Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stimuli-Responsive Polymers for Soft Robotics

This article reviews recent progress in the use of stimuli-responsive polymers for soft robotics. First, we introduce different types of representative stimuli-responsive polymers, which include liquid crystal polymers and elastomers, hydrogels, shape memory polymers, magnetic elastomers, electroactive polymers, and thermal expansion actuators. We focus on the mechanisms of actuation and the evaluation of performance and discuss strategies for improvements. We then present examples of soft robotic applications based on stimuli-responsive polymers for bending, grasping, walking, swimming, flying, and sensing control. Finally, we discuss current opportunities and challenges of stimuli-responsive soft robots for future study. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Control, Robotics, and Autonomous Systems, Volume 5 is May 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews. org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
Feedforward compensated multiloop control of a power plant

Most control systems for fossil-fuel power plants basically consist of multiloop configurations of PID-based feedback control loops complemented with many feedforward compensations, which have been added to minimize the effects of interaction among the control loops due to the coupled process dynamics. Many configurations have been developed after various decades of research and practical experience. Currently, the required feedforward compensations are not designed in a systematic way, but heavily depending on the designer's experience. This paper presents a first evaluation of a multiloop control scheme with a feedforward-equivalent compensator, which can be designed from input-output process data. Placed between the controllers and the process, the purpose of the compensator is to reduce the control loop interaction effects to a degree manageable by the controllers. The compensator is built in such a way that the direct control loop paths are preserved: interaction compensation factors are added among the control signals. The compensation factors are determined from steady-state input-output process data; neither a dynamic model of the process, nor the solution of an optimization problem are required to design the compensator. Analysis and simulation experiments show that the proposed compensation is numerically well-conditioned, and effectively handles control loop interaction.
Prediction of the Becalmed Region for LP Turbine Profile Design

Recent attention has focused on the so called ‘becalmed region’ that is observed inside the boundary layers of turbomachinery blading and is associated with the process of wake-induced transition. Significant reductions of profile loss have been shown for high lift LP turbine blades at low Reynolds-numbers due the effects of the becalmed region on the diffusing flow at the rear of the suction surface.In this paper the nature and the significance of the becalmed region are examined using experimental observations and computational studies. It is shown that the becalmed region may be modelled using the unsteady laminar boundary layer equations. Therefore, it is predictable independently of the transition or turbulence models employed. The effect of the becalmed region on the transition process is modelled using a spot-based intermittency transition model. An unsteady differential boundary layer code was used to numerically simulate a deterministic experiment involving an isolated turbulent spot.The predictability of the becalmed region means that the rate of entropy production can be calculated in that region. It is found to be of the order of that in a laminar boundary layer. It is for this reason and because the becalmed region may be encroached upon by pursuing turbulent flows that for attached boundary layers, wake-induced transition cannot significantly reduce the profile loss. However, the becalmed region is less prone to separation than a conventional laminar boundary layer. Therefore, the becalmed region may be exploited in order to prevent boundary layer separation and the increase in loss that this entails. It is shown that it should now be possible to design efficient high lift LP turbine blades.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
A Specific Biomarker for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Classification

Note: This article was posted on the Archives Web site as an Early Online Release. Early Online Release articles have been peer reviewed, copyedited, and reviewed by the authors. Additional changes or corrections may appear in these articles when they appear in a future print issue of the Archives. Early Online Release articles are citable by using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI), a unique number given to every article. The DOI will typically appear at the end of the abstract.
A Novel Flame Retardant for Cotton Containing Ammonium Phosphonic Acid and Phosphonate Prepared from Urea

ABSTRACT A novel urea tetramethylene diphosphate dimethyl ammonium diphosphate (UTDDAD) flame retardant was synthesized. The structure of UTDDAD was characterized by NMR. The limiting oxygen index of 30% UTDDAD cotton fabric was 42.2% and was still 32% after 50 laundry cycles (LCs). The results showed that the UTDDAD flame retardant displays excellent flame retardancy and durability. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and durability test results suggested that the UTDDAD formed covalent bonds with the cellulose, while scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction results showed that UTDDAD has only a slight effect on the structure of the cellulose fiber. The thermogravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry results indicated that cotton fabric treated by UTDDAD follow the condensed flame retardancy mechanism. The UTDDAD-finished cotton fabrics maintained approximately 70% of the tensile strength of the original cotton. Hence, introduction of phosphonate groups in flame retardants is an effective strategy for increasing the durability of flame retardant cotton products. Graphical abstract
A microprocessor controlled microwave ranging system for high accuracy industrial applications

A microwave ranging system which employs a composite FMCW/CW measurement technique is described. An FMCW radar is used to find the approximate range of the target. The FMCW radar returns are processed in the spatial domain using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). In order to provide higher resolution, without an excessive increase in processing time, a modified "picket fence" algorithm is employed. A comparison of experimental results obtained from alternative resolution enhancement techniques is also included. A precision CW distance measurement is able to be resolved on the basis of the FMCW result to provide an accurate sub-millimetre range solution. A microcontroller based X-band prototype system suitable for industrial applications is described. <<ETX>>
Impact of dust-cloud-radiation interactions on surface albedo: a case study of ‘Tiramisu’ snow in Urumqi, China

Dust–cloud–surface radiation interactions are a complex nonlinear relation referring to the influences of both atmospheric dust and dust-on-snow on surface albedo. A ‘Tiramisu’ snow event occurred on 1 December 2018, in Urumqi, China, providing an excellent testbed for exploring the comprehensive effect induced by atmospheric dust and those deposited atop fresh snowpack on surface radiation. A detailed analysis indicates that the decrease of snow albedo by 0.17–0.26 (22%–34%) is contributed by the effects both the dust–cloud interactions and dust-on-snow at synoptic scale in this case. In particular, dust well mixed with ice clouds at altitudes of 2.5–5.5 km disrupted the ‘seeder–feeder’ structure of clouds and heterogeneous ice nucleation. Dust-induced changes in the low layer of ice clouds (3.3–5.5 km) under a low temperature of –20 °C resulted in a 31.8% increase in the ice particle radius and 84.6% increase in the ice water path, which acted to indirectly buffer the incident solar radiation reaching the surface. Dust particles deposited on the snow surface further caused snow darkening since the snow albedo was found to decrease by 11.8%–23.3%. These findings underscore the importance of considering the comprehensive effect of dust–cloud–radiation interactions in the future.
Uma aplicação do guia PMBOK na gestão de projetos de software

Este artigo apresenta um relato de experiencia de gestao de projeto de software para elaborar um plano de gerenciamento baseado nas gerencias de recursos humanos, custos e riscos seguindo as recomendacoes do guia do Modelo Processual do Project Management Institute (PMI). O plano de gerenciamento de projeto de software proposto refere-se ao desenvolvimento de um sistema de informacao na pos-graduacao, em termos de mestrado, em uma Universidade Publica.
RTOB SLAM: Real-Time Onboard Laser-Based Localization and Mapping

RTOB-SLAM is a new low-computation framework for real-time onboard simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) and obstacle avoidance for autonomous vehicles. A low-resolution 2D laser scanner is used and a small form-factor computer perform all computations onboard. The SLAM process is based on laser scan matching with the iterative closest point technique to estimate the vehicle’s current position by aligning the new scan with the map. This paper describes a new method which uses only a small subsample of the global map for scan matching, which improves the performance and allows for a map to adapt to a dynamic environment by partly forgetting the past. A detailed comparison between this method and current state-of-the-art SLAM frameworks is given, together with a methodology to choose the parameters of the RTOB-SLAM. The RTOB-SLAM has been implemented in ROS and perform well in various simulations and real experiments.
Pneumatic micropumps with serially connected actuation chambers

This study presents a new pneumatic micropump featuring three membrane-enclosed air chambers with different volumes, such that serially connected actuation of these membranes can generate fluid movement. When compressed air fills the chambers, the membranes are pushed downward sequentially, resulting in the liquid in the underlying fluid channels being pumped forward peristaltically. Since the chambers are filled up sequentially with compressed air, from the smallest to largest chamber, this time delay generates a peristaltic motion in the membranes and forces the liquids to flow only along one direction. The pneumatic micropump is made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) using soft lithography techniques. When compared with other pneumatic micropumps that usually require at least three electromagnetic valves (EMV), this new micropump can be operated by using a single EMV. Experimental results show that the micropump provides good performance even at low flow rates. The back pressure of the pneumatic micropump is measured at a fixed peak frequency to demonstrate the functionality of the micropump. The optimum operating conditions and geometric parameters of the micropump are systematically explored. A maximum flow of 108 µl min−1 is obtained at a driving frequency of 10 Hz and an air pressure of 25 psi (172.4 kPa) when a membrane with a thickness of 80 µm and a microchannel with a width of 500 µm are tested. The development of these micropumps could be crucial for automatic miniature biomedical and chemical analysis systems.
The Influence of Hazelnut Skin Addition on Quality Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Functional Yogurt

There is an increasing interest in applying fruit-processing wastes as functional food ingredients. Hazelnut skin, an interesting and innovative ingredient has recently been evaluated as one of the richest edible sources of polyphenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the use of hazelnut skin as a functional additive in yogurt and to determine the effect of various percentages (2%, 3%, and 4%) of hazelnut skin on the physicochemical, microbiological, rheological, biochemical, and sensorial properties of yogurt. The results showed that the addition of hazelnut skin significantly increased total solids from 16.5% to 17.7% and fat content from 3.45% to 4.60% and decreased titratable acidity by up to 36%. The enrichment with hazelnut skin also improved the viability of yogurt bacteria, water holding capacity (WHC), and antioxidant activity of yogurts. Better results for WHC and antioxidant values were found in yogurt enriched with 4% hazelnut skin. Total phenolic content and Fe2+ chelating activity of yogurts increased with the increasing hazelnut skin ratio. However, yogurts with hazelnut skin had low instrumental texture parameters and apparent viscosity values. On the other hand, acceptable sensorial properties similar to control yogurts increase the consumption potential of yogurts enriched with hazelnut skin.
Histidine Promotes the Glucose Synthesis through Activation of the Gluconeogenic Pathway in Bovine Hepatocytes

Simple Summary This study evaluated the effect of histidine (His) on hepatic glucose output and the expression of genes related to the gluconeogenic pathway in vitro. The results demonstrate that the supplementation of HIS can significantly improve the mRNA expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PCK1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), and glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC). Moreover, the addition of His ameliorated bovine hepatocytes glucose output. This study demonstrated that bovine hepatocytes can efficiently convert His into glucose to provide the energy required. Abstract Histidine (His) is considered to be the first-limiting amino acid (AA) on grass silage-based diets in lactation cows, which correlate positively with lactose yield. The higher glucose requirements of lactating cows can be met through a combination of increased capacity for gluconeogenesis and increased supply of gluconeogenic precursors. However, the effect of His on the expression of gluconeogenic genes in the bovine hepatocytes is less known. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of His on the key gluconeogenic genes and glucose output in bovine hepatocytes. The addition of 0.15, 0.6, and 1.2 mM His in a medium significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) the viability of bovine hepatocytes. Remarkably, 1.2 mM His induced profound changes (p < 0.05) in the mRNA level of key genes involved in gluconeogenesis, including PCK1, PCK2, FBP1, and G6PC in vitro. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of PCK1 was significantly elevated (p < 0.05) by the addition of 1.2 mM His at 3, 6, 12, and 24 h of incubation. The hepatic glucose output increased (p < 0.05) linearly with increasing His concentration. These findings indicate that the addition of His may be efficiently converted into glucose via the upregulation of genes related to the gluconeogenic pathway.
An exploration of the relationship between adverse events on the farm and suicidal ideation in farmers

Background: The risk of suicide for agricultural workers in parts of the United Kingdom (UK) is almost twice the national average. Existing literature has suggested that adverse farming events, where failure is determined by uncontrollable and unpredictable forces, may be to blame. Yet, the impact of such events on farmer suicidality has not been explicitly explored. Aims: The present paper therefore aimed to investigate the relationship between adverse farming events and suicidal ideation in farmers. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire battery was disseminated between July 2018 and February 2019, and completed by 170 adult farmers. Results: Over a 12-month period, 88.8% reported that they had experienced an adverse farming event and 32.9% said that they had experienced suicidal thoughts. Correlational analysis revealed a relationship between these variables. Conclusions: The high prevalence of suicidal ideation within farmers demonstrates a critical need for intervention. Likewise, the prevalence of adverse farming events suggests that interventions need to be appropriately tailored, with greater understanding about the impact of such events on the mental wellbeing of farmers.
Knowledge and Level of Diabetes Mellitus Management Compliance among Clinic Attendees at Jericho Specialist Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Diabetes Mellitus has emerged as one of the most challenging public health problems in the 21st century, it is a serious public health problem that threatens the quality of life of patients which can lead to acute and chronic complications. This study, therefore, assessed knowledge and level of diabetes management compliance among clinic attendees at Jericho specialist hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study that employed a two-stage sampling technique was designed to fill this gap. The records revealed that the ratio of males to females was 1:3, the respondents were stratified by gender, so the proportion of females and males selected was based on the aforementioned ratios. Systematic random sampling was then used in selecting respondents who chose to participate in the study using the list of males and females in the hospital register who was at the clinic on the day of the interview as sampling frames. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on two hundred and twenty respondents. Knowledge scores of ≤7, >7 was rated poor and good respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The mean age was 49.7±10.29 years which many (72.2%) were female. Almost all the respondents (98.2%) had good knowledge of compliance with the management of diabetes. Many (74.1%) ascertained that they sometimes forget to take their diabetes drugs. Meanwhile, most (82.5%) reported that taking medication every day is a real inconvenience for some people as they could get annoyed about sticking to their blood glucose treatment plan. Conclusion: There was generally good knowledge on the compliance to diabetes management which there is a need to consider the certain sociodemographic factors of the patients before recommending management.
Rectangular Waveguide with Two Double Ridges

An eigenvalue equation of a general structure having two arbitrary double ridges in a rectangular waveguide is derived. The cutoff wavelengths of two special cases with two symmetrically placed identical double ridges is computed numerically and their bandwidths are compared. The numerical solution of the eigenvector is also discussed and utilized in determining the gap impedance. As an example of the applications of such ridged waveguides, two varactor-tuned Gunn oscillators are briefly reported.
Fear of Missing Out dan Kesejahteraan Psikologis Individu Pengguna Media Sosial di Usia Emerging Adulthood

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari tahu pengaruh FoMO terhadap kesejahteraan psikologis terutama pada pengguna media sosial di usia emerging adulthood. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan jenis penelitian korelasional. Penelitian dilakukan di provinsi DIY melalui link googleform. Sampel dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 400 orang yang didapatkan dengan metode accidental sampling. Alat pengumpulan data menggunakan skala fear of missing out (FoMO) dan skala kesejahteraan psikologis yang telah dimodifikasi dari skala FoMO milik Przybylski dan skala kesejahteraan milik Ryff. Skala FoMO memiliki pernyataan sebanyak 15 butir dengan koefisien reliabilitas α=0,849 dan skala kesejahteraan psikologis memiliki 45 butir pernyataan dengan koefisien reliabilitas α=0,941. Teknik analisis data menggunakan uji regresi linier sederhana. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa FoMO mampu memprediksi kesejahteraan psikologis (β=0,315, F (1,398)=43,753; p<0,001). FoMO dapat memprediksi kesejahteraan psikologis dengan nilai kontribusi sebesar 9,9% (R2 = 0,099, p<0,001).
Perception of Local People Towards Tannery Industrial Waste: A Cross-Sectional Study on Hazaribagh Areas of Dhaka City

Though tannery industries such as RMG and pharmaceuticals have played a significant part in the country's economic sectors, they have had a serious detrimental impact on tannery workers and the Dhaka metropolitan environment. The major objective of the study was to measure the association between socio-demographic factors and perceptions of local people towards tannery industrial wastes. Following a simple random sampling technique, this study chose 384 respondents from the study area. The findings of the study reveal that a whopping 95% of respondents reported that tannery industrial wastes have serious effects on the environment in the study area. Again, the bivariate result of the study indicates that male, married respondents, educated respondents, and respondents with higher income are more likely to say that tannery waste is harmful to local people while male & age of the respondents, marital status, Muslim religion, and higher-income group socio-demographic variables are significantly associated with tannery industrial waste handling is highly risky. Moreover, sex, marital status, religion, and higher-income group are also found as significant indicators for creating disease by tannery industrial waste as well as sex, age and income have been found as the predictor for Tannery industrial waste segregation are essential.In conclusion, this study mainly emphasizes tannery industrial waste on the workers' health problems and lifestyles, furthermore, the findings also showed the environmental awareness & perceptions of local people caused by the hazardous tannery waste.
A Pilot Study: Composition and Diversity of 16S rRNA Based Skin Bacterial Microbiome in Indonesian Atopic Dermatitis Population

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) interferes with quality of life and is influenced by important factors like skin microbiome. The results of the skin microbiome composition and diversity in AD varied in some studies. Purpose This study aims to determine the composition and diversity of the skin microbiome in Indonesian AD patients. Patients and Methods Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) preparations were obtained from skin swabs of the cubital fossa of 16 subjects, nine of which were having mild AD, three moderate AD, and four healthy individuals. DNA extraction and sequencing of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene using next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were further performed. Results Firmicutes (p), Bacilli (c), Bacillales (o), Staphylococcaceae (f), and Staphylococcus (g) were dominant in moderate AD. On the contrary, Proteobacteria (p), Gammaproteobacteria (c), Pseudomonadales (o), Moraxellaceae (f), and Acinetobacter (g) were dominant in mild AD. Staphylococcus aureus was found in the highest number in individuals with moderate AD. Interestingly, Ensifer adhaerens was found in mild AD. Microbial diversity was decreased in moderate AD. Conclusion Metagenomic analysis in this study identified microbes in moderate and mild AD and showed a low diversity of skin microbiomes in moderate AD. Interestingly, this is the first time that the bacteria Ensifer adhaerens was detected on the human skin.
Sexual function among distressed women struggling to conceive without medical intervention

Abstract:Infertility is disproportionately associated with distress in women, yet there has been limited research focusing on sexual function in this population. Two hundred and thirty women with infertility who were attempting to conceive without medical assistance were recruited via social media. Women completed the Fertility Quality of Life, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Female Sexual Functioning Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Over half of the women with infertility met the clinical cut-off for sexual dysfunction. Sexual function was positively associated with relationship adjustment and infertility-related quality of life and negatively associated with anxiety and depression. Sexual function moderated the relationship between time trying to conceive and psychological outcomes. These findings highlight several domains of sexual functioning that could be manipulated via psychological interventions to potentially improve distress among women struggling to conceive.