Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Design of Intelligent Virtual Agents Using User-Centered Design Methods

This paper outlines my PhD thesis project about the design of intelligent virtual agents (IVA). Ferbs [6] defines an IVA as “a physical or virtual entity that can act, perceive its environment (in a partial way) and communicate with others, is autonomous and has skills to achieve its goals and tendencies”. IVAs have potential applications in many shared spaces, such as first-line customer support, guiding in museums, receptions, etc. The design of IVAs is multidisciplinary and focuses on different user-centred aspects such as presence, emotion, appearance, behaviour and dialogue. Yet, design choices regarding these aspects are often based on the “introspective examination of personal preferences”Isbister et al.[7] rather than any accurate reflection of the design goals or the qualities valued by the users.
Bifurcation analysis in a 3D symmetric system of interest in fusion plasma physics

In this paper we study the pitchfork and Hopf bifurcations in a 3D dynamical system that models some oscillations of plasma parameters in Tokamaks. The pitchfork bifur- cation’s parameter is the input power in the system and the Hopf bifurcation is analyzed with respect of the three parameters of the system. In each case necessary and suﬃcient conditions for the occurrence of the Hopf bifurcation are provided. A special attention is paid to the case when the input power is varied. A case study is performed. It is emphasized the stable peri- odic orbits collision occurred after Hopf bifurcation, and the appearance of the double-scroll attractor. It is also noticeable the coexistence of three attractors (two stable points and a double-scroll attractor) whose basins of attraction are analyzed. 2010
Dosimetric applications of hybrid pixel detectors

This thesis discusses the application of the Timepix hybrid pixel detector to mixed field characterisation and dosimetry. A brief history of silicon detectors and the physics of radiation detection in semiconductors is presented, and the Timepix ASIC is introduced. A guide is given to the setup, characterisation and the energy calibration of a Timepix detector (a Timepix attached to a silicon sensor). The analysis of tracks left in the Timepix detector to produce characteristics of the impinging particle such as track polar angles and equivalent dose deposited is described. Applications of these methods are demonstrated at the CERF facility at CERN and on the International Space Station. A novel energy independent fast neutron dosimeter based on a multilayer polyethylene converter placed on a Timepix detector is developed using Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations. A version of this converter is 3D printed and characterised using neutrons at the NTOF time of flight facility at CERN. A key capability of this detector is the potential ability to subtract gamma ray and charged particle background. A new detector, the GEMPix is presented. This detector is based on a triple gas electron multiplier coupled to a quad Timepix ASIC for readout. The detector is operated as a highly compact (10 cm) time projection chamber. Characterisation measurements of this detector with photons, alpha particles and relativistic protons are described. The use of this detector as a microdosimeter is briefly discussed.
Compensation of harmonics using a shunt active power filter powered by a photovoltaic source

Electronic devices feature non-linear switching functionality, current distortion gives rise to harmonics that shorten the life of devices and damage electrical networks, causing malfunctions and overheating. Mitigation of harmonics problems and improvement of power quality are necessary. The shunt active power filter reduces harmonics and greatly improves the sinusoidal shape of the current. This work presents a study with two different voltage sources of a two-level inverter applied to a shunt active power filter based on three phases connected to the grid, the first is a continuous direct source and the second is a photovoltaic source. Simulation results provided good efficiency of the SAPF with the photovoltaic system integration. Streszczenie.
Man-made Object Extraction from the Remote Sensing Image Based on Sliding Windows

An approach to extract man-made objects from the remote sensing image is proposed.First,the whole image is classified into smooth morphology regions and non-smooth morphology regions;second,the set of different sizes of sliding windows is randomly generated in the non-smooth image regions,presenting a measure to quantify how likely it is for the sliding window to contain the man-made object.The proposed measure combines general object measure and the man-made object measure to present an evaluation function;and the man-made object regions of the remote sensing image are obtained based on the evaluation function value of different sliding windows;Finally,the object extraction test on the image dataset demonstrates that the proposed algorithm can correctly locate sliding windows which contain the man-made object and at the same time,it is resistant to noises.
Some New Relations between Wiener, Hyper-Wiener and Zagreb Indices

Gutman and Zhou (Relations between Wiener, hyper-Wiener and Zagreb indices, Chemical Physics Letters 394 (2004) 93-95) obtained some bounds on Wiener and hyper-Wiener indices, in term of the first Zagreb index in molecular graphs with girth greater than four. We obtain new inequalities for Wiener and hyper– Wiener indices, in terms of the first and the second Zagreb indices and the number of hexagons in these graphs. These inequalities improve the bounds obtained by Gutman and Zhou and are the best possible bounds. Using these relations we obtain a bound on the second Zagreb index in terms of the first Zagreb index, for hexagon–free graphs.
A General Framework for Linear Periodic Sampled-Data Control Systems with Applications to

We present a framework for dealing with continu- ous-time periodic systems. The main tool is a lifting technique which provides a strong correspondence between continuous- time periodic systems and certain types of discrete-time time- invariant systems with infinite dimensional input and output spaces. Despite the infinite dimensionality of the input and output spaces, a lifted system has a finite-dimensional state space if the original system does. This fact permits rather constructive methods for analyzing these systems. As a demon- stration of the utility of this framework, we use it to describe the continuous time (i.e., intersample) behavior of sampled-data systems, and to obtain a complete solution to the problem of parametrizing all controllers that constrain the L*-induced norm of a sampled-data system to within a certain bound.
Physalis alkekengi L. Calyx Extract Alleviates Glycolipid Metabolic Disturbance and Inflammation by Modulating Gut Microbiota, Fecal Metabolites, and Glycolipid Metabolism Gene Expression in Obese Mice

Physalis alkekengi L. calyx (PC) extract can relieve insulin resistance and has glycemic and anti-inflammatory effects; however, the potential mechanisms related to gut microbiota and metabolites remain elusive. This study aimed to understand how PC regulates gut microbiota and metabolites to exert anti-obesogenic effects and relieve insulin resistance. In this study, a high-fat high-fructose (HFHF)-diet-induced obesity C57BL/6J male mice model with glycolipid metabolism dysfunction was established, which was supplemented with the aqueous extract of PC daily for 10 weeks. The results showed that the PC supplementation could effectively cure the abnormal lipid metabolism and maintain glucose metabolism homeostasis by regulating the expression of adipose metabolic genes and glucose metabolism genes in the liver, thereby effectively alleviating the inflammatory response. PC treatment also increased the contents of fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially butyric acid. PC extract could restore the HFHF-disrupted diversity of gut microbiota by significantly increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and decreasing those of Romboutsia, Candidatus_Saccharimonas, and Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. The negative effects of the HFHF diet were ameliorated by PC by regulating multiple metabolic pathways, such as lipid metabolism (linoleic acid metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, and sphingolipid metabolism) and amino acid metabolism (histidine and tryptophan metabolism). Correlation analysis showed that among the obesity parameters, gut microbiota and metabolites are directly and closely related. To sum up, this study suggested that PC treatment exhibited therapeutic effects by regulating the gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and gene expression in the liver to improve glucose metabolism, modulate adiposity, and reduce inflammation.
Tuning the effective plasma frequency of nanorod metamaterials from visible to telecom wavelengths

Hyperbolic plasmonic metamaterials are important for designing sensing, nonlinear, and emission functionalities, which are, to a large extent, determined by the epsilon-near-zero behaviour observed close to an effective plasma frequency of the metamaterial. Here, we describe a method for tuning the effective plasma frequency of a gold nanorod-based metamaterial throughout the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges. These metamaterials, fabricated by two-step anodization in selenic acid and chemical post-processing, consist of nanorods with diameters of around 10 nm and interrod distances of around 100 nm and have a low effective plasma frequency down to a wavelength range below 1200 nm. Such metamaterials open up new possibilities for a variety of applications in the fields of bio- and chemical sensing, nonlinearity enhancement, and fluorescence control in the infrared.
Image representation using vector wavelets

A new layered representation of images is proposed using, what one may call, vector wavelets defined by generalized Hermite polynomials. This representation has some special properties: it is distinct from and superior to the other wavelet schemes of the literature; it is stable; it transforms the image into matrices of coefficients in the same manner as the standard transforms (Fourier, Hadamard and others), but at the specified 'scales'; the zero-crossings of the signal at various scales can be directly obtained from the coefficients; and the size of the resolution cell in the 'phase-space' is variable even at a specified scale, depending on the image being analysed. This representation has been successfully applied to different types of images, both synthetic and natural. <<ETX>>
Improved YOLOv7 Network Model for Gangue Selection Robot for Gangue and Foreign Matter Detection in Coal

Coal production often involves a substantial presence of gangue and foreign matter, which not only impacts the thermal properties of coal and but also leads to damage to transportation equipment. Selection robots for gangue removal have garnered attention in research. However, existing methods suffer from limitations, including slow selection speed and low recognition accuracy. To address these issues, this study proposes an improved method for detecting gangue and foreign matter in coal, utilizing a gangue selection robot with an enhanced YOLOv7 network model. The proposed approach entails the collection of coal, gangue, and foreign matter images using an industrial camera, which are then utilized to create an image dataset. The method involves reducing the number of convolution layers of the backbone, adding a small size detection layer to the head to enhance the small target detection, introducing a contextual transformer networks (COTN) module, employing a distance intersection over union (DIoU) loss border regression loss function to calculate the overlap between predicted and real frames, and incorporating a dual path attention mechanism. These enhancements culminate in the development of a novel YOLOv71 + COTN network model. Subsequently, the YOLOv71 + COTN network model was trained and evaluated using the prepared dataset. Experimental results demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed method compared to the original YOLOv7 network model. Specifically, the method exhibits a 3.97% increase in precision, a 4.4% increase in recall, and a 4.5% increase in mAP0.5. Additionally, the method reduced GPU memory consumption during runtime, enabling fast and accurate detection of gangue and foreign matter.
The Importance of Implementing a Transition Strategy for Patients with Muscular Dystrophy: From Child to Adult—Insights from a Tertiary Centre for Rare Neurological Diseases

Progress in the field of muscular dystrophy (MD) using a multidisciplinary approach based on international standards of care has led to a significant increase in the life expectancy of patients. The challenge of transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare has been acknowledged for over a decade, yet it continues to be a last-minute concern. Currently, there is no established consensus on how to evaluate the effectiveness of the transition process. Our study aimed to identify how well patients are prepared for the transition and to determine their needs. We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study on 15 patients aged 14 to 21 years. The patients completed a sociodemographic and a Transition Readiness Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ). We also analyzed the comorbidities of these patients. Our study revealed that only 46.7% of the patients had engaged in a conversation with a medical professional, namely, a child neurologist, about transitioning. A total of 60% of the participants expressed having confidence in their self-care ability. However, the median TRAQ score of 3.6 shows that these patients overestimate themselves. We emphasize the necessity for a slow, personalized transition led by a multidisciplinary team to ensure the continuity of state-of-the-art care from pediatric to adult healthcare services and the achievement of the highest possible quality of life for these patients.
Wiener-Hopf design of the general two-degree-of-freedom controllers and the connection to state-space formulas

H 2 design of the two-degree-of-freedom controller configuration is treated for the generalized plant in both the frequency and state-space domains. A frequency domain Wiener-Hopf formula is derived first under a set of compact assumptions that gives the entire class of controllers for which the feedback control system is stable and a quadratic cost functional is finite. The H 2 design method suggested in this paper allows the reference inputs to include the persistent signals such as step or ramp functions and the class of persistent reference inputs that can be tracked with zero steady-state error is characterized explicitly. To circumvent the computational difficulties of the Wiener-Hopf formulas, the corresponding state-space domain formulas are derived by rationalizing the polynomial fractional descriptions. It is shown that the well-known standard time domain assumptions for the H 2 design problem have the corresponding equivalent frequency domain conditions and this equivalence relationship is shown to be useful to choose correct design parameters via an illustrative example.
The Verticillium dahliae Small Cysteine-Rich Protein VdSCP23 Manipulates Host Immunity

Verticillium wilt caused by Verticillium dahliae is a notorious soil-borne fungal disease and seriously threatens the yield of economic crops worldwide. During host infection, V. dahliae secretes many effectors that manipulate host immunity, among which small cysteine-rich proteins (SCPs) play an important role. However, the exact roles of many SCPs from V. dahliae are unknown and varied. In this study, we show that the small cysteine-rich protein VdSCP23 inhibits cell necrosis in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, as well as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, electrolyte leakage and the expression of defense-related genes. VdSCP23 is mainly localized in the plant cell plasma membrane and nucleus, but its inhibition of immune responses was independent of its nuclear localization. Site-directed mutagenesis and peptide truncation showed that the inhibition function of VdSCP23 was independent of cysteine residues but was dependent on the N-glycosylation sites and the integrity of VdSCP23 protein structure. Deletion of VdSCP23 did not affect the growth and development of mycelia or conidial production in V. dahliae. Unexpectedly, VdSCP23 deletion strains still maintained their virulence for N. benthamiana, Gossypium hirsutum and Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. This study demonstrates an important role for VdSCP23 in the inhibition of plant immune responses; however, it is not required for normal growth or virulence in V. dahliae.
Public Health Importance of Preventive Measures for Salmonella Tennessee and Salmonella Typhimurium Strain LT2 Biofilms

Various serovars of Salmonella had been the subject of research for over 150 years; nonetheless, the bacterium has remained an important pathogen of public health concern to date. The tremendous ability of Salmonella to form biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces is an important underlying reason for the prevalence of this opportunistic pathogen in healthcare, manufacturing, and the food chain. The current study illustrates that using very common industrial antimicrobial treatments at the highest concentrations suggested by the manufacturers is only efficacious against planktonic and one-day mature biofilms of the pathogen while exhibiting a lack of efficacy for complete removal of bacterial biofilms formed for longer than 2 days. This exhibits the importance of preventive measures against Salmonella biofilm formation in healthcare and manufacturing facilities, schools, nursing homes, and domestic environments. Additionally, our study illustrates the importance of including both planktonic and sessile cells of the pathogen in microbiology validation studies, especially for niche and hard-to-reach surfaces. The current study additionally investigated the suitability of an avirulent strain of the pathogen as a surrogate for pathogenic Salmonella serovars for public health microbiology validation studies when the use of virulent strains is not economically feasible or not possible due to safety concerns.
Posture control using foot toe and sole for biped walking robot "Ken"

No paper has been published on the active use of the foot toe of the biped walking robots, combined with the normal biped walking by soles. In other words, the sole Of supporting leg is usually assumed to be completely contacted to the floor. To maintain this condition, the robot walking has restrictions such as the maximum walking speed limitation. If the toe contact mode to the floor exists partially through the walking cycle, a variety of walking can be realized. In this paper, a new control method for biped robots, in which the contact of the sole to the floor partially becomes a point contact, is proposed. By this method, the ZMP (the zero moment point) is not necessary to be always inside the support sole, therefore the motion of the body has not to be limited to the quiet motion. As a result, the fast walking and abundant motions of biped robots can be realized by the proposed method When the toe contact is achieved after the ZMP moves from the heel to the too, the robot falls forward In the proposed method, the robot tracks desired trajectories while it is falling forward Simulation results show that the COM (the center of mass) and the heel position of the swing-leg can track the desired circle paths, and heel joint angles con be controlled to the desired angles while a biped walking robot follows a forward filling. The proposed method was verified by the experiment with 6 joints+1 toe DOF biped robot "Ken".
Analysis of Dynamical Behavior in Hyper-chaotic Complex System

This paper investigates the complex dynamics of fractional-order hyper-chaotic complex Lu system via numerical simulations. It is found that the variation of both the system parameters and the fractional order can induce bifurcations, and the parameter ranges of chaos are different. Also, a controller of modified projective synchronization (MPS) is proposed, which can effectively achieve modified projective synchronization in a class of high dimensional fractional-order systems.
Multitask Approach to Localize Rhizobial Type Three Secretion System Effector Proteins Inside Eukaryotic Cells

Rhizobia can establish mutually beneficial interactions with legume plants by colonizing their roots to induce the formation of a specialized structure known as a nodule, inside of which the bacteria are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. It is well established that the compatibility of such interactions is mainly determined by the bacterial recognition of flavonoids secreted by the plants, which in response to these flavonoids trigger the synthesis of the bacterial Nod factors that drive the nodulation process. Additionally, other bacterial signals are involved in the recognition and the efficiency of this interaction, such as extracellular polysaccharides or some secreted proteins. Some rhizobial strains inject proteins through the type III secretion system to the cytosol of legume root cells during the nodulation process. Such proteins, called type III-secreted effectors (T3E), exert their function in the host cell and are involved, among other tasks, in the attenuation of host defense responses to facilitate the infection, contributing to the specificity of the process. One of the main challenges of studying rhizobial T3E is the inherent difficulty in localizing them in vivo in the different subcellular compartments within their host cells, since in addition to their low concentration under physiological conditions, it is not always known when or where they are being produced and secreted. In this paper, we use a well-known rhizobial T3E, named NopL, to illustrate by a multitask approach where it localizes in heterologous hosts models, such as tobacco plant leaf cells, and also for the first time in transfected and/or Salmonella-infected animal cells. The consistency of our results serves as an example to study the location inside eukaryotic cells of effectors in distinct hosts with different handling techniques that can be used in almost every research laboratory.
A Higher Dose of Staphylococcus aureus Enterotoxin B Led to More Th1 and Lower Th2/Th1 Ratio in Th Cells

Exposure to Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B (SEB) is one of the causes of food poisoning and is associated with several immune diseases due to its superantigen capability. This study aimed to characterize the differentiations of naïve Th cells stimulated with different doses of SEB. The expression of T-bet, GATA-3, and Foxp3 or secretion of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-10 were evaluated in wild-type (WT) or DO11.10 CD4 T cells co-cultured with bone marrow dendritic cells (BMDCs). We found that the balance of Th1/Th2 could be dominated by the doses of SEB stimulation. A higher SEB dose could induce more Th1 and a lower Th2/Th1 ratio in Th cells co-cultured with BMDCs. This different tendency of Th cell differentiation induced by the SEB complements the existing knowledge about SEB acting as a superantigen to activate Th cells. Additionally, it is also helpful in managing the colonization of S. aureus and food contamination of SEB.