Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OFDMA Backoff Control Scheme for Improving Channel Efficiency in the Dynamic Network Environment of IEEE 802.11ax WLANs

IEEE 802.11ax uplink orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA)-based random access (UORA) is a new feature for random channel access in wireless local area networks (WLANs). Similar to the legacy random access scheme in WLANs, UORA performs the OFDMA backoff (OBO) procedure to access the channel and decides on a random OBO counter within the OFDMA contention window (OCW) value. An access point (AP) can determine the OCW range and inform each station (STA) of it. However, how to determine a reasonable OCW range is beyond the scope of the IEEE 802.11ax standard. The OCW range is crucial to the UORA performance, and it primarily depends on the number of contending STAs, but it is challenging for the AP to accurately and quickly estimate or keep track of the number of contending STAs without the aid of a specific signaling mechanism. In addition, the one for this purpose incurs an additional delay and overhead in the channel access procedure. Therefore, the performance of a UORA scheme can be degraded by an improper OCW range, especially when the number of contending STAs changes dynamically. We first observed the effect of OCW values on channel efficiency and derived its optimal value from an analytical model. Next, we proposed a simple yet effective OBO control scheme where each STA determines its own OBO counter in a distributed manner rather than adjusting the OCW value globally. In the proposed scheme, each STA determines an appropriate OBO counter depending on whether the previous transmission was successful or not so that collisions can be mitigated without leaving OFDMA resource units unnecessarily idle. The results of a simulation study confirm that the throughput of the proposed scheme is comparable to the optimal OCW-based scheme and is improved by up to 15 times compared to the standard UORA scheme.
Ranging with Frequency Dependent Ultrasound Air Attenuation

Measuring the distance between two points has multiple uses. Position can be geometrically calculated from multiple measurements of the distance between reference points and moving sensors. Distance measurement can be done by measuring the time of flight of an ultrasonic signal traveling from an emitter to receiving sensors. However, this requires close synchronization between the emitter and the sensors. This synchronization is usually done using a radio or optical channel, which requires additional hardware and power to operate. On the other hand, for many applications of great interest, low-cost, small, and lightweight sensors with very small batteries are required. Here, an innovative technique to measure the distance between emitter and receiver by using ultrasonic signals in air is proposed. In fact, the amount of the signal attenuation in air depends on the frequency content of the signal itself. The attenuation level that the signal undergoes at different frequencies provides information on the distance between emitter and receiver without the need for any synchronization between them. A mathematical relationship here proposed allows for estimating the distance between emitter and receiver starting from the measurement of the frequency dependent attenuation along the traveled path. The level of attenuation in the air is measured online along the operation of the proposed technique. The simulations showed that the range accuracy increases with the decrease of the ultrasonic transducer diameter. In particular, with a diameter of 0.5 mm, an error of less than ± 2.7 cm (average value 1.1 cm) is reached along two plane sections of the typical room of the office considered (4 × 4 × 3 m3).
CIDF-WSN: A Collaborative Interest and Data Forwarding Strategy for Named Data Wireless Sensor Networks

Recent years have witnessed the huge popularity of Information-Centric Networking (ICN) and its realization as Named Data Networking (NDN) in the context of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The participating nodes in WSNs are usually equipped with a single radio interface. The existing solutions lack in providing the efficient next forwarder selection in NDN-based single radio WSNs. In this work, we propose a collaborative Interest and Data Forwarding (CIDF-WSN) Strategy for Named Data Wireless Sensor Networks. CIDF-WSN develop a Neighbor Information Base (NFIB) which enables the node to select the optimal next-hop relay in Interest packet forwarding. An efficient Interest packet processing mechanism assisted by the Interest Cache Table (ICT) is provided to avoid Interest packets loss and frequent re-transmissions. In addition, CIDF-WSN also provides a robust Data packet transfer mechanism accompanied by the Temp Cache Table (TCT) to avoid Data packet losses and to ensure well-timed content delivery. Simulation results reveal that CIDF-WSN outperforms the recently published works in terms of Interest satisfaction rate, total energy consumption, Data retrieval delays, and communication overhead.
Forces: A Motion Capture-Based Ergonomic Method for the Today’s World

Approximately three of every five workers are affected by musculoskeletal disorders, especially in production environments. In this regard, workstation ergonomic evaluations are especially beneficial for conducting preventive actions. Nevertheless, today’s context demonstrates that traditional ergonomic methods should lead to smart ergonomic methods. This document introduces the Forces ergonomic method, designed considering the possibilities of inertial motion capture technology and its applicability to evaluating actual workstations. This method calculates the joint risks for each posture and provides the total risk for the assessed workstation. In this calculation, Forces uses postural measurement and a kinetic estimation of all forces and torques that the joints support during movement. This paper details the method’s fundamentals to achieve structural validity, demonstrating that all parts that compose it are logical and well-founded. This method aims to aid prevention technicians in focusing on what matters: making decisions to improve workers’ health. Likewise, it aims to answer the current industry needs and reduce musculoskeletal disorders caused by repetitive tasks and lower the social, economic, and productivity losses that such disorders entail.
EEG-Based Emotion Recognition by Convolutional Neural Network with Multi-Scale Kernels

Besides facial or gesture-based emotion recognition, Electroencephalogram (EEG) data have been drawing attention thanks to their capability in countering the effect of deceptive external expressions of humans, like faces or speeches. Emotion recognition based on EEG signals heavily relies on the features and their delineation, which requires the selection of feature categories converted from the raw signals and types of expressions that could display the intrinsic properties of an individual signal or a group of them. Moreover, the correlation or interaction among channels and frequency bands also contain crucial information for emotional state prediction, and it is commonly disregarded in conventional approaches. Therefore, in our method, the correlation between 32 channels and frequency bands were put into use to enhance the emotion prediction performance. The extracted features chosen from the time domain were arranged into feature-homogeneous matrices, with their positions following the corresponding electrodes placed on the scalp. Based on this 3D representation of EEG signals, the model must have the ability to learn the local and global patterns that describe the short and long-range relations of EEG channels, along with the embedded features. To deal with this problem, we proposed the 2D CNN with different kernel-size of convolutional layers assembled into a convolution block, combining features that were distributed in small and large regions. Ten-fold cross validation was conducted on the DEAP dataset to prove the effectiveness of our approach. We achieved the average accuracies of 98.27% and 98.36% for arousal and valence binary classification, respectively.
A Practice of BLE RSSI Measurement for Indoor Positioning

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is one of the RF-based technologies that has been utilizing Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI) in indoor position location systems (IPS) for decades. Its recent signal stability and propagation distance improvement inspired us to conduct this project. Beacons and scanners used two Bluetooth specifications, BLE 5.0 and 4.2, for experimentations. The measurement paradigm consisted of three segments, RSSI–distance conversion, multi-beacon in-plane, and diverse directional measurement. The analysis methods applied to process the data for precise positioning included the Signal propagation model, Trilateration, Modification coefficient, and Kalman filter. As the experiment results showed, the positioning accuracy could reach 10 cm when the beacons and scanners were at the same horizontal plane in a less-noisy environment. Nevertheless, the positioning accuracy dropped to a meter-scale accuracy when the measurements were executed in a three-dimensional configuration and complex environment. According to the analysis results, the BLE wireless signal strength is susceptible to interference in the manufacturing environment but still workable on certain occasions. In addition, the Bluetooth 5.0 specifications seem more promising in bringing brightness to RTLS applications in the future, due to its higher signal stability and better performance in lower interference environments.
Clinical Efficacy of Polycaprolactone β-Calcium Triphosphate Composite for Osteoconduction in Rabbit Bone Defect Model

The combination of β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) with polycaprolactone (PCL) has been considered a promising strategy for designing scaffolds for bone grafting. This study incorporated PCL with commercially available β-TCP (OsteoceraTM) to fabricate an injectable bone substitute and evaluate the effect of PCL on compressive strength and setting time of the hydraulic cement. The mechanical testing was compliant with the ASTM D695 and ASTM C191-13 standards. Results showed that PCL-TCP composite presented a well-defined architecture with uniform pore distribution and a significant increase in compressive strength compared with β-TCP alone. Eighteen rabbits, each with two surgically created bone defects, were treated using the PCL-TCP composites. The composite materials were resorbed and replaced by newly formed bone tissue. Both PCL-TCP and β-TCP demonstrated equivalent clinical effects on osteoconduction property in terms of the percentage of newly formed bone area measured by histomorphometric analysis. PCL-TCP was proven to be as effective as the commercially available β-TCP scaffold (OsteoceraTM).
Neural Plasticity in a French Horn Player with Bilateral Amelia

Precise control of movement and timing play a key role in musical performance. This motor skill requires coordination across multiple joints, muscles, and limbs, which is acquired through extensive musical training from childhood on. Thus, making music can be a strong driver for neuroplasticity. We here present the rare case of a professional french horn player with a congenital bilateral amelia of the upper limbs. We were able to show a unique cerebral and cerebellar somatotopic representation of his toe and feet, that do not follow the characteristic patterns of contralateral cortical and ipsilateral cerebellar layout. Although being a professional horn player who trained his embouchure muscles, including tongue, pharyngeal, and facial muscle usage excessively, there were no obvious signs for an expanded somatosensory representation in this part of the classic homunculus. Compared to the literature and in contrast to control subjects, the musicians' foot movement-related activations occurred in cerebellar areas that are typically more related to hand than to foot activation.
An Instrument for the Characterization and Calibration of Optical Sensors

This paper presents the development of a hardware/software system for the characterization of the electronic response of optical (camera) sensors such as matrix and linear color and monochrome Charge Coupled Device (CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS). The electronic response of a sensor is required for inspection purposes. It also allows the design and calibration of the integrating device to achieve the desired performance. The proposed instrument equipment fulfills the most recent European Machine Vision Association (EMVA) 1288 standard ver. 3.1: the spatial non uniformity of the illumination ΔE must be under 3%, and the sensor must achieve an f-number of 8.0 concerning the light source. The following main innovations have achieved this: an Ulbricht sphere providing a uniform light distribution (irradiation) of 99.54%; an innovative illuminator with proper positioning of color Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and control electronics; and a flexible C# program to analyze the sensor parameters, namely Quantum Efficiency, Overall System Gain, Temporal Dark Noise, Dark Signal Non Uniformity (DSNU1288), Photo Response Non-Uniformity (PRNU1288), Maximum achievable Signal to Noise Ratio (SNRmax), Absolute sensitivity threshold, Saturation Capacity, Dynamic Range, and Dark Current. This new instrument has allowed a camera manufacturer to design, integrate, and inspect numerous devices and camera models (Necta, Celera, and Aria).
Properties of Low-Cost WPCs Made from Alien Invasive Trees and rLDPE for Interior Use in Social Housing

Low-cost wood–plastic composites (WPCs) were developed from invasive trees and recycled low-density polyethylene. The aim was to produce affordable building materials for low-cost social housing in South Africa. Both raw materials are regarded as waste materials, and the subsequent product development adds value to the resources, while simultaneously reducing the waste stream. The production costs were minimised by utilising the entire biomass of Acacia saligna salvaged from clearing operations without any prior processing, and low-grade recycled low-density polyethylene to make WPCs without any additives. Different biomass/plastic ratios, particle sizes, and press settings were evaluated to determine the optimum processing parameters to obtain WPCs with adequate properties. The water absorption, dimensional stability, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and tensile moduli were improved at longer press times and higher temperatures for all blending ratios. This has been attributed to the crystallisation of the lignocellulose and thermally induced cross-linking in the polyethylene. An increased biomass ratio and particle size were positively correlated with water absorption and thickness swelling and inversely related with MOR, tensile strength, and density due to an incomplete encapsulation of the biomass by the plastic matrix. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilising low-grade recycled polyethylene and the whole-tree biomass of A. saligna, without the need for pre-processing and the addition of expensive modifiers, to produce WPCs with properties that satisfy the minimum requirements for interior cladding or ceiling material.
A Blockchain-Based Spatial Crowdsourcing System for Spatial Information Collection Using a Reward Distribution

Due to the increasing relevance of spatial information in different aspects of location-based services, various methods are used to collect this information. The use of crowdsourcing due to plurality and distribution is a remarkable strategy for collecting information, especially spatial information. Crowdsourcing can have a substantial effect on increasing the accuracy of data. However, many centralized crowdsourcing systems lack security and transparency due to a trusted party’s existence. With the emergence of blockchain technology, there has been an increase in security, transparency, and traceability in spatial crowdsourcing systems. In this paper, we propose a blockchain-based spatial crowdsourcing system in which workers confirm or reject the accuracy of tasks. Tasks are reports submitted by requesters to the system; a report comprises type and location. To our best knowledge, the proposed system is the first system that all participants receive rewards. This system considers spatial and non-spatial reward factors to encourage users’ participation in collecting accurate spatial information. Privacy preservation and security of spatial information are considered in the system. We also evaluated the system efficiency. According to the experiment results, using the proposed system, information accuracy increased by 40%, and the minimum time for reviewing reports by facilities reduced by 30%. Moreover, we compared the proposed system with the current centralized and distributed crowdsourcing systems. This comparison shows that, although our proposed system omits the user’s history to preserve privacy, it considers a consensus-based approach to guarantee submitted reports’ accuracy. The proposed system also has a reward mechanism to encourage more participation.
Field-Theoretic Simulations for Block Copolymer Melts Using the Partial Saddle-Point Approximation

Field-theoretic simulations (FTS) provide an efficient technique for investigating fluctuation effects in block copolymer melts with numerous advantages over traditional particle-based simulations. For systems involving two components (i.e., A and B), the field-based Hamiltonian, Hf[W−,W+], depends on a composition field, W−(r), that controls the segregation of the unlike components and a pressure field, W+(r), that enforces incompressibility. This review introduces researchers to a promising variant of FTS, in which W−(r) fluctuates while W+(r) tracks its mean-field value. The method is described in detail for melts of AB diblock copolymer, covering its theoretical foundation through to its numerical implementation. We then illustrate its application for neat AB diblock copolymer melts, as well as ternary blends of AB diblock copolymer with its A- and B-type parent homopolymers. The review concludes by discussing the future outlook. To help researchers adopt the method, open-source code is provided that can be run on either central processing units (CPUs) or graphics processing units (GPUs).
Implications on the Therapeutic Potential of Statins via Modulation of Autophagy

Statins, which are functionally known as 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) inhibitors, are lipid-lowering compounds widely prescribed in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Several biological and therapeutic functions have been attributed to statins, including neuroprotection, antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and anticancer effects. Pharmacological characteristics of statins have been attributed to their involvement in the modulation of several cellular signaling pathways. Over the past few years, the therapeutic role of statins has partially been attributed to the induction of autophagy, which is critical in maintaining cellular homeostasis and accounts for the removal of unfavorable cells or specific organelles within cells. Dysregulated mechanisms of the autophagy pathway have been attributed to the etiopathogenesis of various disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders, malignancies, infections, and even aging. Autophagy functions as a double-edged sword during tumor metastasis. On the one hand, it plays a role in inhibiting metastasis through restricting necrosis of tumor cells, suppressing the infiltration of the inflammatory cell to the tumor niche, and generating the release of mediators that induce potent immune responses against tumor cells. On the other hand, autophagy has also been associated with promoting tumor metastasis. Several anticancer medications which are aimed at inducing autophagy in the tumor cells are related to statins. This review article discusses the implications of statins in the induction of autophagy and, hence, the treatment of various disorders.
Enhancing an Aerospace Grade Benzoxazine Resin by Means of Graphene Nanoplatelets Addition

Two different contents of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs: 0.5 and 2 wt.%) were introduced into benzoxazine resin. The main objective of this work is to obtain a polymeric nanocomposite with multifunctional properties as high electrical and thermal conductivity, maintaining or improving its mechanical performance. The quality of the dispersion, performed with a three-roll calender, was studied. Afterward, a complete characterization of the nanocomposites was carried out in order to analyse the benefits of neat resin. The main features of the nanocomposites such as the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties, their electrical and thermal conductivity and the behaviour under hygrothermal aging, were evaluated. Results allowed us to confirm that benzoxazine/GNPs composites exhibited an increase in the tensile strength of polymeric matrix which was accompanied by a rise in elongation at break. The electrical and thermal conductivities exhibited a remarkable increment with the addition of 2 wt. % of GNPs (six orders of magnitude and 49% respectively). Finally, the barrier properties of benzoxazine resin were also favoured with the presence of GNPs because the maximum water absorbed in a hot-water environment decreased from 2.52% to 2.14% when 0.5 wt. % of graphene nanoplatelets was added.
Wearable Technologies in Field Hockey Competitions: A Scoping Review

The aim of this review is to investigate the common wearable devices currently used in field hockey competitions, and to understand the hockey-specific parameters these devices measure. A systematic search was conducted by using three electronic databases and search terms that included field hockey, wearables, accelerometers, inertial sensors, global positioning system (GPS), heart rate monitors, load, performance analysis, player activity profiles, and competitions from the earliest record. The review included 39 studies that used wearable devices during competitions. GPS units were found to be the most common wearable in elite field hockey competitions, followed by heart rate monitors. Wearables in field hockey are mostly used to measure player activity profiles and physiological demands. Inconsistencies in sampling rates and performance bands make comparisons between studies challenging. Nonetheless, this review demonstrated that wearable devices are being used for various applications in field hockey. Researchers, engineers, coaches, and sport scientists can consider using GPS units of higher sampling rates, as well as including additional variables such as skin temperatures and injury associations, to provide a more thorough evaluation of players’ physical and physiological performances. Future work should include goalkeepers and non-elite players who are less studied in the current literature.
Arguments for using the allelopathic compound juglone as a natural pesticide

The juglone (5-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione) can be found in the leaves and fruits of the black walnut (Juglans nigra L.). This substance has an inhibitory effect on the growth of the vegetal species, phenomenon which is named allelopathy. The inhibitory effect of the 50-100% concentration of this water extract, prepared from the black walnut fruits, on the seeds germination, plantlets growth and peroxidasic activity registered in the seedlings roots was poor, compared to the allelopatic action of the extract obtained from de black walnut young leaves, inhibition that was much stronger. Thus, the allelopathic phenomenon can be used as a natural pesticides in the vegetal world, which limit the negative effects of the synthetic pesticides on soil. The strongest negative reaction the two types of aqueous extracts undergo tests was highlighted on the red clover seedlings, lettuce, while on the awnless brome, ray grass, while the peas, cucumbers and wheat the inhibitory effect was lower.