Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HOME IS WHERE THE HABITAT IS: MODELING SHORTFIN MAKO HABITAT SUITABILITY VIA MACHINE LEARNING METHODS

Given the mounting threats of species overexploitation, climate change, and other anthropogenic stressors to global biodiversity, there is a growing need for conservation and management efforts informed by the life history and ecology of target species. Apex marine predators such as the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) are especially vulnerable owing to their life history traits, but accurately mapping habitat preferences remains challenging. Using a novel framework that combines multiple analytical techniques, I report on nearly a decade of habitat preferences of 106 shortfin makos in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) and western North Atlantic Ocean (NAO). I leverage the predictive power of machine learning (ML) to generate region-specific habitat suitability models based on satellite telemetry and remote sensed environmental data. Ensemblebased models performed best in predicting shortfin mako habitat suitability, and variables indicating coastal proximity were consistently the most important for model predictions at broad scales. In the GoM, sharks concentrated their residency behaviors around the Yucatán Peninsula during the late winter and early spring but expanded home ranges to include much of the GoM during the summer. In contrast, NAO sharks concentrated their residency behaviors off the northeastern U.S. coast during the summer, whereas winter habitats were more diffuse and located further south along the U.S. East Coast and in the open western NAO. Predicted habitat suitability from ML models aligned well with these observed contrasting patterns in seasonal shortfin mako movements, while also demonstrating considerable interannual variability.
A Geometric Framework for Stiffness Mappings of Compliant Robotic Systems on the Special Euclidean Group

In this article, the stiffness mapping of compliant robotic systems is generalized to the special Euclidean group SE(3). A geometric framework is proposed to unify the existing stiffness models. We analyze the symmetry and exactness relationship between joint and Cartesian stiffness matrices in this framework. To verify the theoretical results, motions of different types of manipulators, including serial and parallel ones, are tested in simulations. Based on the conservative property of the stiffness matrix, an impedance control strategy to achieve variable stiffness is proposed. In addition, a feasible stiffness identification method is developed using the skew-symmetric structure of the stiffness matrix.
Telerehabilitation for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (Tele-LSVT)-Loud on voice intensity and voice use in daily living in people with multiple sclerosis: A protocol for a feasibility and pilot randomized controlled study

Objective Alterations in voice intensity and quality may constitute a social life limitation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but only 2% of cases receive speech therapy. Especially the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT)-Loud is a highly effective intensive method for voice intensity, requiring subjects’ repeated attendance at the clinic. Telerehabilitation may represent a feasible solution to bypass potential barriers related to speech therapy attendance, scaling up the beneficial effects of the treatment to a broader population. The proposed protocol aims to test the feasibility and the pilot efficacy of the LSVT-Loud delivered in telerehabilitation (Tele-LSVT-Loud), compared to the same treatment delivered in the clinic (LSVT-Loud). Methods A single-blinded, parallel, two-arm, pilot randomized (1:1 ratio) controlled trial will be performed involving 20 people with MS. Patients will be allocated to 4 weeks of Tele-LSVT-Loud by accessing a telerehabilitation platform at home or LSVT-Loud conventionally delivered in the clinic. Feasibility and pilot effectiveness will be evaluated three times: before (T0), after the treatment (T1), and 3-month follow-up (T2). Feasibility measures will include adherence, adverse events, user experience, motivation, engagement, and acceptability. Vocal intensity during a 1-minute monologue will be the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures will be the vocal quality during a 1-minute monologue, sustained /a/ voice intensity, quality and stability, voice use in daily life, voice subjective perception in daily life, and quality of life. Results Expected results will be (1) high feasibility of Tele-LSVT-Loud and (2) a non-inferiority effect of Tele-LSVT-Loud compared with face-to-face treatment delivery on voice intensity and quality outcomes. Conclusions Tele-LSVT-Loud may be a feasible intervention for MS alteration in voice intensity and quality with a non-inferior effect compared to LSVT-Loud.
Simulation of dense suspensions with discrete element method and a coupled lattice Boltzmann method

Suspensions, mixtures of a fluid and particles, are widespread in nature and industry. A better understanding of suspension flow physics could be gained by accurate simulations and hence, many different simulation techniques for fluid-solid flows have been proposed. The intention of this thesis is to establish an accurate, high-fidelity methodology to simulate sheared dense suspensions on microscale which allow for extraction of reliable data for macroscale models and better understanding of underlying physical processes. Therefore, two partially saturated coupled lattice Boltzmann discrete element methods (LBDEM) are analysed and evaluated with regard to the stresslet computation of suspension flow under simple shear at first. Simulation results for a single sphere, two spheres, and several hundred spheres, immersed in a sheared fluid show that a commonly used partially saturated method based on the non-equilibrium bounce-back lead to non-satisfactory results. But an alternative superposition method, which is mostly neglected in the literature, can result in accurate stresslet calculations. Furthermore, an ideal single relaxation parameter range for the fluid phase to reduce slip velocity effects is determined. Based on the stresslet study outcome, the superposition method is used to simulate two particle collisions in the second part of this work. Thereby, a careful assessment of the partially saturated LBDEM capabilities to resolve lubrication interactions between particles, which are important in suspension flows, is achieved. Moreover, a popular lubrication correction model, which is applied for very small gap distances between particles which cannot be resolved by the lattice size, is slightly modified and calibrated to be suitable when used with the partially saturated coupling method. In the third part of this thesis, a comparison between the expensive LBDEM coupling and a tremendously cheaper discrete element method (DEM) with a model for lubricated particle-particle interactions is carried out. It is shown that for low Reynolds number sheared suspensions, with intermediate to dense solid packing fractions, the differences between both aforementioned LBDEM and DEM approaches can be minor. Thus, it is demonstrated that a DEM with a lubrication model can be effectively used to simulate microscale processes of dense suspension under simple shear in a low Reynolds number regime for a significant lower fraction of the computational expenses necessary for LBDEM simulations. Hence, in the last part of this thesis, only a DEM with a lubrication model is employed to study particle-particle contact and lubrication interactions as well as the underlying dissipation mechanism in dense sheared suspensions on microscale. Thereby, providing evidence that the suspension bulk viscosity divergence is caused by
Analysis of the Effect of Profitability Ratio, Solvency Ratio, Market Value Ratio, Inflation, and Exchange Rate on Stock Return (Case Study of the Agriculture Sector on the IDX from 2016 to 2019)

The agriculture sector plays a significant function in the Indonesian economy, primarily as a food-producing sector, generating jobs for employees in this area, and one of the sources of foreign exchange for the country. This study aims to analyze the influence of Return on Equity (ROE), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), Price Book to Value (PBV), inflation and Exchange Rate (ER) on stock returns. The population of this research are companies in the agriculture industry. The sampling approach employed in this research is purposive sampling method. This study analysis tool employs Partial Least Square. The results of this study reveal that inflation and Exchange Rate (ER) have a negative effect on stock returns, whereas Return on Equity (ROE), Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), Price Book to Value (PBV) has no effect on stock returns. For investors, those who wish to invest in the agriculture industry must look at Indonesia's macroeconomic conditions, specifically inflation and the exchange rate.
Numerical Prediction of Changes in Atmospheric Chemical Compositions During a Solar Energetic Particle Event on Mars

Precipitation of solar energetic particles (SEPs) into planetary atmospheres causes changes in atmospheric chemical composition through ionization, dissociation, and excitation of atmospheric molecules. In contrast to the terrestrial atmosphere, where depletion of ozone in the polar mesosphere has been studied by observations and models for decades, there have been no studies on the effects of SEPs on the neutral chemical composition of Mars' present‐day atmosphere. This study provided the first estimate of the impacts of SEPs on neutral chemical composition in the present‐day Martian atmosphere coupling a Monte Carlo model and a one‐dimensional photochemical model. Our results showed that ozone density in the Martian atmosphere might decrease in the altitude range of 20–60 km with a factor 10 maximum enhancement occurring at 40 km during a Halloween‐class SEP event due to an enhanced concentration of HOx. The depletion of ozone occurred in the altitude range of 20–60 km, corresponding to the penetration of protons with an energy range of 4.6–46 MeV. Such ozone depletion should be detected by Trace Gas Orbiter/Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery during intense SEP event. A 75% depletion of the ozone density at 40 km can be expected during SEP events occurring once in every 1 year. Therefore, ozone concentration in the Martian atmosphere might sufficiently decrease during a SEP event as on Earth, but through different chemical pathways driven by CO2 ionization and CO recombination catalytic cycle.
Depth Calibration and Validation of the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar, EAARL-B

ABSTRACT Wright, C.W. ; Kranenburg, C. ; Battista, T.A. , and Parrish, C. , 2016. Depth calibration and validation of the Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar, EAARL-B. In: Brock, J.C. ; Gesch, D.B. ; Parrish, C.E. ; Rogers, J.N. , and Wright, C.W. (eds.), Advances in Topobathymetric Mapping, Models, and Applications. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue, No. 76, pp. 4–17. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. The original National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL), was extensively modified to increase the spatial sampling density and improve performance in water ranging from 3–44 m. The new (EAARL-B) sensor features a 300% increase in spatial density, which was achieved by optically splitting each laser pulse into 3 pulses spatially separated by 1.6 m along the flight track and 2.0 m across-track on the water surface when flown at a nominal altitude of 300 m. Improved depth capability was achieved by increasing the total peak laser power by a factor of 10, and incorporating a new “deep-water” receiver, optimized to exclusively receive refracted and scattered light from deeper water (15–44 m). Two clear-water missions were conducted to determine the EAARL-B depth calibration coefficients. The calibration mission was conducted over the U.S. Navy's South Florida Testing Facility (SFTF), an established lidar calibration range located in the coastal waters southeast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A second mission was conducted over Lang Bank, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The EAARL-B survey was spatially and temporally coincident with multibeam sonar surveys conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Nancy Foster. The NOAA depth data range from 10–100 m, whereas the EAARL-B captured data from 0–41 m. Coefficients derived from the SFTF calibration mission were used to correct the EAARL-B data from both missions. The resulting calibrated EAARL-B data were then compared with the original reference dataset, a jet-ski-based single beam sonar dataset from the SFTF site, and the deeper NOAA data from St. Croix. Additionally, EAARL-B depth accuracy was evaluated by comparing the depth results to International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) standards. Results show good agreement between the calibrated EAARL-B data and all three reference datasets, with 95% confidence levels well within the maximum allowable total vertical uncertainty for IHO Order 1 surveys.
Comparative Physiology and Transcriptome Analysis Provides Insights into the Regulatory Mechanism of Albinotic Bambusa oldhamii

Albinism is a unique problem encountered in tissue culture experiments, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear in most bamboo species. In this study, we identified the putative regulatory genes in an albino mutant of Bambusa oldhamii using comparative physiology and transcriptome analysis. The degeneration of chloroplasts, low chlorophyll (Chl) content and reduced photosynthetic capacity were observed in albinotic B. oldhamii compared to normal lines. A total of 6191 unigenes were identified that were clearly differentially expressed between albino and normal lines by transcriptome sequencing. Most genes related to chloroplast development (such as Psa, Psb) and pigment biosynthesis (such as LHC, GUN4, ZEP) were downregulated significantly in albinotic lines, which might be responsible for the albino phenotype. Moreover, some transcription factors (TFs) such as PIF and GLK1 were identified to be involved in chloroplast development and Chl synthesis, indicating the involvement of putative regulatory pathways PIF-LHC and GLK1-LHC/Psa/Psb in albinotic B. oldhamii. Finally, the downregulation of some stress responsive TFs (like ICE1 and EREB1) suggested a reduction in stress resistance of albinotic B. oldhamii. The above findings provided new insights into the molecular mechanism of albinism in bamboo.
Cricket Flour and Pullulan Microparticle Formation via Electro-Blow Spinning as a New Method for the Protection of Antioxidant Compounds from Fruit Extracts

Cricket flour was evaluated as an encapsulation material for protecting phenolic-rich fruit extracts (cranberry fruit and po-megranate peel extracts) and compared to pullulan. Electro-blow spinning (EBS) was used as a high throughput technique for encapsulation and compared to freeze-drying. The particles’ morphology was analyzed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Fourier transform infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy were used for chemical characterization and encapsulation efficiency determination, respectively. The extract stability and antioxidant activity of the microparticles were studied by exposing samples to UV light irradiation for 30 h. Both extracts were successfully encapsulated in all encapsulating materials. SEM analysis showed that the obtained materials were micro-sized with a shape of capsule. Encapsulation efficiency was between 58.5 and 88.1% for the samples made via EBS and 51.2 to 79.3% for those made via freeze-drying. Encapsulation brought a significant improvement of extract stability and antioxidant activity. The non-protected extracts lost 50% of their antioxidant activity after 30 h of UV light radiation, while those protected with pullulan and cricket flour filtrate mixture experienced a 20% activity reduction. These findings indicate EBS to be a successful technique for the encapsulation of bio-active molecules, and cricket flour to be a new potential encapsulating material candidate that proves best when using a copolymer, such as pullulan.
Empirical Analysis of Core Competences and Performance of Star Rated Hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya

: The hotel industry in developing world has been promoting economic growth and providing jobs. In the Kenyan context, there has been great variation in firm performance of hotels with some exhibiting exceptional performance and other performing miserably and others closing down. Although core competences have received attention equally scholarly and in practice, its effect on star rated hotels remains uncertain. Specifically the study determines the effect of customer focus competence on firm performance of star rated hotels in Nairobi City County, Kenya. Underpinning theory of study independent and dependent variables were resource-based view theory and balance score card model. The study utilized positivism philosophy. Descriptive and explanatory research design was used. Moreover, the study utilized multistage sampling and stratified sampling to select the respondent of the study. The target population was 112 star rated hotels in Nairobi City County with a sample sizes of 217 managers who were interviewed for the study. The study employed a semi-structured questionnaire to collect primary data. Content, construct, and criterion-related validity was tested, while the study reliability was assessed through a Cronbach alpha coefficient achieving a threshold at 0.749 that assured the reliability of the questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze data. Inferential analysis was used in investigating the direct effect of core competences and firm performance of star rated hotels Nairobi City County.Descriptive statistics used mean standard deviation to explain data characteristics and inferential statistics used regression in testing the effects of variables on firm’s performance. Qualitative data was analyzed using themes presented in narrative form. Findings were presented in form of tables and charts.The study illustrated that customer focus competence had a statistical significant effect on the Performance of star rated hotels in Nairobi city county, Kenya. The study revealed that customer focus competence was key in satisfying customers’ needs, attracting new customers, repeated purchase and increased profit. Consequently, customer focus competence was important in handling guest complaints with professionalism, providing better customer care service. In addition, activities related to managing customer problems, giving customers attention and customer services skills were applicable in the hotels. This means that managers should invest and put emphasis on customer focus in improvement n customer services and providing quality services as to a greater extent they are drivers of performance. *
Factors associated with COVID-19 in hospitalized Brazilian patients

To estimate the prevalence of confirmed cases of COVID-19 and their associated factors in hospitalized Brazilian patients. The study analyzed 757,657 reported cases between February 26th and October 9th, 2020. The chi-square test and a Poisson multivariate regression model with a robust variance estimator were used to identify the prevalence and confidence intervals, considering p<0.05 as significant. COVID-19 diagnosis increased by 0.34% with increasing age and was 5% lower in male patients. The diagnosis increased with increasing education, and the disease was 17% more frequent among participants with higher education.Nosological characteristics were associated with the diagnosis, increasing by 32% in patients with anosmia, 28% among those with fever, 26% in obese patients, 14% in patients with diabetes, 5% in patients with heart disease, and 2.7% in those with oxygen saturation below 95%. A high prevalence of COVID-19 cases and a statistical association with clinical and sociodemographic variables were detected.
Reduced Age-Related Gray Matter Loss in the Orbitofrontal Cortex in Long-Term Meditators

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is a functionally heterogeneous brain region contributing to mental processes relating to meditation practices. The OFC has been reported to decline in volume with increasing age and differs in volume between meditation practitioners and non-practitioners. We hypothesized that the age-related decline of the OFC is diminished in meditation practitioners. We tested this hypothesis in a sample of 50 long-term meditators and 50 matched controls by correlating chronological age with regional gray matter volumes of the left and right OFC, as well as in seven left and right cytoarchitectonically defined subregions of the OFC (Fo1–Fo7). In both meditators and controls, we observed a negative relationship between age and OFC (sub)volumes, indicating that older participants have smaller OFC volumes. However, in meditators, the age-related decline was less steep compared to controls. These age-related differences reached significance for left and right Fo2, Fo3, Fo4, and Fo7, as well as left Fo5 and right Fo6. Since different subregions of the OFC are associated with distinct brain functions, further investigations are required to explore the functional implications of these findings in the context of meditation and the aging brain.
Radar Based Flow and Water Level Forecasting in Sewer Systems: a danish case study

This paper describes the first radar based forecast of flow and/or water level in sewer systems in Denmark. The rainfall is successfully forecasted with a lead time of 1-2 hours, and flow/levels are forecasted an additional 1⁄2-11⁄2 hours using models describing the behaviour of the sewer system. Both radar data and flow/water level model are continuously updated using online rain gauges and online in-sewer measurements, in order to make the best possible predictions. The project show very promising results, and show large potentials, exploiting the existing water infrastructure in future climate changes
More Media Agenda against Bernie Sanders? Examining the Emotional Tone of US Political Op-Ed Articles in 2019-20

: The emotional tone of op-eds (N = 120) on Democratic Party primary candidates was examined to determine if the mediais biased towards Bernie Sanders. Using the Dictionary of Affect (Whissell, 2009), article words (N = 114,606) between December 2019 and February 2020 were measured for their pleasantness, activation, and imagery for each candidate - Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, and Mike Bloomberg. Significant differences between Bernie Sanders and the other candidates were found for article pleasantness (p = .002), article activation (p = .002), and article imagery (p = .002). Op-ed articles written on Bernie Sanders were found to have less pleasant, less active,and more abstract words (low in imagery) than the other candidates. The results of this research demonstrated very similar conclusions to Newman (2022) on news articles, suggesting a pattern of media writing for Bernie Sanders compared to his Democratic primary opponents.