Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trajectory Planning of Walking With Different Step Lengths of a Seven-Link Biped Robot

Most of the essential parameters of the human walking can be captured with a seven-link planar biped robot. In this paper, dynamics modeling and trajectory planning of a seven-link planar biped robot walking on a level ground with a ditch or stairs are studied. The hip and foot trajectories are designed in Cartesian space using polynomial interpolation such that to vanish the impact effect of feet with ground. The key parameters of the hip joint trajectory in x-axis direction are obtained using boundaries of biped stable region during the walking to satisfy dynamic stability of robot. Then the highest position of the swing foot ankle joint in x and z-axis direction is optimized with two different fitness functions. Next, a novel method for trajectory planning of walking with different step lengths, uses for online trajectory planning, is proposed. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by simulation and experimental results.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
A STUDY OF MODE COUPLING IN FLUTTER AND BUFFETING OF THE AKASHI-KAIKYO BRIDGE

Flutter and buffeting of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge were analyzed using a newly developed analytical tool, which is able to consider fully aeroelastic and aerodynamic coupling effects among modes. The analysis well demonstrated the behavior of a wind-tunnel model and particularly could capture the modecoupling effects. Six primary modes dominated the flutter of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge where significant mode couplings of the 1 S torsional mode with three vertical modes were observed. The multi-mode analysis also provided insights into the coupling mechanism in buffeting in which strong aeroelastic and aerodynamic interactions between vertical and torsional modes were observed.
The Influence of Intraocular Lenses (IOLs) on the Properties of Filters Protecting Human Eyes against Optical Radiation in the Work Environment

Under the specific illumination conditions of many workplaces, e.g., in the metallurgical industry, decreased lighting may impair workers’ vision and, as a result, their productivity. Spectrophotometric tests of two types of protective optical filters (welding filters and infrared protection filters), two types of intraocular lenses (IOLs with and without yellow chromophore), and filter-IOL systems were carried out. In spectrophotometric studies, the spectral characteristics of transmission and the coefficients for the assessment of light transmission were determined. This study explores the relationship between the eye protection levels offered by filters and the use of intraocular lenses (IOLs), and especially those containing a yellow chromophore which may lower the luminous transmittance of protective filters. In our previous works, we studied a large number of optical protective filters and many factors influencing their performance. A review of the literature has shown the absence of prior research on the subject. For this purpose, transmittance reduction factors were defined for the evaluation of the filter-IOL system. The spectral characteristics of luminous transmittance for the tested IOLs indicate a significant decrease of transmittance for those with yellow chromophore within the range up to approx. 475 nm, as compared to IOLs without chromophore. The main objective of this study was to determine whether people with IOLs need different protective filters against harmful optical radiation as well as whether IOLs may change the required category of protective filters. The key finding is that while the use of IOLs in conjunction with protective filters does change the light transmission coefficient, it does not affect the filter protection levels. The transmittance reduction factors were similar (0.95 to 0.99 relative units) for all filter-IOL systems irrespective of the presence or absence of yellow chromophore. It must be said clearly that, in reference to the requirements specified in the standards, IOLs did not affect the filter protection levels. This means that the quality of vision did not change significantly when using the analyzed filters and IOLs.
Application and Utility of Liposomal Neuroprotective Agents and Biomimetic Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is still one of the leading causes of high mortality and severe disability worldwide. Therapeutic options for ischemic stroke and subsequent cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury remain limited due to challenges associated with drug permeability through the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Neuroprotectant delivery with nanoparticles, including liposomes, offers a promising solution to address this problem, as BBB disruption following ischemic stroke allows nanoparticles to pass through the intercellular gaps between endothelial cells. To ameliorate ischemic brain damage, a number of nanotherapeutics encapsulating neuroprotective agents, as well as surface-modified nanoparticles with specific ligands targeting the injured brain regions, have been developed. Combination therapy with nanoparticles encapsulating neuroprotectants and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), a globally approved thrombolytic agent, has been demonstrated to extend the narrow therapeutic time window of t-PA. In addition, the design of biomimetic drug delivery systems (DDS) employing circulating cells (e.g., leukocytes, platelets) with unique properties has recently been investigated to overcome the injured BBB, utilizing these cells’ inherent capability to penetrate the ischemic brain. Herein, we review recent findings on the application and utility of nanoparticle DDS, particularly liposomes, and various approaches to developing biomimetic DDS functionalized with cellular membranes/membrane proteins for the treatment of ischemic stroke.
A scalable and practical method for disaggregating heating and cooling electrical usage using smart thermostat and smart metre data

We present a scalable and practical method for disaggregating electrical usage for heat pump heating and cooling (HC) that uses low-resolution data from existing smart energy metres and smart thermostats. The disaggregation model is based on a Bayesian approach to account for the skewed characteristics of HC and non-HC energy consumption and adopts sequential Bayesian update to enable reliable predictions without long-term data. The modelling approach is demonstrated using disaggregated electricity consumption and thermostat operation signal data in two multi-family residential communities located in two different cities in Indiana, U.S. The results show that the model successfully disaggregated HC electricity consumption for various housing units by using 15-minute interval data with less than 12% error for a weekly time interval. Finally, seasonal parameters of the model were updated when a new HC operation signal was observed resulting in good predictions for different seasons.
A NEW TUNABLE DUAL-MODE DUAL-BAND SQUARE CAVITY SIW BANDPASS FILTER

A tunable dual-mode dual-band square cavity substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) bandpass filter is proposed. Metalized via-holes are inserted into the center of the cavity as perturbations to move and control the four resonant modes to create the dual passband filter. The first passband is formed by the perturbed TE201 and TE202 modes, while the second passband is formed by the perturbed TE301 and TE302 modes. Moreover, moving the perturbed via-holes on the SIW cavity allows the first passband to be tuned separately while the second passband is almost fixed. A dualband filter prototype with frequencies of 17GHz and 19.36GHz and three transmission zeros (TZs) has been designed, fabricated, and measured. The measured and simulated results are in good agreement, confirming the proposed dual-band filter design concept.
Parallel-Integrated Sapphire Fiber Bragg Gratings Probe Sensor for High Temperature Sensing

This paper reports the fabrication of parallel integrated sapphire fiber Bragg gratings (SFBGs) probe sensor by the femtosecond laser point by point (PbP) method. The SFBGs probe sensor transmits optical signals through quartz multimode fiber, and takes an 8.5 mm sapphire fiber as the sensing probe, which can work stably for a long time at 1200 °C. This method can not only quickly prepare and obtain SFBGs with small bandwidth, but also obtain gratings with high reflectivity, which is about 15%. The mode field distribution in sapphire fibers with different lengths is studied by the beam quality analyzer. High-order modes are easily excited as the length of sapphire fibers increases. In addition, a spherical lens is prepared at the end of sapphire fiber, which effectively improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to 22 dB. The good spectral quality can still be maintained after holding at 1200 °C for 24 hours, and the temperature sensitivity can reach 30.19 pm/°C in the high temperature range, which is more than 2 times higher than that of quartz FBGs sensors. This parallel integrated SFBGs probe sensor overcomes the problems of doped quartz fiber element diffusion at high temperature and the instability of microstructure caused by material softening, and can be developed for long-term stable operation at 1200 °C high temperature and harsh environments.
Short Communication: The potency of lytic bacteriophage isolated from various environments to control the growth of Citrobacter braakii causing urinary tract infection

Abstract. Sheilahrusi, Priyanto JA, Rismiyati H, Rusmana I, Budiarti S. 2021. Short Communication: The potency of lytic bacteriophage isolated from various environments to control the growth of Citrobacter braakii causing urinary tract infection. Biodiversitas 22: 5550-5554. Citrobacter braakii is one of the pathogenic bacteria causing urinary tract infection (UTI) in humans. Bacteriophages that are specifically infecting C. braakii could be the alternatives to combat antibiotics resistance cases of this bacterium. This study aimed to isolate lytic phages from various environmental samples (tofu factory wastewater, sewage water, rice field water, fishpond water, cattle farm wastewater, and goat farm wastewater), and to analyze their effectivity to reduce UTI-causing C. braakii population in vitro. Results exhibited that phages targeting this bacterium were found in goat and cattle farm wastewater and not present in other samples. Two phages, namely FC1 and FC2, had different plaque morphology characteristics. The number of phages in cattle farm wastewater was 2.8 × 105 PFU/mL and 1.32 × 104 PFU/mL in goat farm wastewater. It was observed that the phages found in these environments also indicate the presence of their host. After 8 h incubation, FC1 and FC2 phage reduced UTI-causing C. braaakii population in vitro from 0.23×108 CFU/mL to 0.03×108 CFU/mL and 0.02×108 CFU/mL, respectively. The phages isolated from these two samples can be further developed for the treatment of UTI caused by C. braakii and goat and cattle farm wastewater treatment to prevent contaminating other areas.
A 60 GHz passive repeater array with quasi-endfire radiation based on metal groove unit-cells

This paper describes a linear-polarized reflector that reflects incident wave almost parallel to its surface at 60 GHz, when illuminated by an impinging plane wave with normal incidence. This structure is designed as a simple and low-cost passive repeater with both a quasi-endfire radiation and a flat profile. Working as a transmission relay, it is a quite potential and possible solution to improve the radio-coverage in the T-shaped corridor, which is a typical scenario of non-light-of-sight (NLOS) environment for 60 GHz indoor communications. The proposed repeater consists of an array of parallel grooves with appropriate depths, drilled in a metallic plate. Full-wave simulations and theoretical investigations are carried out to demonstrate the working principle and to optimize the performance. Then, an 80-groove breadboard in the size of 200 mm × 200 mm is fabricated and measured to explore the feasibility of the concept. In a practical measurement, when the distance from the repeater to transmitting antenna (Tx) is 2 m, and to the receiving antenna (Rx) is 1.5 m, the repeater exhibits a main beam at ±75° with gain up to 22.7 dB. The communication between Tx and Rx in NLOS areas is thus successfully recovered.
The Potential of Nrf2 Activation as a Therapeutic Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Inflammation and oxidative stress are well established in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and are critical to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. The transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a central regulator of cellular anti-oxidative responses, inflammation, and restoration of redox balance. Accumulating reports support an emerging role for the regulation of Nrf2 in SLE. These include findings on the development of lupus-like autoimmune nephritis and altered immune cell populations in mice lacking Nrf2, as well as decreased Nrf2 abundance in the dendritic cells of patients with SLE. Nrf2-inducing agents have been shown to alleviate oxidative and inflammatory stress and reduce tissue injury in SLE mouse models. Since Nrf2 expression can be increased in activated T cells, the precise role of Nrf2 activation in different immune cell types and their function remains to be defined. However, targeting Nrf2 for the treatment of diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, such as SLE, is promising. As investigation of Nrf2-inducing agents in clinical trials grows, defining the signaling and molecular mechanisms of action and downstream effects in response to different Nrf2-inducing agents in specific cells, tissues, and diseases, will be critical for effective clinical use.
Diversity of Microbial Communities of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica at Spatial Scale

Soil microorganisms play an indispensable role in the forest ecosystem. It is necessary to study the soil microorganisms in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, which is one of the afforestation species widely planted in the northern sandy region of China. We collected soil samples of P. sylvestris at large spatial scales and analyzed bacterial and fungal community composition differences using high-throughput sequencing techniques. The results showed that: (1) the richness index of different sandy lands was significantly different. The α-diversity of bacteria was the highest in Mu Us Sandy Land, and the α-diversity of fungi was the highest in Horqin Sandy Land. (2) The dominant phyla of bacteria were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria, while the dominant phyla of fungi were Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The relative abundance of dominant phyla was different. (3) Temperature and precipitation were the main driving factors of bacterial and fungal community change at large spatial scale. In addition, bacteria were also affected by total nitrogen, soil organic carbon and pH content; fungal community was affected by pH. The microorganisms showed obvious differences in geographical distribution, which could provide ideas for promoting sustainable management of P. sylvestris stand.
The Anxiolytic Drug Buspirone Prevents Rotenone-Induced Toxicity in a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease

A pharmacological and genetic blockade of the dopamine D3 receptor (D3R) has shown to be neuroprotective in models of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The anxiolytic drug buspirone, a serotonin receptor 1A agonist, also functions as a potent D3R antagonist. To test if buspirone elicited neuroprotective activities, C57BL/6 mice were subjected to rotenone treatment (10mg/kg i.p for 21 days) to induce PD-like pathology and were co-treated with increasing dosages of buspirone (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg i.p.) to determine if the drug could prevent rotenone-induced damage to the central nervous system (CNS). We found that high dosages of buspirone prevented the behavioural deficits caused by rotenone in the open field test. Molecular and histological analyses confirmed that 10 mg/kg of buspirone prevented the degeneration of TH-positive neurons. Buspirone attenuated the induction of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 expression by rotenone, and this was paralleled by the upregulation of arginase-1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) in the midbrain, striatum, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. Buspirone treatment also improved mitochondrial function and antioxidant activities. Lastly, the drug prevented the disruptions in the expression of two neuroprotective peptides, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). These results pinpoint the neuroprotective efficacy of buspirone against rotenone toxicity, suggesting its potential use as a therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases, such as PD.
Technical and Economical Aspects Concerning Shotcreting in Tunnels

After almost a century of pragmatic application of shotcrete, shotcrete technology is facing an extensive innovation today. Both in the field of material requirements and in the field of requirements of the construction technology extensive concepts respectively promises of solutions are tested for the most different conditions. The variety of offered possibilities is manifold and contradictory. The current state of the art for shotcrete applications is to be presented in a detailed way in this paper.
Factors affecting multiple borrowing among microfinance clients: evidences from Bangladesh

PurposeAlthough microfinance had experienced rapid growth in most developing economies, multiple borrowing remains a growing concern for practitioners and researchers in recent years. Hence, the main purpose of the study is to evaluate the factors affecting multiple borrowing among microfinance clients.Design/methodology/approachThe primary survey data of 400 microfinance clients from Bangladesh was collected to execute the research objective. Considering the types of dependent variable, this study employed logistics, probit, ordinary least squares (OLS) and Poisson regression techniques to analyze the data.FindingsAmong others, it was discovered that the expected (requested) loan amount is positively associated with multiple borrowing, while the level of training, small cattle farming business and marital status (widow/separated) exhibited negative effects under logistic regression. These results are robust with respect to the regression method, the specification and the definition of the outcome variable. Also, supply-side incentives (e.g. training) were found to partly influence the multiple-borrowing behavior of microfinance clients. These findings reiterate the contribution of both demand and supply-side factors to the multiple-borrowing behavior of clients. Consequently, policy implications and future research direction are advanced.Originality/valueThe authors have examined some individual-level characteristics as well as some supply-side incentives to better understand the underexplored issue of multiple-borrowing behavior among microfinance clients.
End-to-End Analyses Using Image Classification

End-to-end analyses of data from high-energy physics experiments using machine and deep learning techniques have emerged in recent years. These analyses use deep learning algorithms to go directly from low-level detector information directly to high-level quantities that classify the interactions. The most popular class of algorithms for these analyses are convolutional neural networks that operate on experimental data formatted as images. End-to-end analyses skip stages of the traditional workﬂow that includes the reconstruction of particles produced in the interactions, and as such are not limited by eﬃciency losses and sources of inaccuracy throughout the event reconstruction process. In many cases, deep learning end-to-end analyses have been shown to have signiﬁcantly increased performance compared to previous state-of-the-art methods.
Investigating the efficacy of e-learning for Egyptian higher education

Using e-learning has become a credited learning delivery method in developed countries. The importance of this research arises from a widespread acknowledgement that implementing and evaluating quality in the learning process, whether it is face-to-face or e-learning, is important to guarantee the success of developing learners‘ understanding and knowledge. The research uses an instrumental case study to investigate the efficacy of e-learning in the Egyptian higher education context and to produce a model of implementing and evaluating quality in e-learning systems. Several methods are adopted including interviews, questionnaire, focus groups, VLE feedback, and a pre-post achievement test to collect the data. The study describes the participants‘ attitudes toward e-learning, what they perceive as quality e-learning systems and as critical success factors for implementing such systems inside the Egyptian higher education, and how they view the effectiveness and quality of e-learning systems. In addition, the study indicates that the majority of the participants are satisfied with using e-learning systems in their learning as long as the critical success factors are applied. This research also suggests that e-learning has a positive impact on learners‘ achievement levels.
Assessing the suitability of rotary corers for sampling exchangeable cations in rocky soils

Quantitative soil pits have long set the standard for accurate quantitative soil sampling, but they are notoriously labor-intensive and do not capture spatial variability. The use of rotary cores for soil sampling could improve estimates of soil nutrient contents due to the speed and efficiency of obtaining many measurements at depth and over a large area. We assessed whether this method was appropriate for estimating exchangeable cation concentrations in soils. We hypothesized that the grinding of rock and soil that occurs during coring could potentially bias estimates of exchangeable cation concentrations in soils, and we also hypothesized that the introduction of material from the upper soil profiles to the deeper samples during insertion and removal of the corer might bias cation, C, and N estimates in rotary core samples. We compared rotary cores to soil pits in four soil types at four sites in the US: NH (Spodosols), NY (Inceptisols), NV (Mollisols), and CA (Alfisols). We found that some exchangeable cations had significantly higher cation concentrations in soil cores versus the soil pits (p<0.05) at each of the four sites, but which exchangeable cations showed this pattern varied from site to site. The elevated exchangeable cation concentrations in the rotary core samples resulted in large overestimates of exchangeable cation contents when expressed on an areal basis. At the NH and NY sites, we collected the soil introduced to the sample during the insertion and removal of the corer. We found that the mass of this contamination relative to the total core mass was significantly greater (p=0.01) at the NH sites (9% of core mass) than at NY (2% of core mass), likely due to the presence of a deeper forest floor. We also found that the contaminated “shear zone” of the core was not limited to only the outer portion of the core. In conclusion, the rotary core did not seem to provide satisfactory, unbiased estimates of exchangeable cation