Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Associations among Dental Anxiety, Self-Esteem, and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: The current evidence on the relationships among child oral health-related quality of life, dental anxiety, and self-esteem indicates that we need to investigate these relationships to improve our understanding of the associations. Therefore, the current research aimed to enhance this evidence and provide an overview of the participating children’s oral-health-related quality of life (as measured by the CPQ8–10), self-esteem (as measured by the Coopersmith SEI-SF), and dental anxiety (as measured by the CFSS_DS) and how these child-related outcome measures interacted and were related to one another. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of school children (n = 1900) aged 8 to 10 years. The questionnaire was collected through validated self-report measures: dental anxiety, COHRQoL, and self-esteem. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the strength of the association of our model to explore the relationships among these three psychological constructs. The moderating effects of age, gender, location, and the educational board were analysed for their possible influence on these relationships. Results: Significant relationships between COHRQoL and child dental anxiety and between COHRQoL and SE were detected. The relationship subscale between COHRQoL and child dental anxiety was 0.24, (p < 0.001). A stronger correlation between COHRQoL, and SE was found, with B = −0.77, (p < 0.001). Although the association between CDA and SE was small, it was statistically significant (p = 0.03). These findings provide some important background information for designing effective educational programs for children.
An Improved RNS Reverse Converter in Three-Moduli Set

Residue Number System (RNS) is a carry-free and non-weighed integer system. In this paper an improved three-moduli set {2 (cid:3041) − 1,2 (cid:3041) + 1, 2 (cid:3043)(cid:3041) − 1} in reverse converter based on CRT algorithm is proposed. CRT algorithm can perform a better delay and hardware implementation in modules via other algorithms. This moduli is based on p that covers a wide range on modules and supports the whole range of its modules in dynamic range. With growth in moduli, many types of modules have been proposed. By using dynamic range we can solve many problems in Residue Number System (RNS) by just one three moduli. In proposed moduli set of this paper in Residue Number System (RNS), the internal circuit is improved and thus, complexity of circuit, energy consumption and power consumption in our proposed design is improved. These improvements are shown in evaluation in terms of CSA adders, CPA adders and delay.
Body Weight Estimation Using Virtual Anthropometric Measurements From a Single Image

Direct estimation of body weight through noncontact methods is crucial for applications such as health monitoring, surveillance, and robot-assisted casualty rescue. Existing methods for body weight estimation from images are often affected by various factors, such as camera distance, human orientation, and body posture, which ignore the fact that bodies typically inhabit 3-D space. To address the problem, we propose an approach for estimating body weight based on virtual anthropometric measurements and deep features instead of estimating by reasoning pixels. Specifically, we develop a three-branch framework that includes face feature extraction, body feature extraction, and deep feature extraction and maps all features with a regressor. The developed method adds 3-D shape reconstruction to explicitly reason about virtual anthropometric measurements. To enable this, our model is trained to robustly compute anthropometric measurements in various orientations and postures. Furthermore, we evaluate our method on a public dataset and Image-VM-BMI, a new dataset of 4740 images, including body mass index (BMI) labels and virtual anthropometric measurement labels with paired 3-D reconstruction. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms pixel-based analysis approaches on BMI estimation.
Development of Debiasing Technique for Lung Nodule Chest X-ray Datasets to Generalize Deep Learning Models

Screening programs for early lung cancer diagnosis are uncommon, primarily due to the challenge of reaching at-risk patients located in rural areas far from medical facilities. To overcome this obstacle, a comprehensive approach is needed that combines mobility, low cost, speed, accuracy, and privacy. One potential solution lies in combining the chest X-ray imaging mode with federated deep learning, ensuring that no single data source can bias the model adversely. This study presents a pre-processing pipeline designed to debias chest X-ray images, thereby enhancing internal classification and external generalization. The pipeline employs a pruning mechanism to train a deep learning model for nodule detection, utilizing the most informative images from a publicly available lung nodule X-ray dataset. Histogram equalization is used to remove systematic differences in image brightness and contrast. Model training is then performed using combinations of lung field segmentation, close cropping, and rib/bone suppression. The resulting deep learning models, generated through this pre-processing pipeline, demonstrate successful generalization on an independent lung nodule dataset. By eliminating confounding variables in chest X-ray images and suppressing signal noise from the bone structures, the proposed deep learning lung nodule detection algorithm achieves an external generalization accuracy of 89%. This approach paves the way for the development of a low-cost and accessible deep learning-based clinical system for lung cancer screening.
Students' attitude towards computer algebra systems (CAS) and their choice of using CAS in problem-solving

ABSTRACT We explore students choice of using computer algebra systems (CAS) in problem-solving relative to their self-reported attitude towards learning mathematics with CAS. Our research design is a case study of nine Norwegian upper-secondary mathematics students with a wide range of attitude towards CAS. Our findings on routine problems indicate that (1) students use CAS whenever students perceive the problem as time-consuming regardless of their attitude towards CAS, and (2) students attitude affects their use of CAS whenever students perceive the problem as non-time-consuming. Norway, among other countries, has implemented CAS as an essential digital resource towards learning mathematics in upper-secondary school. Our discussion focuses on the implications of our findings have on local mathematics educators and national policy-makers.
Asymptotic stability of the Webster-Lokshin model

The aim of this paper is to study the asymptotic stability of s ome wave equation with fractional damping accounting for visco-thermal losses at the walls of a flared pipe; moreover, the radiation boundary condition at the end of the pipe is described by a positive real impedance. The difficulty of this model is twofold: first the fractional d ifferential operator is non-local in time and must be transformed into a diffusive realization in the sense of systems theory; second, although a global energy can be built for this system, made of the wave energy and the diffusive energy, LaSalle’s invariance principle does not apply, since a lack of compactness is to be found in this model. In this case, a refined analysis of the spectrum of the generat or of the semigroup is needed, in order to apply Arendt‐Batty stability theorem . This has already been carried out on the ODE corresponding to the projection on only one mode in [Matignon & Prieur, ESAIM: COCV, 2005], but the question is even more difficult to tackle on the whole PDE.
Broadcast Core Network (BCN): Paving the Future Path of DTT

Terrestrial broadcasting has been considered outdated for decades because of its lack of flexibility in embracing emerging use cases on the IP media delivery landscape. Recent standardization efforts have been a turning point, bringing broadcasting technologies to the most efficient communication systems group and incorporating an IP-based protocol stack. However, a key enabler for integrating terrestrial broadcast systems as one of the IP multimedia multicast delivery choices is still missing: the development of a Broadcasting Core Network (BCN). This entity will entail innovative and more efficient management of the frequency resources assigned to the Broadcast Network Operator, maximize the capabilities of IP-based solutions, and eventually facilitate cooperation with other systems and the exposure of the broadcasting asset to additional services. In this article, we build on the latest DTT standards to explain how the 5G Core developments drive the first steps of the standardization of a BCN. The article also identifies the additional challenges that the broadcasting industry will face shortly to integrate the envisioned services, and it ends with the description of a prototype developed to furnish BCN standardization.
How the pandemic has changed innovation collaboration in SMEs, as illustrated by four co-innovation projects

The recent health crisis has particularly affected small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Some have had to temporarily close their doors. Others chose to innovate by developing new products to take advantage of the situation and survive. However, innovation is a risky strategy, so there are many failures. Innovation collaboration is one way of limiting these failures and increasing the chances of project success. Nevertheless, little is known about SMEs’ innovation collaboration practices in the context of a crisis, and even before the pandemic, and further research is needed. This study aims to understand the innovation process and the collaboration practices adopted by SMEs for their product innovation projects to cope with the pandemic, by comparing their pre-pandemic practices with those implemented at the start of the pandemic. Based on four successful product innovation projects in two different SMEs, our results show that, at the start of the pandemic, collaborations included a larger number of partners, involved in more stages of the innovation process, in order to accelerate the new product development and commercialization, rapidly provide the necessary resources and response to customer needs.
ACCOUNTING STUDENTS' KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYERS

There are widespread concerns that universities are not providing graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the accounting profession. Employers continue to express their discontent and demand that academics in the field of accounting take greater responsibility in addressing this issue. The aim of this article is to identify and gather new insights on the competencies and skills that employers expect accounting graduates to have obtained from university accounting education to enable them to apply those skills at the workplace. This conceptual paper will present an overview of the recent research studies on the pertinent knowledge, technical skills, and other competencies they should possess to ensure that accounting graduates are recruited in professions related to accounting. This paper will provide academics, lecturers, other scholars, and educational organisations with practical information to help produce certified accounting graduates and assists accounting students in preparing themselves with knowledge and skills that are required by employers.
Flux Profile Modeling Using Monte Carlo Simulation

Flux Profile Modeling Using Monte Carlo Simulation by Ramprasad Vijayagopal Dr. Rama Venkat, Examination Committee Chair Professor and Chair Department o f Electrical Engineering University o f Nevada, Las Vegas. Molecular beam Epitaxy (MBE) is a process by which semiconductor films are grown on the substrate by physical vapor deposition of the source material in an ultra high vacuum environment. Spatial variations in flux are a result of the shape o f the crucible and the geometry of the growth chamber. In this study a process simulation tool for MBE based on a phenomenological model is proposed and elaborated. The tool can be used in the industry to simulate the effusion and deposition of molecular beams by taking into account different parameters that influence the process. Additionally, it can generate deposition profiles created by the effusing flux species, on the platen containing the wafers. Two different models based on physical principles are investigated. Model 1 includes the primary flux from the liquid surface and a secondary flux re-emitted from the crucible walls for the total flux at the platen. No intermolecular collisions are
Natural Hand Remapping: Velocity Adaptive Hand Manipulation for VR

In virtual reality (VR), hand remapping modifies the commonly used one-to-one mapping between tracked and virtual hand positions, which extends the interaction scope of hands while also sacrificing naturalness. To address this issue, we propose remapping techniques that are both natural and efficient, taking hand movement velocity into consideration. Our approach is based on the insight that slow and fast hand velocities indicate the intent for precise or rapid manipulations respectively. Therefore, the hand movement should be scaled down or up accordingly. We first estimated the detection thresholds for remapped hands using a 2-alternative-forced-choice (2AFC) design. Based on these thresholds, we then designed a hand remapping function that automatically adjusts the remapping scale based on hand movement velocity. To evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed velocity-adaptive hand remapping technique, we further conducted a user study in which participants performed both rapid and precise tasks. Results showed that our proposed velocity-adaptive hand remapping, though imperceptible to participants, is able to significantly outperform other techniques. Overall, our work demonstrates the potential of velocity-guided redirection techniques for hand interactions in VR.
Cosmic Evolution of Black Holes And Spheroids. 1, the M(BH)-Sigma Relation at Z=0.36

We test the evolution of the correlation between black hole mass and bulge velocity dispersion (M{sub BH} - {sigma}), using a carefully selected sample of 14 Seyfert 1 galaxies at z = 0.36 {+-} 0.01. We measure velocity dispersion from stellar absorption lines around Mgb (5175 {angstrom}) and Fe (5270 {angstrom}) using high S/N Keck spectra, and estimate black hole mass from the H{beta} line width and the optical luminosity at 5100 {angstrom}, based on the empirically calibrated photo-ionization method. We find a significant offset from the local relation, in the sense that velocity dispersions were smaller for given black hole masses at z = 0.36 than locally. We investigate various sources of systematic uncertainties and find that those cannot account for the observed offset. The measured offset is {Delta} log M{sub BH} = 0.62 {+-} 0.10 {+-} 0.25, i.e. {Delta} log {sigma} = 0.15 {+-} 0.03 {+-} 0.06, where the error bars include a random component and an upper limit to the systematics. At face value, this result implies a substantial growth of bulges in the last 4 Gyr, assuming that the local M{sub BH} - {sigma} relation is the universal evolutionary end-point. Along with two samples of activemore » galaxies with consistently determined black hole mass and stellar velocity dispersion taken from the literature, we quantify the observed evolution with the best fit linear relation, {Delta} log M{sub BH} = (1.66 {+-} 0.43)z + (0.04 {+-} 0.09) with respect to the local relationship of Tremaine et al. (2002), and {Delta} log M{sub BH} = (1.55 {+-} 0.46)z +(0.01 {+-} 0.12) with respect to that of Ferrarese (2002). This result is consistent with the growth of black holes predating the final growth of bulges at these mass scales ( = 170 km s{sup -1}). « less
Chromatic adaptation to illumination investigated with adapting and adapted color

The state of chromatic adaptation was investigated by using the two-room technique. This technique involves a subject in a room who looks a white board in a separate test room through a window and judges the color of the window using the elementary color naming method. When the subject room is illuminated with a colored light and the test room with a white light, the window appears to be a very vivid color, for which the apparent hue depends on the color of the subject room. The color is referred to as the adapted color. The subject also evaluated the appearance of the illumination color of the subject room, which is called the adapting color. Two types of illuminating light in the subject room, fluorescent lamps with 7 colors and LED lamps with 19 colors, were employed. The adapting and the adapted colors were plotted on a polar diagram that was used in the opponent color theory, from which the hue angles were obtained. The hue angle difference between the two colors did not appear to be 180° except for one pair of adapting and the adapted colors, which implies that chromatic adaptation does not follow the opponent color concept. An improvement was achieved to explain the results by introducing complementary colors relation between the adapting and adapted color.
Determinant of Property Price Through The Monetary Variables: An ARDL Approach

The 2008 financial crisis demonstrates that studies on property price volatility are important because it impacts domestic economic conditions. This study identifies the volatility of property prices through monetary variables. This current study employs the ARDL method to determine the effect of monetary variables in the short and long term. The study results show that GDP as a proxy for income negatively affects residential property prices in Indonesia, and inflation positively affects property prices. There is a difference in the effect of domestic interest rates on property prices where there is a direct effect on domestic interest rates followed by the COVID-19 crisis. Meanwhile, foreign interest rates have a negative effect in the short term and a positive effect in the long term. This study implies that strong monetary operation through interest rates can maintain public expectations of prices, especially property prices.
The Physics of Protoplanetesimal Dust Agglomerates. VIII. Microgravity Collisions between Porous SiO2 Aggregates and Loosely Bound Agglomerates

We performed laboratory experiments colliding 0.8–1.0 mm and 1.0–1.6 mm SiO2 dust aggregates with loosely bound centimeter-sized agglomerates of those aggregates in microgravity. This work builds on previous microgravity laboratory experiments examining the collisional properties of porous loosely bound dust aggregates. In centimeter-sized aggregates, surface forces dominate self-gravity and may play a large role in aggregate growth beyond this size range. We characterize the properties of protoplanetary aggregate analogs to help place constraints on initial formation mechanisms and environments. We determined several important physical characteristics of these aggregates in a large number of low-velocity collisions. We observed low coefficients of restitution and fragmentation thresholds near 1 m s−1 for 1–2 cm agglomerates, which are in good agreement with previous findings in the literature. We find the accretion efficiency for agglomerates of loosely bound aggregates to be higher than that for just aggregates themselves. We find sticking thresholds of 6.6 ± 2 cm s−1, somewhat higher than those in similar studies, which have observed few aggregates stick at speeds of under 3 cm s−1. Even with highly dissipative collisions, loosely bound agglomerates have difficulty accreting beyond centimeter-sized bodies at typical collision speeds in the disk. Our results indicate agglomerates of porous aggregates have slightly higher sticking thresholds than previously thought, allowing possible growth to decimeter-sized bodies if velocities are low enough.
Early changes of ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness and macular microvasculature in Posner-Schlossman syndrome: a binocular control study by OCTA

To evaluate the early changes in ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness and macular microvasculature in Posner-Schlossman syndrome (PSS) with a binocular control study involving optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Twenty-six patients with unilateral PSS were included in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent a thorough ocular examination. Macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) and superficial macular microvasculature measurements, including vessel density (VD), perfusion density (PD) and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), were recorded. In PSS-affected eyes, the mGCIPL thickness was significantly lower in all quadrants than in the contralateral eyes (all p < 0.05). Significant macular microvascular damage was found in the PSS-affected eyes, including whole-image VD (wiVD), wiPD, perifoveal VD (periVD) and periPD (all p < 0.05); but there was no obvious difference in parafoveal VD (paraVD), paraPD and FAZ parameters (all p > 0.05). In addition, a decreased wiVD and wiPD were significantly correlated with a smaller mGCIPL thickness and a decreased MD (all p < 0.05). These parameters may contribute to the early detection of glaucomatous damage and timely supervision of disease progression in PSS.
Medication Administration Practices Among Nurses: An Observational Study from Oman

Safe medication administration is vital in ensuring patients’ safety and enhancing their quality of life. This study aimed to observe nurses' practice in medication administration in Hospitals and primary healthcare institutions to identify and examine the different steps of the medication administration process for quality assurance and safe drug administration. The methodology of the study employed a cross-sectional design using quantitative descriptive data within health institutions at South Sharqiyah Governorate. Data from the direct observation of 99 nurses (once at a time) were observed while they were preparing and administering medications using the disguised observation method (DDM). The data was recorded via Microsoft Access using a descriptive approach (frequencies and percentages) for analysis. The areas of concern in the study were: the five rights of medication administration, documentation, the use of patient’s identifiers, double checking and drug labeling. The trained observer completed the checklist after observing the nurses’ medication administration. Data were collected from 99 observations for analysis. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistics in the SPSS software version 26. The quantitative data illustrates that only 34.3% of nurses performed an independent double check by another nurse, only 56.6% performed appropriate labeling, and 62.6% confirmed the patient’s identity using at least two patient identifiers. Most medication administrations meet the “Five Rights” criteria (right patient =92.9%; right medication=98%; right dose=97%; right route=98%; and right time=97%). A statistically significant association was found between the participant's age and right time (p=0.013); and between years of experience and right medication (p=0.005), right dose (p=0.019) and right route (p=0.004). In this study, the nurses' poor areas of practice in medication administration were identified as double-checking of medication, labeling, and use of patient identifiers. Checking the right of medication administration and documentation post the procedure was the most followed by nurses in the medication administration process. The relevance of the study to clinical practice is the continuing education and clinical audits for nurses regarding basic pharmacology, medication administration policy, factors contributing to medication errors, and strategies preventing medication errors should be a priority.