Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Paraxial ray solution for liquid-filled variable focus lenses

We propose a general solution for determining the cardinal points and effective focal length of a liquid-filled variable focus lens to aid in understanding the dynamic behavior of the lens when the focal length is changed. A prototype of a variable focus lens was fabricated and used to validate the solution. A simplified solution was also presented that can be used to quickly and conveniently calculate the performance of the lens. We expect that the proposed solutions will improve the design of optical systems that contain variable focus lenses, such as machine vision systems with zoom and focus functions.
A lubricant boundary condition for a biological body lined by a thin heterogeneous biofilm

We study the asymptotic behavior of an incompressible viscous fluid flow in a biological body lined by a thin biological film with a cellular microstructure, varying thickness, and a heterogeneous viscosity regulated by a time random process. Letting the thickness of the film tend to zero, we derive an effective biological slip boundary condition on the boundary of the body. This law relates the tangential fluxes to the tangential velocities via a proportional coefficient corresponding to the energy of some local problem. This law describes the ability of the biological film to function as a lubricant reducing friction at the wall of the body. The tangential velocities are functions of the random trajectories of a finely concentrated biological particle.
Incremental and Adaptive L1-Norm Principal Component Analysis: Novel Algorithms and Applications

Incremental and Adaptive L1-Norm Principal Component Analysis: Novel Algorithms and Applications Mayur Dhanaraj Supervising Professor: Dr. Panos P. Markopoulos L1-norm Principal-Component Analysis (L1-PCA) is known to attain remarkable resistance against faulty/corrupted points among the processed data. However, computing L1PCA of “big data” with large number of measurements and/or dimensions may be computationally impractical. This work proposes new algorithmic solutions for incremental and adaptive L1-PCA. The first algorithm computes L1-PCA incrementally, processing one measurement at a time, with very low computational and memory requirements; thus, it is appropriate for big data and big streaming data applications. The second algorithm combines the merits of the first one with additional ability to track changes in the nominal signal subspace by revising the computed L1-PCA as new measurements arrive, demonstrating both robustness against outliers and adaptivity to signal-subspace changes. The proposed algorithms are evaluated in an array of experimental studies on subspace estimation, video surveillance (foreground/background separation), image conditioning, and direction-of-arrival (DoA) estimation.
Spatiotemporal overlap with invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) varies by species and season in a temperate ecosystem

Wild pigs ( Sus scrofa ), which are invasive in many regions globally, can alter ecosystems and compete with native species through interference competition and resource exploitation. Wild pig impacts on other species may increase with greater niche overlap, which could vary over time based on environmental conditions, resource availability, or biological traits like diet, especially as seasonal variation in wild pig diet has been widely documented. A limited number of studies have assessed spatial or temporal overlap between native species and invasive wild pigs, with only a handful simultaneously assessing overlap in these niche dimensions. We investigated the potential for interspecific interactions involving invasive wild pigs in the Piedmont region of South Carolina, USA, by examining seasonal spatiotemporal overlap with other wildlife using N-mixture models and diel activity overlap analyses. Site use by white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) and coyote ( Canis latrans ) was negatively associated with wild pig activity in the fall, when the species had high diel activity overlap, indicating spatial partitioning could reduce interference competition with wild pigs in this season. Conversely, white-tailed deer site use was positively associated with wild pig activity in the winter, suggesting higher spatial overlap may be necessary if resources are
Interaction between the Northern Coalsack in the Cygnus OB 7 cloud complex and multiple supernova remnants including HB 21

We report on possible interaction between multiple supernova remnants (SNRs) and the Northern Coalsack (NCS), which is a massive clump (∼1 × 103 M⊙) in the Cygnus OB 7 cloud complex and is forming a massive Class 0 object. We performed molecular observations of the 12CO(J = 1–0), 13CO(J = 1–0), and C18O(J = 1–0) emission lines using the 45 m telescope at the Nobeyama Radio Observatory, and we found that there are four main-velocity components at VLSR ≃ −20, −6, −4, and 10 km s−1. The −6 and −4 km s−1 components correspond to the systemic velocities of NCS and the Cyg OB 7 complex, respectively, and the other velocity components originate from distinct smaller clouds. Interestingly, there are apparent correlations and anticorrelations among the spatial distributions of the four components, suggesting that they are physically interacting with one another. On a larger scale, we find that a group of small clouds belonging to the −20 and 10 km s−1 components are located along two different arcs around some SNRs including HB 21, which has been suggested to be interacting with the Cyg OB 7 cloud complex, and we also find that NCS is located right at the interface of the arcs. The small clouds are likely to be the gas swept up by the stellar wind of the massive stars that created the SNRs. We suggest that the small clouds aligned along the two arcs recently encountered NCS, and the massive star formation in NCS was triggered by the strong interaction of the small clouds.
Étude comparative des effets moléculaires et cellulaires induits par des rayonnements X de différentes énergies

Lors d’un examen ou radiologique, des rayonnements X de basse energie sont utilises (<100 keV). Pour certains traitements radiologiques, l’energie utilisee est de plusieurs MeV. La publication 103 de la CIPR considere actuellement que les photons, independamment de leur energie, ont le meme facteur de ponderation. Cependant, il existe des differences topologiques a l'echelle nanometrique du depot d'energie des rayonnements X en fonction de leur spectre energetique. En effet, a mesure que l’energie des photons decroit, la nature de leurs interactions avec la matiere vivante se modifie. Pour etudier ces differences, nous avons caracterise nos conditions d'irradiation en termes d'energies initiales des photons, mais surtout en termes de spectres d'energie des electrons secondaires au niveau du volume cellulaire, en utilisant des simulations de Monte Carlo. Nous nous sommes interesses a la signalisation des dommages de l'ADN en analysant un grand nombre de foyers γH2A. X apres exposition de cellules endotheliales humaines synchronisees en phase G0/G1 a des doses allant de 0,25 a 5 Gy a 40 kV, 220 kV et 4 MV. Le nombre et la distribution spatiale des foyers γH2A. X ont ete explores. Aussi, nous avons etudie la frequence de division et de mort cellulaire. Nous avons egalement etudie le taux d’anomalies de segregation apres la division cellulaire. Nous avons mis en evidence un nombre plus eleve de cassures double-brin de l'ADN signalisees par γH2A. X pour 40 kVp et/ou 220 kVp, compare a 4 MVp pour les plus fortes doses testees de 2 et 5 Gy. Entre 40 et 220 kVp, aucune difference biologique n’a ete observee. Ce manque de difference pourrait s’expliquer par la grande similarite des spectres energetiques des electrons secondaires, au niveau du volume cellulaire.Le spectre d'energie des electrons secondaires semble etre plus etroitement lie au niveau de dommage a l'ADN mesure par γH2A. X que le spectre initial des parametres d'energie ou de tension des photons. Nos resultats indiquent qu'a mesure que le spectre d'energie des electrons secondaires augmente, les dommages a l'ADN signales par γH2A. X diminuent et cet effet est observable au-dela de 220 kVp.
An Application of Categorical Analysis of Variance in Nested Arrangements

Categorical data, having no underlying metric, are frequently encountered in experimental situations. Analysis of such data deviates from the usual methods involving continuous-type data. In this paper, the significance of main factor (Geo-political Zones) and sub-factor (States) are studied using categorical data in nested arrangements. The CATANOVA technique used is suitable for mixed design, having some factors crossed and others nested. Consideration is made for frequency data involving National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC), from 2003 to 2010. Numerical results show that the main factor, Geo-political Zone and the sub-factor, States, are significant having p-value of less than 0.00001 in each case.
Constrained Sampling: Optimum Reconstruction in Subspace With Minimax Regret Constraint

This paper considers the problem of optimum reconstruction in generalized sampling-reconstruction processes (GSRPs). We propose constrained GSRP, a novel framework that minimizes the reconstruction error for inputs in a subspace, subject to a constraint on the maximum regret-error for any other signal in the entire signal space. This framework addresses the primary limitation of existing GSRPs (consistent, subspace, and minimax regret), namely, the assumption that the a priori subspace is either fully known or fully ignored. We formulate constrained GSRP as a constrained optimization problem, the solution to which turns out to be a convex combination of the subspace and the minimax regret samplings. Detailed theoretical analysis on the reconstruction error shows that constrained sampling achieves a reconstruction that is, 1) (sub)optimal for signals in the input subspace, 2) robust for signals around the input subspace, and 3) reasonably bounded for any other signals with a simple choice of the constraint parameter. Experimental results on sampling-reconstruction of a Gaussian signal and a speech signal demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
The Research Developments and Trend of Municipal Bonds: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study aims to explore and analyze the development and trend of the topic of municipal bonds in the fields of economics and business. Research data using peer-reviewed journals, as many as 478 journals sourced from the Scopus database. Data analysis used a bibliometric approach. Bibliometric analysis utilizing the help of R-biblioshiny and VOSviewer. The research results show an interesting trend of this research from various indicators based on the frequencies and citations of the publications. More importantly, some popular research areas and topics have been uncovered to analyze municipal bonds, which serve as useful inferences for future studies in Indonesia. There are many studies on municipal bonds, but there are still few studies that map the topic of municipal bonds with a bibliometric approach with the help of R-Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to get meaningful and valuable results. That is the novelty of this research.
Active control of a non-smooth nonlinear system using feedback linearisation

Partial feedback linearisation is applied to an experimental nonlinear non-smooth mechanical system with three degrees of freedom and opening and closing gaps to produce a piecewise-linear stiffness characteristic. Stepped sine testing shows that the second mode is strongly affected by the nonlinearity whereas the first and third modes remain essentially linear. A mathematical model is tuned to accurately reproduce the nonlinear test behaviour, including jump phenomena. The classical theory of feedback linearisation is then briefly reviewed and feedback gains are determined based on the tuned model with the purpose of pole assignment. The zero dynamics are found to be stable. Closed-loop tests are carried out to assign linear viscous damping ratios to the linearised system. These are measured using the logarithmic decrement and found to be in very good agreement with demanded values.
A Web-Application for Measuring Spatial Accessibility in Health Planning

Abstract. The planning of health care facilities and the analysis of the medical care situation are complex topics that generally involve geographical and, specifically, settlement topographical, methodological, data-driven aspects. However, formal analyses and planning in the field of healthcare usually only touch on the aspects or do not fully include some of them. As a result, the complex situation is often not accurately. This paper addresses the multidimensional challenges planners and analysts face. Solutions to overcome these hurdles thanks to improved data availability and more advanced technical and methodological possibilities are presented. For this purpose, a Web-Application is proposed that enables planners without GIS knowledge to interact with method components via parameter adjustments. Subsequently, it is examined whether the technical prerequisites for the implementation of a Web-Application for health planning, in particular for outpatient demand planning and analysis, are given and make a proposal for implementation. Finally, the advantages, disadvantages and possible complications of using this Application in health planning and analysis, including critical points of implementation, will be addressed.
Multistability, synchronization, and self-organization in networks of nonlinear systems with changing graph topologies

Nicholas Jarman Multistability, synchronization, and self–organization in networks of nonlinear systems with changing graph topologies Complex network structures appear in myriad contexts. From social networks to computer networks, protein and transport networks, and neuronal networks of the mammalian brain. Furthermore, many of these networks share common structural properties. Are there general underlying mechanisms for the emergence of certain complex network structures? One such shared principle is the mutual relationship between structure and function in self-organising networks. Understanding their emergence can be decomposed into two simpler problems: (1) How does structure effect dynamics? (2) How do dynamics shape the structure? Concepts of nonlinear systems theory provide a tool-set for stability analysis of dynamics on a network. Here, stability analysis is applied to the problem of how a small change in network structure effects the dynamics. Two connectivity configurations are considered; the directed chain and the directed cycle, distinguished by a single edge. Their linear stability is first analysed, followed by the stability of interconnected nonlinear oscillators. Stability analysis reveals radical changes in the patterns of dynamics; while the directed chain possess only one stable solution (synchronization), the directed cycle possesses multistabiliy (synchronization and rotating waves). This capacity for multistability is realised by the extremal properties of the directed cycle; the slow decal of oscillations in the coupling dynamics resonates with the dynamics of the individual oscillators. This result is generalised to networks that contain modular structures and heterogeneous dynamics. For applications of evolving network structures, systems theory is limited. Computational modelling, on the other hand, provides an efficacious alternative. A well-established driving mechanism for network structure evolution is adaptive rewiring; adaptation of structure to function. Computational modelling reveals a synergy between spatial organisation and adaptive rewiring. Emergence of modular small-world network structures are more pronounced, and evolution more robust, than
Estimation for Some Stochastic Partial Differential Equations Based on Discrete Observations II

Stochastic partial differential equations (SPDE) are used for stochastic modelling, for instance, in the study of neuronal behaviour in neurophysiology and in building stochastic models for turbulence. Huebner, Khasminskii and Rozovskii started the investigation of the maximum likelihood estiniatipn of the paramrters involved in two types of SPDE's and extended their results to a class of parabolic SPDE's. We obtained the Bernstein - von Mises type theorems for a class of parabolic SPDE's and investigated the properties of Bayes estimators of parameters involved in such SPDE's. In all the earlier works, it was assumed that a continuous observation of the random field uε(x, t) satisfying the SPDE over the region [0,' 1] x [0, T] is available. It is obvious that this assumption is not tenable in practice and the problem of interest is to develop methods of estimation of parameters from the random field uε(x, t) observed at discrete times t and at discrete positions x or from the Fourier coefficients uiε ( t) opserved at discrete time iustants. We construct consistent and asymptotically normal estimators of the parameter based on the Fourier coefficients uiε ( t)observed at discrete times tj = jδ, 0 ≤ j ≤ n where δ > 0 and n tends to infinity.
Spatial Accessibility Assessment of Homecare Workers to the Older Population in the City of Zurich

Abstract. Access to homecare is paramount for the older population wishing not to move to retirement homes. In Zurich, the organization “Spitex Zürich” is the public homecare provider, allowing the older population to experience high-quality life at home through regular visits. A major factor for ensuring self-determined living for the older population consists of a detailed understanding of the spatial accessibility to Spitex locations. Therefore, this paper is concerned with applying four different FCA methods for assessing the spatial accessibility of Spitex homecare workers to people aged 65 + in Zurich through the road and bike networks. The modified-Huff-model-three-step-FCA method is found to be best suited for modeling potential spatial accessibility in Zurich. Spatial accessibility index values show similar geographical distributions regardless of transportation mode. The neighborhoods of Seebach and Hottingen are identified as regions with relatively low spatial accessibility. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the interpretation and the measurement of spatial accessibility, thereby facilitating autonomous living for the older population residing in Zurich, ultimately increasing the inclusiveness of the city.
Consensus of Heterogeneous Multiagent Systems with Switching Dynamics

Heterogeneity is an important feature of multiagent systems. This paper addresses the consensus problem of heterogeneous multiagent systems composed of first-integrator and double-integrator agents. The dynamics of each agent switches between continuous-time and discrete-time dynamics. By using the graph theory and nonnegative matrix theory, we derive that the system can achieve consensus if and only if the fixed interaction topology has a directed spanning tree. For switching topologies, we get that the system can reach consensus if each interaction topology has a directed spanning tree. Simulation examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
El desafío para establecer especies arbóreas en suelos salinos del ex lago Texcoco

Dado la presión por urbanizar áreas con presencia de suelos salino-sódicos (SSS) alrededor del ex lago de Texcoco, México, es importante encontrar estrategias para arborizarlas. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la respuesta de cinco especies arbóreas; Pinus greggii, P. pseudostrobus, P. ayacahuite, P. leiophylla y como especie de referencia Psidium guajava, establecidas en cepas con un sustrato alternativo (CSA) en SSS. Se realizaron 50 cepas de 1 m de profundidad con 0.60 m de diámetro y se rellenaron con el sustrato alternativo. Se midió el pH, la conductividad eléctrica (CE), la resistencia mecánica, el contenido volumétrico de humedad, el contenido hídrico relativo (CHR) en tejido vegetal y la supervivencia a 280 días. Las CSA presentaron menores valores respecto al testigo (SSS): en pH, 8.99 vs. 9.95; en CE, 2.58 vs. 8.19 dS m-1; en resistencia mecánica, 1.72 vs. 2.53 MPa; y en el contenido volumétrico de humedad, 0.41 vs. 1.06 cm3 cm-3. El CHR aumentó a los 120 días en P. ayacahuite (de 74.7 a 81.5%) y P. leiophylla (75.2 a 77.5%), mientras que en P. guajava disminuyó (92.8 a 75.5%). La supervivencia a los 280 días de P. guajava (70%) superó a la de los pinos (1.67%). Durante el tiempo de evaluación P. guajava se adaptó mejor, mientras que los pinos fueron menos tolerantes. Las CSA podrían ayudar en el establecimiento de especies arbóreas propiciando un entorno saludable a pesar de las condiciones adversas del SSS.
The Research on How Twitter Influence Homosexual Community

The impact of social media on the homosexual community is a topical issue of social concern. Some researchers have found that Twitter has an important impact on the gay community, however, there is a lack of uniform explanation on how it compares with the impact of social media on the gay community in other countries and how to improve its social environment and functional settings. Therefore, this paper lists the basic characteristics of the gay community on Twitter, analyzes the dilemmas faced by the gay community on Twitter and compares it with Weibo in China. After analyzing the functional settings currently adopted by Twitter, the paper explores how to improve the survival of the gay community on Twitter. The study finds that there are still some problems with the survival and use of the gay community on Twitter, and that some of the functional settings of Twitter have both positive and negative influence, and that Twitter needs to take measures to alleviate these problems.
Gamma-ray Induced Changes in the Optical Properties of Silver-polyaniline Nanocomposites

Abstract We prepared a nanocomposite (NC) containing polyaniline (PANI) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). The aniline monomer was polymerized in the presence of Ag+ ions as an oxidizing agent. Samples from the prepared Ag-PANI NC film were irradiated with gamma rays (γ) radiation doses (5 − 60 kGy). The γ ray induced modifications in the prepared Ag-PANI NC optical properties are illustrated. The induced effect was explored using UV-vis spectroscopy and the International Commission on Illumination (CIE) color changes technique. A detailed study of the optical bandgap (Eg) was carried out. The results indicated that the direct Eg decreased from 2.41 to 1.94 eV with increasing γ irradiation. We attribute this decrease to the dominance of crosslinking that damaged the ordered structure and thus increased the amorphous regions. Furthermore, the study of Eg highlighted that the optical dielectric loss (ε”) parameter is a useful tool to specify the type of electronic transitions which was found to be a direct allowed transition for the Ag-PANI NC samples. Finally, the color changes between the pristine and irradiated samples were characterized. The pristine Ag-PANI film exhibited significant color changes during the irradiation.