Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional Training and Dual-Task Training Improve the Executive Function of Older Women

Functional training (FT) is a type of multicomponent training with emphasis on activities of daily living that stimulate different physical capacities in only one session. Dual-task training (DTT) is a type of training that simultaneously applies cognitive and motor stimuli. We investigated the effects of sixteen weeks of FT and DTT and eight weeks of detraining on older women’s inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Sixty-two older women (66.9 ± 5.4 years; 27.7 ± 3.9 kg/m2) completed a 16-week intervention program comprising the FT (n = 31) and DTT (n = 31), and 43 returned after the detraining period. We used the Stroop Color Word Color test to evaluate inhibitory control, the Corsi Block Test to assess working memory, and the Trail Making Test to evaluate cognitive flexibility. Only DTT reduced the congruent response time between the pre-test and post-test (d= −0.64; p < 0.001), with no difference between the post-test and the detraining values (d = 1.13; p < 0.001). Both groups reduced the incongruent response time between the pre-test and post-test (FT: d = −0.61; p = 0.002; DTT: d= −0.59; p = 0.002) without a difference between groups. There were no significant differences in working memory and cognitive flexibility. Sixteen weeks of FT and DTT increased the inhibitory control of older women but not the working memory and cognitive flexibility, and these effects persisted after eight weeks of detraining.
Spatially explicit simulation of hydrologically controlled carbon and nitrogen cycles and associated feedback mechanisms in a boreal ecosystem in Eastern Canada.

[1] Ecosystem models that simulate biogeochemical processes usually ignore hydrological controls that govern them. It is quite possible that topographically driven water fluxes significantly influence the spatial distribution of C sources and sinks because of their large contribution to the local water balance. To investigate this, we simulated biogeochemical processes along with the associated feedback mechanisms in a boreal ecosystem using a spatially explicit hydroecological model, boreal ecosystem productivity simulator (BEPS)–TerrainLab V2.0, that has a tight coupling of ecophysiological, hydrological, and biogeochemical processes. First, the simulated dynamics of snowpack, soil temperature, net ecosystem productivity (NEP), and total ecosystem respiration (TER) were validated with high-frequency measurements for 2 years. The model was able to explain 80% of the variability in NEP and 84% of the variability in TER. Further, we investigated the influence of topographically driven subsurface base flow on soil C and N cycling and on the spatiotemporal patterns of C sources and sinks using three hydrological modeling scenarios that differed in hydrological conceptualizations. In general, the scenarios that had nonexplicit hydrological representation overestimated NEP, as opposed to the scenario that had an explicit (realistic) representation. The key processes controlling the NEP differences were attributed to the combined effects of variations in photosynthesis (due to changes in stomatal conductance and nitrogen (N) availability), heterotrophic respiration, and autotrophic respiration, all of which occur simultaneously affecting NEP. Feedback relationships were also found to exacerbate the differences. We identified six types of NEP differences (biases), of which the most commonly found was due to an underestimation of the existing C sources, highlighting the vulnerability of regional-scale ecosystem models that ignore hydrological processes.
The Rise and Fall of Cryptocurrencies: Defining the Economic and Social Values of Blockchain Technologies, assessing the Opportunities, and defining the Financial and Cybersecurity Risks of the Metaverse

This paper contextualises the common queries of"why is crypto crashing? "and"why is crypto down? ", the research transcends beyond the frequent market fluctuations to unravel how cryptocurrencies fundamentally work and the step-by-step process on how to create a cryptocurrency. The study examines blockchain technologies and their pivotal role in the evolving Metaverse, shedding light on topics such as how to invest in cryptocurrency, the mechanics behind crypto mining, and strategies to effectively buy and trade cryptocurrencies. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the research transitions from the fundamental principles of fintech investment strategies to the overarching implications of blockchain within the Metaverse. Alongside exploring machine learning potentials in financial sectors and risk assessment methodologies, the study critically assesses whether developed or developing nations are poised to reap greater benefits from these technologies. Moreover, it probes into both enduring and dubious crypto projects, drawing a distinct line between genuine blockchain applications and Ponzi-like schemes. The conclusion resolutely affirms the continuing dominance of blockchain technologies, underlined by a profound exploration of their intrinsic value and a reflective commentary by the author on the potential risks confronting individual investors.
Predicting suitable habitat for deep water corals in the Pacific and Atlantic Continental Margins of North America

Liquid organic-powdered inorganic compound emulsions and suspensions are produced by reacting an inorganic polybasic salt forming acidic compound with a liquid organic compound then emulsifying the liquid organic-inorganic compound with a powdered inorganic compound. The liquid organic-powdered inorganic compound may be utilized in the production of polyurethane foam; polyepoxy material or polyester material containing powdered inorganic fillers or reactants.
The Development of E-Banking Services Quality Measurement Instrument: MPQe-BS

Perceived service quality is a well-researched concept in the marketing literature. Several measurement scales have been proposed, including for banking services, but most apply to the physical service environment. On the other hand, there is a lack of instruments available to measure the quality of banking services in a digital environment. Nowadays, especially pushed by the COVID-19 situation and sustainable development goals promoted by the United Nations, digitalization of services is a new normal. It is often perceived as a green banking practice and a prerequisite to contribute to the SDGs and environment per se. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a perceived quality scale of e-banking services. The proposed measurement model was tested on a convenience sample of 335 respondents from Slovenia and Croatia via web-based questionnaires. Content validity, construct validity, dimensionality, and discriminant validity were assessed with EFA and CFA. The results prove that the instrument is appropriate for measuring the perceived quality of e-banking services. It measures six dimensions: efficiency, availability, contact, design, security, and fulfillment. Additional group analysis shows that the scale applies to different cultural contexts. The main limitation of the research is that the instrument measures only the perceived quality of e-banking services provided through online channels. The main theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed.
Marital Quality in Middle Aged Women: A Qualitative study

Background: Marital quality is an essential feature of family life that affects one’s wellbeing; higher marital quality is linked to less vulnerability to depression, self-rated health, less physical ailments and subjective well-being and happiness. Cross sectional studies have found low marital satisfaction and happiness in middle aged adults compared to the younger or older adults, whereas cohort studies have revealed that marital quality tends to decrease after the initial of marriage years and into the middle adulthood and then either steadies or continue to decrease after midlife. This study explored marital quality in women and the dimensions that contribute to greater marital quality in midlife stage of marriage. Methodology: The sample consisted of 15 middle aged married women. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to explore their marital quality and the dimensions related to marital quality. The interviews were analysed using content analysis method. Results: The results showed that aspects such as handling problems and disagreements, communication, having an egalitarian approach, making compromises or adjustments, support of extended family were related to better marital quality. Conclusion: The study highlights that marital enrichment programs that focus on communication between partners, problem solving strategies and effective handling of disagreements can increase the marital quality and strengthen the marital relationship.
Negligible Impact on Precipitation From a Permanent Inland Lake in Central Australia

For over a century, numerous proposals for increasing available water in central Australia have been raised, inspired in part by the natural occurrence of the ephemeral lake, Kati Thanda‐Lake Eyre. It has also been proposed that additional rainfall generated by the lake would spread beyond the lake itself, potentially opening up large tracts of uncultivated land to dryland agriculture. Here we use a climate model to examine how adding a permanent lake to Australia's arid center might influence local and regional precipitation. Locally, evaporative cooling from the lake increases low‐level divergence, suppressing precipitation. Regionally, additional moisture from the lake is spread thinly over the Australian continent, resulting in little change to total precipitation. Overall, our results do not support the assertion that maintaining a large inland lake like Kati Thanda‐Lake Eyre in central Australia would significantly increase precipitation, either locally or regionally.
Epistemic Harm in Empathy

This paper delves into the intricacies of the concept of epistemic harm. Particularly, epistemic harm is used as a case study to gain insights into the efficacy and distinctiveness of the concept of harm vis-à-vis related constructs such as violence and trauma within the domain of social psychology. The paper underscores the pertinence of the concept of epistemic harm in the context of empathetic testimonial exchange using autism studies as a sample case. Subsequently, empathy is characterised as innately engendering epistemic harm, manifesting both at the inter-subjective and intra-subjective levels. The paper concludes with a contemplation on the significance of the idea of epistemic harm within the broader field of harm research.
Blind Deconvolution of Anisoplanatic Images Collected by a Partially Coherent Imaging System

Abstract : Coherent imaging systems offer unique benefits to system operators in terms of resolving power, range gating, selective illumination and utility for applications where passively illuminated targets have limited emissivity or reflectivity. This research proposes a novel blind deconvolution algorithm that is based on a maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimator constructed upon a physically based statistical model for the intensity of the partially coherent light at the imaging detector. The estimator is initially constructed using a shift-invariant system model, and is later extended to the case of a shift-variant optical system by the addition of a transfer function term that quantifies optical blur for wide fields-of-view and atmospheric conditions. The estimators are evaluated using both synthetically generated imagery, as well as experimentally collected image data from an outdoor optical range. The research is extended to consider the effects of weighted frame averaging for the individual short-exposure frames collected by the imaging system. It was found that binary weighting of ensemble frames significantly increases spatial resolution.
Non-Linear Optimization Applied to Angle-of-Arrival Satellite-Based Geolocation

Abstract : Geolocation is a common application for satellite systems. This involves estimating an object's location (herein called the subject) based on noisy satellite data. Many geolocation methods exist; however, none are tailored specifically for the unique problems faced by satellite systems. Some satellites are so far from the subject being localized that by the time the satellite receives a signal from the subject it might have moved appreciably. Furthermore, some satellites or terrestial sensors may be much closer to the subject than others. Therefore, sensors may need to be weighted based upon their distance to the subject being localized. In addition, even if a subject can be localized, the confidence in this localization may be unknown. Non-linear optimization is proposed, implemented, and analyzed as a means of geolocating objects and providing confidence estimates from passive satellite line-of-sight data. Non-linear optimization requires an initial estimate. This estimate is provided by a triangulation method. The non-linear optimization then improves upon this estimate iteratively by finding estimates that are more likely to have produced the observed line-of-sight measurements. The covariance matrix of the geolocation parameters being estimated is naturally produced by the optimization which provides quantified confidence in the geolocation estimate. Simulations are developed to provide a means of evaluating the performance of the non-linear optimization algorithm. It was found that non-linear optimization can reduce the average error in geolocation estimates, provide improved estimation confidence, and accurately estimate its geolocation confidence for some subjects. The results from the theoretical development of the non-linear optimization algorithm and its simulated performance is quanti ed and discussed.
Numerical Analysis of Newtonian Fluid Flow Through Multi-Hole Orifice Meter

- The influence of multi-hole orifice flow meter geometry parameters on the parameters of Newtonian fluid through multi-hole orifice meters was investigated using computational fluid dynamics as well as the effect of contamination in front of the MHO flow meter. The air flow was steady, three-dimensional, and turbulent. Analysed Newtonian fluid was air and physical properties that were considered were density and dynamic viscosity. The numerical method was finite volume method, and standard k-ε turbulence model was used for turbulence modelling. Multi-hole orifice meter with thre e different β parameters 0.5 5, 0.6 and 0.7, was observed and Reynold’s number was 10 5 . The pressure drop and discharge coefficient were analysed. Numerical simulations were performed using commercial software the STAR-CCM+ 2019.2. It was found that increase in 𝛽𝛽 parameter results with the decrease in pressure drop and increase in discharge coefficient. Also, it was found that that the influence of 𝛽𝛽 parameter is much higher when analyzing pressure drop rather than discharge coefficient values. Numerical simulations were also performed to investigate the effect of contaminations in front of the MHO plate with 𝛽𝛽 = 0.5, on the discharge coefficients. It was found that as the contamination angle is increased the discharge coefficient tends to increase.
Diuron and its metabolites induce mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated cytotoxicity in urothelial cells

Abstract In the environment, or during mammalian metabolism, the diuron herbicide (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea) is transformed mainly into 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylurea (DCPMU) and 3,4-dichloroaniline (DCA). Previous research suggests that such substances are toxic to the urothelium of Wistar rats where, under specific exposure conditions, they may induce urothelial cell degeneration, necrosis, hyperplasia, and eventually tumors. However, the intimate mechanisms of action associated with such chemical toxicity are not fully understood. In this context, the purpose of the current in vitro study was to analyze the underlying mechanisms involved in the urothelial toxicity of those chemicals, addressing cell death and the possible role of mitochondrial dysfunction. Thus, human 1T1 urothelial cells were exposed to six different concentrations of diuron, DCA, and DCPMU, ranging from 0.5 to 500 µM. The results showed that tested chemicals induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, cell cycle instability, and cell death, which were more expressive at the higher concentrations of the metabolites. These data corroborate previous studies from this laboratory and, collectively, suggest mitochondrial dysfunction as an initiating event triggering urothelial cell degeneration and death.
PERMIAN PALYNOMORPHS FROM THE NUMBER 5 SEAM, ECCA GROUP, WITBANK/HIGHVELD COALFIELDS, SOUTH AFRICA. .

A palynological study of the number 5 seam in the Ecca group has yielded a wide variety of miospores, with a lateral and vertical consistency in their relative abundance, ·diversity and composition. Striate bisaccate pollen genera predominate, particularly Protohaploxypinus Samoilovich emend. Morbey 1975, Striatopodocarpites Zoricheva & Sedova ex Sedova emend. Hart 1964 and Weylandites Bharadwaj & Srivastava 1969. On a regional scale the number 5 seam palynomorphs correlate both quantitatively and qualitatively with Biozone F of MacRae (1988) from the Waterberg and Pafuri coal-bearing basins, and Hammanskraal plant locality. Broad palaeoenvironmental inferences drawn from both the palynology and sedimentology of this seam, support a flood plain setting, comprising shallow wide open pans and peat swamps interspersed with wide water-logged mud flats . The surrounding highlands would have been forested mostly by plants adapted to wind dispersal with colonisation of the levees and margins of smaIl ponds by spore producers. The age of the number 5 seam is tentatively suggested as Guadalupian, which in turn is equated with the Tatarian (European Standard usage); Midian to Dzhulfian (Tethys usage).
The Effect of Breast Feeding on Eruption of First Primary Tooth in a Group of 6-12 Month Saudi Children

Eruption of primary teeth is a very important indicator to assess growth and development of the children. Aim: The present research studied the possible influence of the breast feeding on eruption time of first primary tooth. Also, number of erupting primary teeth in both males and females up to 12 month in relation to type of feeding has been studied. Study Design: This is an analytic cross sectional study. Place and Study: The present sample was selected from 4 June 2015. Methodology: A total of 100 healthy children aged between 6-12 month with mean age of (9.26±2.90) month were selected according to cluster random sampling. A questionnaire was completed by direct interview of the children's Mothers. They were asked about the type of feeding (Breast or bottle feeding) they practiced for their children, the eruption age of the first appearing primary tooth in the oral cavity for their children as well as the number of erupted primary teeth. Results: In breast feeding children the mean time of eruption for first primary tooth was (7.48±1.64) month, while it was (7.17±1.34) month for bottle feeding with no significant difference, p=0.477. The mean number of erupting primary incisors teeth was lower in group of breast feeding (1.72±1.84) than those in bottle feeding (3.12±2.82) with statistical significant difference (p=0.005). For the whole sample, the mean number of erupting teeth was not affected by the gender. It was (1.98±2.09) for males and (2.15±2.29) for females with no significant difference, p=0.706. Multivariable linear regression analysis demonstrated that Increase in age and bottle feeding were predicators of number of erupted teeth. Conclusion: In this group of Saudi Children, breast feeding had no influence on eruption time of first primary tooth. The number of erupting primary incisors teeth was significantly lower in the group of breast feeding than those in bottle feeding. Eruption of primary teeth was not affected by gender.
Comparison of four different lactation curve models for prediction of weekly test day milk yields in Murrah buffalos

The present investigation was carried out using data on 39,059 weekly test day milk yield (WTDMY) records during first lactation of 961 Murrah buffaloes calved during 1977–2012 maintained in an organized farm at the Institute. The least squares means of the WTDMY ranged from 2.50±0.09 kg to 7.81±0.09 kg. The relative efficiency of 4 lactation curve models via gamma-type function (GF), exponential function (EF), mixed log function (MLF) and polynomial regression function (PRF) were compared. PRF described the highest coefficient of determination (99.30%) and with least value (0.02 kg) of root mean squares error (RMSE), whereas, least coefficient of determination (88.50%) was observed in EF having maximum (0.08 kg) RMSE value suggesting PRF the best mathematical model for prediction of WTDMYs in Murrah buffaloes.
The Lymphatic System—A Surgeon’s Point of View

Lymphedema is a chronic and debilitating disease that affects up to 250 million patients worldwide. Recent advances in understanding its pathophysiology, along with improved diagnosis and microsurgical techniques, have enhanced our ability to cope with the challenging task of treating this disease. This review provides an overview of the disease from a surgeon’s point of view, including existing imaging modalities used for preoperative assessment, as well as surgical procedures used in its treatment. The advantages and drawbacks of various existing modalities used for the pre- or intraoperative assessment of lymphatic vessels are discussed. Lymphedema treatment has shifted from palliative debulking procedures (liposuction and direct excision) to those aimed at restoring lymphatic flow and countering the pathophysiology of the disease (lymphaticovenous anastomosis and vascularized lymph node transfer). A combination of both approaches can result in a synergistic benefit for patients and is discussed in this review. Despite recent advances, some controversies persist, and further studies are needed to better define surgical treatment algorithms.
The Effect of Balance Funds, Regional Own Revenue, And Size of Local Government on Education Sector Regional Expenditures and the Implications in Regional Expenditures for Outcomes in Education Provincial Governments in Indonesia

This research aims to examine the effect of balance funds, the regional revenue and the response of government over the result on an education aspect with regional expenditure in the education sector as mediator. The population the research is 33 provincial Governments in Indonesia between 2017-2020. This study uses secondary data and the data describes about the reports on regional government on local authority revenue expenditure (APBD) and outcome data on education sector in the form of school enrollment rates in Indonesia. Furthermore, the data collection displays through documentation and the method used is multiple linear regressions that use the Eviews program version 12 with panel data assessment. The results of this study represent: (1) The balance funds, regional revenue and the influence of government response on Regional Expenditures Of Education Sector. (2) The balance funds, regional revenue and the influence of government that effect outcomes in the education sector. (3) The effects of Regional Expenditures on educational outcomes sector. (4) The Regional Expenditures on education fully mediates the influence of balance fund in the educational outcomes sector. (5) The Regional Expenditures on education partially mediates the influence of Regional Revenue in the educational outcomes sector. (6) The Regional Expenditures on education partially mediates the influence of government on the educational outcomes sector.