance matrix into an element distribution matrix and a noise intensity and employs an improved Sage filter to estimate the element distribution matrix. Additionally, a calibration and correction method is introduced to accurately determine and adaptively correct the online bias of the noise intensity. The unbiasedness and convergence of the proposed method are mathematically proven under the condition that the system is detectable. Moreover, this method is applied to multiobject tracking (MOT) based on KFs and light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and it is evaluated on the KITTI dataset and the official KITTI server. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves significantly improved MOT performance based on KFs and outperforms other LiDAR-based methods on the KITTI leaderboard. This method provides a new approach for enhancing the performance of KFs and assisting with MOT, and it has practical feasibility for real-world applications.
Yukawa Hierarchies and the See-saw Mechanism

The strong hierarchies in the Yukawa couplings allow, via the principle of Minimal Flavour Violation, to explain the smallness of quark and charged lepton flavour changing neutral interactions in new physics models. We study the renormalization group evolution of the Minimal Flavour Violation ansatz in the MSSM as well as of the more specific aligned 2HDM, ascertaining that flavour changing neutral interactions are within experimental bounds for large portions of the parameter space. In models with right-handed neutrinos it is natural to postulate also hierarchical neutrino Yukawa eigenvalues. However, this requires specific solutions for the mixing angles and right-handed neutrino masses in order to obtain the observed neutrino parameters via the see-saw mechanism. In the MSSM we show that, barring cancellations, the non-observation of mu --> e gamma implies the existence of an upper bound on the smallest neutrino Yukawa eigenvalue and the lightest right-handed neutrino mass. Moreover we discuss the implications of these bounds on leptogenesis. In the general 2HDM, there is a generic way to obtain the observed mild neutrino mass hierarchy. We show that this holds true even in the decoupling limit of the second Higgs where all problems usually associated to the general 2HDM are alleviated.
Telemedicine: Medicolegal aspects in ObGyn

Telemedicine (or telehealth) originated in the early 1900s, when radios were used to communicate medical advice to clinics aboard ships. According to the American Telemedicine Association, telemedicine is namely “the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status. ” These communications use 2-way video, email, smartphones, wireless tools, and other forms of telecommunications technology. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many ObGyns—encouraged and advised by professional organizations—began providing telemedicine services. The first reported case of COVID-19 was in late 2019; the use of telemedicine was 38 times higher in February 2021 than in February 2020, illustrating how many physicians quickly moved to telemedicine practices.
Robust Double‐integral T‐S Fuzzy Output Regulation for Nonlinear Systems

This paper proposes a robust double‐integral T‐S fuzzy output regulator design for affine nonlinear systems in the presence of parametric uncertainty and external disturbance. First, we adopt double integrators (an error integrator and an input integrator) to obtain an augmented T‐S fuzzy model representation which has a common input matrix of fuzzy rules. This property yields less stability conditions. Next, by introducing a set of virtual desired variables (VDVs), a double‐integral VDV‐based fuzzy regulator is proposed to cope with unknown bias and to achieve asymptotical output regulation. Afterward, the controller is simplified to avoid VDV calculation and enhance robustness to uncertainty and external disturbance. In contrast to traditional regulation design, the double‐integral non‐VDV fuzzy regulator design reduces the number of fuzzy controller rules and stability LMIs. Moreover, the error coordinate transformation is removed and the uncertainty is allowed in this paper. Finally, a DC/DC buck converter system is taken as the example to demonstrate the expected performance.
Accurate camera calibration with color phase-shifting wedge grating arrays

In order to reduce human interaction and the workload, a method using a color phase-shifting wedge grating array is proposed for accurate camera calibration, which needs only one frame at each pose. Firstly, the zero-phase points are roughly extracted by edge detection algorithm and optimized by windowed bicubic fitting with sub-pixel accuracy. Secondly, a simple linear fitting algorithm is used to obtain zero-phase lines and acquiring their intersection points. Finally, the intersection points coinciding with circle-centers are regarded as feature points to calibrate the camera. The effectiveness and accuracy of the method is verified by experiments with real images even under color-coupling. It is shown that our method is accurate and reliable comparing with the checkerboard.
Response moments of dynamic systems under non-Gaussian random excitation by the equivalent non-Gaussian excitation method

Equivalent non-Gaussian excitation method is proposed to obtain the response moments up to the 4th order of dynamic systems under non-Gaussian random excitation. The non-Gaussian excitation is prescribed by the probability density and the power spectrum, and is described by an Ito stochastic differential equation. Generally, moment equations for the response, which are derived from the governing equations for the excitation and the system, are not closed due to the nonlinearity of the diffusion coefficient in the equation for the excitation even though the system is linear. In the equivalent non-Gaussian excitation method, the diffusion coefficient is replaced with the equivalent diffusion coefficient approximately to obtain a closed set of the moment equations. The square of the equivalent diffusion coefficient is expressed by a quadratic polynomial. In numerical examples, a linear system subjected to nonGaussian excitations with bimodal and Rayleigh distributions is analyzed by using the present method. The results show that the method yields the variance, skewness and kurtosis of the response with high accuracy for non-Gaussian excitation with the widely different probability densities and bandwidth. The statistical moments of the equivalent non-Gaussian excitation are also investigated to describe the feature of the method.
Evaluation of the effects of Momordica charantia on tibial defect injury in rats

We aimed to examine the histological and immunohistochemical effects of Momordica charantia on bone repair, which provides positive regulation such as blood sugar, blood pressure, antilipidemic, anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and tissue regeneration in rats with tibial bone defect. Momordica charantia (MC) (commonly called bitter melon; Goya; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear; with many more names listed below) is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible fruit. Its many varieties differ substantially in the shape and bitterness of the fruit. In this study, 32 male Sprague Dawley rats, 12 weeks old and weighing 250-300gr, were used. 8 rats in each group randomly, 1st group control, 2nd group defect (Sham), 3rd group defect + MC group (14 days), 4th group defect + MC group (28 days) separated into the group. In this experimental study, 600 mg/kg/day MC (bitter melon) extract was mixed into the drinking water of groups 3 and 4 and administered to rats by oral tube. One 6 mm diameter cylindrical defects were created in the body of the right tibia bone. No action was taken in Group 1. In Group 2, only tibial defect was made. For 14 days in group 3 and 28 days in group 4, 600 mg/kg/day MC extract was mixed with drinking water and given by oral gavage. Elevated Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and Myeloperoxidase (MPO) decreased. In groups 3 and 4, osteoblastic activity and osteocyte development increased, while osteopontin and osteonectin expression were found to be positive, while osteoclastic activity decreased compared to the sham group. It is a good antioxidant in the groups where MC is applied. It has been observed that it can have a positive effect on bone repair. Keywords: Momordica charantia; Tibial defect; Fracture healing; Bone repair; Antioxidant