Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual inclusion principle for overlapping interconnected systems

Restriction and aggregation are two dual inclusion conditions, which are revealed in the research field of inclusion principle for state space descriptions of overlapping interconnected systems. An input-state-output dual inclusion principle is proposed for linear time invariant systems and their dual systems, with the focus on restriction and aggregation in duality for direct contraction of control laws and state observers. In these two special inclusion cases, dual relationships of restriction and aggregation inclusion conditions are formulated between an original system and its dual system. Overlapping decentralized controller design problems are considered within the framework of the dual inclusion principle. It is shown that, if dual inclusion is satisfied, in the same type of expansions (restriction or aggregation) for both original system and its dual system, direct contraction can be applied to designed control laws or state observers from the expansion to the original space, while dual information of designed state observer or control laws can be contracted directly from the dual expansion to the dual original space.
Analyzing the usefulness of the DARPA transparent computing E5 dataset in APT detection research

We witnessed a lot of examples of cases launched by Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) organization and the spectacular destructive power. The realistic data originate from occurred attack events almost is not available. Fortunately, there is some simulation dataset. Many previous works were chosen to evaluate their method on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Transparent Computing Engagement 3 dataset that contains attack behaviors implemented by a highly skilled team. Meanwhile, with the rapid update development of computer technology and the competition between detection means and attacking methods is becoming increasingly fierce, this dataset is outmoded, it exists the enormous gap between current cyber attacks and the DARPA TC E3 dataset. In this work, we provide the statistical information of DARPA TC E5 and compare it with DARPA TC E3. We analyze the practicality of the more advanced DARPA Transparent Computing Engagement 5 dataset.
Environmental Implications Associated with the Development of Nanotechnology: From Synthesis to Disposal

Nanotechnology remains under continuous development. The unique, fascinating, and tunable properties of nanomaterials make them interesting for diverse applications in different fields such as medicine, agriculture, and remediation. However, knowledge about the risks associated with nanomaterials is still poorly known and presents variable results. Furthermore, the interaction of nanomaterials with biological systems and the environment still needs to be clarified. Moreover, some issues such as toxicity, bioaccumulation, and physicochemical transformations are found to be dependent on several factors such as size, capping agent, and shape, making the comparisons even more complex. This review presents a comprehensive discussion about the consequences of the use and development of nanomaterials regarding their potential risks to the environment as well as human and animal health. For this purpose, we reviewed the entire production chain from manufacturing, product development, applications, and even product disposal to raise the important implications at each stage. In addition, we present the recent developments in terms of risk management and the recycling of nanomaterials. Furthermore, the advances and limitations in the legislation and characterization of nanomaterials are also discussed.
Construction, Evaluation, and Optimization of a Regional Ecological Security Pattern Based on MSPA–Circuit Theory Approach

Ecological security is crucial for regional sustainable development; however, as modern urbanization highlights ecological security challenges, major challenges have arisen. In this paper, we take the ecological region around Taihu Lake, China, as a typical research site, extract important ecological sources and key nodes using morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) and circuit theory, and propose a regulatory framework for the ecological security pattern (ESP) of the ecological region based on the spatial characteristics of sources, corridors, and nodes. We obtained the following results: (1) The ESP includes 20 ecological sources, 37 ecological corridors, 36 critical ecological protection nodes, and 24 key ecological restoration nodes. (2) Most ecological sources are large and concentrated in western Zhejiang and west of Taihu Lake, which are both important ecological sources and ecological resistance surfaces. (3) The ecological corridors spread east, west, and south from Taihu Lake, with high network connectivity. (4) Shanghai serves as the central node, with the Su-Xi-Chang town cluster and the Qiantang River town cluster serving as the extension axes for the ecological resistance hot-spot area. The center of the elliptical ecological resistance surface (standard deviation) lies in Suzhou City, located on the east shore of Taihu Lake. (5) Ecological nodes were mostly located in ecological corridors or junctions. A “four zones and one belt” pattern is suggested in order to make the land around Taihu Lake more connected and stable ecologically. This study can be used as a guide for building and improving an ecological safety network.
COVID-19 and Physical Activity in University of Florida Students: A Survey Study

Background: COVID-19 disruptions may have impacted physical activity (PA) levels, especially among undergraduates relying on campus resources. The objectives of this project were to investigate how COVID-19 disruptions impacted PA in University of Florida (UF) undergraduates and to assess interest in digital PA interventions. Design: Full-time, residential UF students ages 18-24 without physical limitations to PA were eligible to participate. An online survey asked about PA levels at three timepoints: before COVID-19 (February 2020; T1), during initial disruptions (June 2020; T2), and at the time of the survey (December 2020; T3). Participants reported PA enjoyment, interest in digital PA interventions, and demographics. Data are summarized descriptively, and chi-square tests explore the relationship between PA enjoyment and meeting PA recommendations. Results: Participants with complete data (n=200) are included in analyses. On average, they were 19.8 years old with a BMI of 22.9 kg/m2; 71.0% female, 70.0% white, and 77.0% non-Hispanic. More participants met PA guidelines at T1 (52.0%) than at T2 (49.5%) or T3 (43.5%); >50% maintained similar PA levels across all timepoints. At T2, most participants transitioned to independent (89.0%), at-home (82.5%) workouts. Participants reporting high PA enjoyment were more likely to meet PA guidelines than those with low enjoyment at each timepoint (ps<0.05). Participants preferred app-based (78.2%) digital PA interventions containing workout ideas (71.9%) and maps of local trails (76.1%). Conclusions: Given changes in PA characteristics, additional research could explore the impacts of vaccination and COVID-19 variants on PA levels and the implementation of digital PA interventions.
In-game winner prediction and winning strategy generation in cricket: A machine learning approach

This study provides an in-game prediction of the winner for Twenty20 (T20) cricket by focusing on the matches played in the Indian Premier League. For the analysis, data were collected from 812 completed matches played between 2008 and 2020. Initially, several candidate features were identified, and then the LASSO method was applied as a feature selection technique to identify the most important set of features. Based on the identified important features, predictions are provided for each stage of a match where a T20 match can consist of a maximum of 240 stages. For each stage, three classification models were formed using Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines. The prediction accuracy was used for evaluating the findings of the study, and the prediction accuracy of each model indicates the ratio between the number of correctly predicted instances and the total number of predicted instances. Naive Bayes demonstrated prediction accuracies ranging from 53.08% to 91.76% between the first and the 240th stage of matches, whereas the accuracy of Logistic Regression varied from 56.92% to 97.65%. In comparison, Support Vector Machines also displayed comparable outcomes with a prediction accuracy of 55.00% at the first stage, and 90.59% at the 240th stage. Furthermore, a strategy generator that assists the competing teams in the second innings to devise winning strategies, is presented in this study alongside an interactive web-based application for making in-game predictions, and for assisting the end users (players and coaching/managing staff) in decision making, based on the generated winning strategies.
Responses of the Macroalga Ulva prolifera Müller to Ocean Acidification Revealed by Complementary NMR- and MS-Based Omics Approaches

Ocean acidification (OA) is a dramatic perturbation of seawater environments due to increasing anthropogenic emissions of CO2. Several studies indicated that OA frequently induces marine biota stress and a reduction of biodiversity. Here, we adopted the macroalga Ulva prolifera as a model and applied a complementary multi-omics approach to investigate the metabolic profiles under normal and acidified conditions. Our results show that U. prolifera grows at higher rates in acidified environments. Consistently, we observed lower sucrose and phosphocreatine concentrations in response to a higher demand of energy for growth and a higher availability of essential amino acids, likely related to increased protein biosynthesis. In addition, pathways leading to signaling and deterrent compounds appeared perturbed. Finally, a remarkable shift was observed here for the first time in the fatty acid composition of triglycerides, with a decrease in the relative abundance of PUFAs towards an appreciable increase of palmitic acid, thus suggesting a remodeling in lipid biosynthesis. Overall, our studies revealed modulation of several biosynthetic pathways under OA conditions in which, besides the possible effects on the marine ecosystem, the metabolic changes of the alga should be taken into account considering its potential nutraceutical applications.
Comparison between Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Mice after Clostridioides difficile Infection Reveals Novel Inflammatory Pathways and Contributing Microbiota

Clostridioides difficile causes the highest number of nosocomial infections. Currently, treatment options for C. difficile infection (CDI) are very limited, resulting in poor treatment outcomes and high recurrence rates. Although the disease caused by CDI is inflammatory in nature, the role of inflammation in the development of CDI symptoms is contradictory and not completely understood. Hence, the use of anti-inflammatory medication is debatable in CDI. In the current study, we evaluated the genetic and microbiome profiles of mice after infection with C. difficile. These mice were categorized based on the severity of CDI and the results were viewed accordingly. Our results indicate that certain genes are upregulated in severe CDI more than in the moderate case. These include oncostatin-M (OSM), matrix metalloprotease 8 (MMP8), triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (Trem-1), and dual oxidase 2 (Duox2). We also investigated the microbiome composition of CDI mice before and after infecting with C. difficile. The results show that C. difficile abundance is not indicative of diseases severity. Certain bacterial species (e.g., Citrobacter) were enriched while others (e.g., Turicibacter) were absent in severe CDI. This study identifies novel inflammatory pathways and bacterial species with a potential role in determining the severity of CDI.
Improved conductivity and mechanism of carrier transport in zinc oxide with embedded silver layer

The effects of an embedded silver layer on the electrical and optical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO)/silver (Ag)/zinc oxide (ZnO) layered composite structures on polymer substrates have been investigated. We have engineered transparent conducting oxide structures with greatly improved conductivity. Optical and electrical properties are correlated with Ag thickness. Film thicknesses were determined using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. Hall effect, four-point probe, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer analyses were used to characterize electrical and optical properties. The results show that carrier concentration, mobility, and conductivity increase with Ag thickness. Increasing Ag thickness from 8to14nm enhances sheet resistance and resistivity by six orders of magnitude. The optical transmittance of the composite structure decreases when compared to a single ZnO layer of comparable thickness. However, a composite with 12nm of Ag provides conductivity and transmittance values that are acceptable for opto.
Risky educational investment and the dynamics of inequality

We modify the model developed by Ray, D. (2006), On the dynamics of inequality, Economic Theory in the sense that the technology for education is convex but involves uncertainty. More specifically, we assume that the probability of successful education is an increasing an concave function of the amount of educational investment. It is shown that equilibrium paths are characterized as the solutions of a discrete-time dynamical system, that under generic parameter constellations the steady states of this dynamical system are isolated, and that the equilibrium paths may exhibit damped oscillations around a steady state. All of these findings are in contrast to the results derived by Ray, D. (2006), On the dynamics of inequality, Economic Theory for the model with a deterministic but non-convex education technology.
Photovoltaic and spectral photoresponse characteristics of n-C/p-C solar cell on a p-silicon substrate

Recent studies have shown the application of amorphous carbon as a semiconductor in C/Si heterojunction photovoltaic solar cells. In this letter, we report the rectifying current–voltage characteristics of the phosphorus-doped carbon/undoped-carbon (n-C/p-C) junction. The p- and n-carbon films were deposited by pyrolysis and ion-beam sputtering, respectively, on a p-Si substrate, using camphor as a natural carbon precursor. The preliminary photovoltaic characteristics of the cell reveals a short-circuit current density of 17.1 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage of 0.339 V, and photoelectrical conversion efficiency of 1.82%, a reproducible result, under air mass zero and 1 sun illumination conditions. The spectral photoresponse characteristics of the cell of the above configuration was explained in terms of transmission/absorption characteristics of the two individual carbon layers.
The Neural Correlates of Spatial Disorientation in Head Direction Cells

Visual Abstract While the brain has evolved robust mechanisms to counter spatial disorientation, their neural underpinnings remain unknown. To explore these underpinnings, we monitored the activity of anterodorsal thalamic head direction (HD) cells in rats while they underwent unidirectional or bidirectional rotation at different speeds and under different conditions (light vs dark, freely-moving vs head-fixed). Under conditions that promoted disorientation, HD cells did not become quiescent but continued to fire, although their firing was no longer direction specific. Peak firing rates, burst frequency, and directionality all decreased linearly with rotation speed, consistent with previous experiments where rats were inverted or climbed walls/ceilings in zero gravity. However, access to visual landmarks spared the stability of preferred firing directions (PFDs), indicating that visual landmarks provide a stabilizing signal to the HD system while vestibular input likely maintains direction-specific firing. In addition, we found evidence that the HD system underestimated angular velocity at the beginning of head-fixed rotations, consistent with the finding that humans often underestimate rotations. When head-fixed rotations in the dark were terminated HD cells fired in bursts that matched the frequency of rotation. This postrotational bursting shared several striking similarities with postrotational “nystagmus” in the vestibulo-ocular system, consistent with the interpretation that the HD system receives input from a vestibular velocity storage mechanism that works to reduce spatial disorientation following rotation. Thus, the brain overcomes spatial disorientation through multisensory integration of different motor-sensory inputs.
Precision of double sampling estimators for comparing two probabilities

SUMMARY It is assumed that both error-prone and error-free observations can be made on a binary response, the second type being more expensive. In double sampling error-prone observations are made on all sample units and for a random subsample error-free observations are made as well. Tenenbein (1970) studied allocation of units in double sampling for estimating a single probability. We consider double sampling for comparing two probabilities. For different cost ratios for error-prone versus error-free observations and for fixed total cost, we assess how the large-sample variance of the log odds ratio estimator varies with the proportion of units subject to both error-prone and error-free observation. We determine the optimal double sampling proportion and the possible gain from using double sampling versus single sampling in which only error-free observations are made.
Improved Plasmonic Filter, Ultra-Compact Demultiplexer, and Splitter

In this paper, metal insulator metal (MIM) plasmonic slot cavity narrow band-pass filters (NBPFs) are studied. The metal and dielectric of the structures are silver (Ag) and air, respectively. To improve the quality factor and attenuation range, two novel NBPFs based on tapered structures and double cavity systems are proposed and numerically analyzed by using the two-dimensional (2-D) finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The impact of different parameters on the transmission spectrum is scrutinized. We have shown that increasing the cavities' lengths increases the resonance wavelength in a linear relationship, and also increases the quality factor, and simultaneously the attenuation of the wave transmitted through the cavities. Furthermore, increasing the slope of tapers of the input and output waveguides decreases attenuation of the wave transmitted through the waveguide, but simultaneously decreases the quality factor, hence there should be a trade-off between loss and quality factor. However, the idea of adding tapers to the waveguides' discontinuities of the simple structure helps us to improve the device total performance, such as quality factor for the single cavity and attenuation range for the double cavity. According to the proposed NBPFs, two, three, and four-port power splitters functioning at 1320 nm and novel ultra-compact two-wavelength and triple-wavelength demultiplexers in the range of 1300-1550 nm are proposed and the impacts of different parameters on their performances are numerically investigated. The idea of using tapered waveguides at the structure discontinuities facilitates the design of ultra-compact demultiplexers and splitters.
Developing clinical grade flexible implantable electronics

Implantable electronic sensors and systems are utilised in an increasingly broad array of clinical applications, such as pacemakers, neuro-modulators and bioelectronic vagal nerve controllers. Advances in microelectronics, materials, and bio-interfaces allow for new clinical applications and support fundamental research. However, a longstanding issue with such devices has been the mismatch between the relative stiffness of such structures compared to tissue softness. This disparity has led to tissue rejection in the form of scar tissue around implantable probes, leading to loss of function and/or capability. This review, therefore, explores the field of implantable electronics and neuroprosthetics with a particular focus on developments in soft, flexible devices. We include advancements in materials and device topologies as well as the current understanding of their long-term efficacy in biological tissue.
Data‐based output feedback control using least squares estimation method for a class of nonlinear systems

This paper develops a data‐based output feedback control method for a class of nonlinear systems, which have unknown mathematical models. The dynamic model of the system is assumed to be smooth, while the corresponding Jacobian matrices are constant matrices in each sampling period. We employ a zero‐order hold and a fast sampling technique to sample and measure the output signal. When these measured data contain white noises, we use the least squares method to estimate the corresponding Jacobian matrices. The feedback gain matrix is calculated and adjusted adaptively in real time according to them. Theoretical analysis on the convergence condition is provided, and simulation results are used to demonstrate the feasibility of this method. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Microbially induced clay weathering: Smectite-to-kaolinite transformation

Abstract Microbially induced formation and transformation of clay minerals are known to be ubiquitous in nature. This work investigated the smectite-to-kaolinite transformation by Bacillus mucilaginosus, a kind of silicate-weathering bacterium. Results showed that the microbe-smectite system doubled protein production compared with the abiotic controls and enhanced dissolved 1.6% of total Si and 0.9% of total Al from smectite after the 25 days experiment. The formation of kaolinite was verified through its distinguished d(001)-spacing of 0.710 nm revealed by synchrotron radiation X-ray difrac-tion (SR-XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM). HR-TEM analysis indicated some mixed layers of smectite and kaolinite appeared in the form of a super-lattice structure. Moreover, the compositional and morphological changes of the solids suggested the emergence of kaolinite was associated with the formation of amorphous SiO2 and fragmented clay particles with lower Si/Al ratio and exposed crystal edge. Based on the detection of –C=O species on the smectite surface and the decrease of pH from 8.5 to 6.5, we inferred the organic ligands secreted by Bacillus mucilaginosus complexed with cations, especially for Si, which stripped the tetrahedral sheets and promoted the kaolinization of smectite. To our knowledge, this is the first report of microbially induced smectite-to-kaolinite transformation under ambient conditions in a highly-efficient way. This work could shed light on a novel pathway of microbe-promoted weathering of smectite to kaolinite at the Earth surface conditions. Such a robust and eficient transformation from expansive smectite to non-expansive clays as kaolinite may be of great potential in enhancing oil recovery in reservoirs.