Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fishing, predation, and temperature drive herring decline in a large marine ecosystem

Abstract Since 1960, landings of Atlantic herring have been the greatest of any marine species in Canada, surpassing Atlantic cod and accounting for 24% of the total seafood harvested in Atlantic Canada. The Scotian Shelf‐Bay of Fundy herring fisheries (NAFO Division 4VWX) is among Canada's oldest and drives this productivity, accounting for up to 75% of the total herring catch in some years. The stocks’ productivity and overall health have declined since 1965. Despite management measures to promote recovery implemented since 2003, biomass remains low and is declining. The factors that drive the productivity of 4VWX herring are primarily unresolved, likely impeding the effectiveness of management actions on this stock. We evaluated potential drivers of herring variability by analyzing 52 time‐series that describe the temporal and spatial evolution of the 4VWX herring population and the physical, ecological, and anthropogenic factors that could affect them using structural equation models. Variation in herring biomass was best accounted for by the exploitation rate's negative effect and the geographic distribution of fishing and recruitment. Thermal phenology and temperature adversely and egg predation positively impacted the early life stage mortality rate and, ultimately, adult biomass. These findings are broadly relevant to fisheries management, but particularly for 4VWX herring, where the current management approach does not consider their early life stage dynamics or assess them within the ecosystem or climate change contexts.
Arte dos negócios: saberes, práticas e costumes mercantis no império luso-brasileiro

This study intends to approach the methods and the practices of the mercantile professional teaching introduced in the Luso-Brazilian Empire, starting from the illustrated Reforms. The creation of the Junta de Comercio, Agricultura, Fabricas e Navegacao, in 1788, turned possible to institutionalize the national merchants professionalization and in the Portuguese America. Inside of that process, the trade classes are introduced in Portuguese America starting from 1809. As well as it happened at other commercial squares of Europe, the mercantile teaching took to the decline of the Jesuit methods of humanistic teaching, allowing adoption of the technical and vocational methods that they emphasized the practical approach and the mutual teaching.
A heuristic nonlinear constructive method for distribution system reconfiguration

This reconfiguration algorithm starts with all operable switches open, and at each step, closes the switch that results in the least increase in the objective function. The objective function is defined as incremental losses divided by incremental load served. A simplified loss formula is used to screen candidate switches, but a full load flow after each actual switch closing maintains accurate loss and constraint information. A backtracking option mitigates the algorithm's greedy search. This algorithm takes more computer time than other methods, but it models constraints and control action more accurately. A network load flow is used to provide a lower bound on the losses. The paper includes results on several test systems used by other authors.
Effect of process parameters on interfacial temperature and shear strength of ultrasonic additive manufacturing of carbon steel 4130

Ultrasonic additive manufacturing (UAM) is a solid state manufacturing process capable of producing near-net-shape metal parts. Recent studies have shown the promise of UAM welding of high strength steels. However, the effect of weld parameters on the weld quality of UAM steel is unclear. A design of experiments study based on a Taguchi L16 design array was conducted to investigate the influence of parameters including baseplate temperature, amplitude, welding speed, and normal force on the interfacial temperature and shear strength of UAM welding of carbon steel 4130. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and main effects analyses were performed to determine optimal weld parameters within the process window. A Pearson correlation test was conducted to find the relationship between interfacial temperature and shear strength. These analyses indicate that the highest shear strength of 392.8 MPa can be achieved by using a baseplate temperature of 400°F (204.4°C), amplitude of 31.5 μm, welding speed of 40 in/min (16.93 mm/s), and normal force of 6000 N. The Pearson correlation coefficient is calculated as 0.227, which indicates a weak positive correlation between interfacial temperature and shear strength over the range tested.
Analysing the Protein-DNA Binding Sites in Arabidopsis thaliana from ChIP-seq Experiments

Computational genomics aim at supporting the discovery of how the functionality of the genome of the organism under study is affected both by its own sequence and structure, and by the network of interaction between this genome and different biological or physical factors. In this work, we focus on the analysis of ChIP-seq data, for which many methods have been proposed in the recent years. However, to the best of our knowledge, those methods lack an appropriate mathematical formalism. We have developed a method based on multivariate models for the analysis of the set of peaks obtained from a ChIP-seq experiment. This method can be used to characterize an individual experiment and to compare different experiments regardless of where and when they were conducted. The method is based on a multivariate hypergeometric distribution, which fits the complexity of the biological data and is better suited to deal with the uncertainty generated in this type of experiments than the dichotomous models used by the state of the art methods. We have validated this method with Arabidopsis thaliana datasets obtained from the Remap2020 database, obtaining results in accordance with the original study of these samples. Our work shows a novel way for analyzing ChIP-seq data.
Effect of Bakri balloon tamponade on hemorrhage during and after cesarean section in patients with placenta previa

Background: To evaluate the success rate of Bakri balloon tamponade (BBT) and the risk factors for BBT failure in the treatment of intraoperative and postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in patients with placenta previa. Methods: Patients with placenta previa who underwent cesarean section and had BBT insertion for PPH were consecutively included from 2016 to 2018. Patients with placenta previa who successfully underwent routine insertion of a BBT during cesarean section and had their bleeding controlled were classified as the balloon success group. Patients who successfully underwent BBT during cesarean section but continued to have uncontrolled bleeding were classified as the balloon failure group. Multiple logistic regression was performed to examine the risk factors for BBT failure. Results: During the study, 270 women with placenta previa were identified. The success rate of BBT for managing PPH was 69.3%. The balloon failure group (n = 83) comprised those who had undergone BBT insertion, followed by B-lynch suture (n = 10), uterine artery ascending branch ligation (n = 32), pelvic arterial embolization (n = 21), or cesarean hysterectomy (n = 20). The intraoperative blood loss was 3098 mL (700–18,000 mL) in the balloon failure group and 1120 mL (500–4000 mL) in the balloon success group, respectively (p < 0.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the number of weeks at pregnancy termination (odds ratio [OR] = 1.188, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.023–1.379), the presence of placenta accreta (OR = 2.472, 95% CI: 1.361–4.493), and placenta previa classification (OR = 4.798, 95% CI: 1.328–17.337) were positively associated with BBT failure, while preoperative albumin levels (OR = 0.788, 95% CI: 0.714– 0.869) were negatively related to BBT failure. Conclusion: This study suggests that BBT is effective as the second-line treatment for PPH associated with placenta previa in the Chinese population. Placenta accreta and major previa are risk factors for BBT failure. However, our findings need to be confirmed in larger samples with different ethnicities.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting survival in patients with surgically resected lung invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma

Background Lung invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (LIMA) is a unique and rare subtype of lung adenocarcinoma. We identified prognostic factors and developed a nomogram for predicting overall survival (OS) in LIMA patients after surgery. Methods Patients diagnosed with LIMA between 2008 and 2016 from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were randomized into training (n=1,254) and test (n=538) cohorts. A nomogram was established using the prognostic signature from the training cohort after multivariable Cox regression analysis. We externally validated the nomogram in a group of 369 patients from China. We separately tested for accuracy and clinical practicability using Harrell’s concordance-index (C-index), calibration plots, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results We included 2,161 patients in the analysis. Seven factors, all of which significantly affected OS, were incorporated into the final model, including age, sex, differentiation grade, the extent of surgery, lymphadenectomy, and T, N, and M stage. C-indexes for the training, test, and external validation cohorts were 0.735, 0.736, and 0.773, respectively. The areas under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves at five years were 0.747, 0.798, and 0.777, respectively. The nomogram was discriminative and well-calibrated when applied to the test and external validation cohorts. Significant between-group differences in OS were observed when classifying groups by nomogram score (log-rank P<0.001). An online web server for clinical use was developed using the nomogram. Conclusions The nomogram facilitates accurate prediction of survival for patients with LIMA and can be used to stratify clinical risk groups for individualized treatment.
Does Preoperative Acute Pancreatitis Inevitably Delay Pancreatoduodenectomy in Patients with Periampullary Tumors?

Simple Summary Acute pancreatitis can occur preoperatively in patients with periampullary tumors and cause technical difficulties in performing pancreatoduodenectomy. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate how preoperative acute pancreatitis would affect postoperative outcomes and to identify the optimal timing of surgery. There were more patients with operation failure (only exploration or unintended total pancreatectomy) in patients with pancreatitis, but no difference was found in rates of other complications. Moreover, when stratified by the timing of surgery, the surgical outcomes did not differ between the patients with and without pancreatitis. The results imply that in terms of surgical complications, pancreatoduodenectomy could be safely performed in patients with preoperative pancreatitis. Further research is necessary to identify safe conditions and proper timing of surgery for patients with preoperative pancreatitis. Abstract Preoperative acute pancreatitis (PAP) in patients with periampullary tumor can cause technical difficulties when performing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) but perioperative risks of PAP remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of PAP on surgical outcomes and determine the optimal timing of PD. Patients undergoing surgery for periampullary tumors between 2009 and 2018 were included. Simple random sampling (1:4) was performed to compare outcomes between the PAP group and the control group. Operative failure was defined as exploration-only or unwanted total pancreatectomy. The rate of operative failure was higher in the PAP group than in the control group (6.6% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in postoperative outcomes including complications or in-hospital mortality between the two groups. Surgical outcomes were compared after dividing PAP groups by intervals (2, 3, or 4 weeks) between the onset of PAP and surgery, and there were no differences between the groups. In conclusion, in spite of the increased risk of operation failure, PD could be performed in PAP patients at comparable rates of postoperative complications. Further study is needed to select patients with PAP in proper conditions for performing PD.
Electro-optic directional coupler switch characterization

Results are presented on a study of the important parameters of synchronous and nonsynchronous, weakly and strongly coupled optical directional couplers using the finite element method. Accurate propagation constants and field profiles have been obtained for the modes of the isolated guides and the supermodes of the coupled system. The power transfer efficiency between nonidentical coupled optical waveguides has been calculated using the coupled mode, the least squares boundary residual and the finite element-based propagation methods. To show the advantages of the finite element-based approaches, the power transfer efficiency between coupled waveguides with two-dimensional confinement is presented.
Dynamic Late Merge–Control Concept for Work Zones on Rural Interstate Highways

Conventional traffic control plans for lane closures of rural Interstate highways normally work well as long as congestion does not develop. However, when the traffic demand exceeds the capacity of the work zone, queues may extend back past the advance warning signs, often surprising approaching traffic and increasing the accident potential. Also, smooth and orderly merging operations may be lost as some drivers remain in the closed lane attempting to squeeze into the open lane at the head of the queue, while other drivers try to prevent drivers in the closed lane from passing them by straddling the centerline or traveling slowly in tandem with another vehicle in the closed lane. These maneuvers tend to reduce the capacity of the merging operation and increase the accident potential and road rage among drivers. Early merge and late merge are two forms of merge control designed to deal with these problems. However, these approaches have operational characteristics that limit their effectiveness under both congested and uncongested traffic flow conditions. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach are examined. A new concept called the dynamic late merge is described, which features the integration of the late merge and conventional lane-closure merge control on the basis of real-time measurements of traffic conditions in advance of the lane closure.
Upper limb rehabilitation system based on virtual reality for breast cancer patients: Development and usability study

Background Functional exercise is crucial for breast cancer patients after surgery, and the use of virtual reality technology to assist patients with postoperative upper limb functional rehabilitation has gradually attracted the attention of researchers. However, the usability of the developed rehabilitation system is still unknown to a large extent. The purpose of this study was to develop a virtual reality upper limb rehabilitation system for patients after breast cancer surgery and to explore its usability. Methods We built a multidisciplinary team based on virtual reality and human-computer interaction technology and designed and developed an upper limb function rehabilitation system for breast cancer patients after surgery. Breast cancer patients were recruited from a grade III-a general hospital in Changchun city for the experiment. We used the System Usability Scale to evaluate the system availability, the Presence Questionnaire scale to measure the immersive virtual reality scene, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire subjective measurement scale for simulator sickness symptoms. Results This upper limb rehabilitation system hardware consisted of Head-mounted Display, a control handle and notebook computers. The software consisted of rehabilitation exercises and game modules. A total of 15 patients were tested on this system, all of whom were female. The mean age was 54.73±7.78 years, and no patients were excluded from the experiment because of adverse reactions such as dizziness and vomiting. The System Usability Scale score was 90.50±5.69, the Presence Questionnaire score was 113.40±9.58, the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire-nausea score was 0.93±1.16, the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire-oculomotor score was 0.80±1.27, the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire-disorientation score was 0.80±1.27, and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire total score was 2.53±3.40. Conclusions This study fills in the blanks regarding the upper limb rehabilitation of breast cancer patients based on virtual reality technology system usability research. As the starting point of research in the future, we will improve the system’s function and design strictly randomized controlled trials, using larger samples in the promotion, to evaluate its application in breast cancer patients with upper limbs and other physiological functions and the feasibility and effects of rehabilitation.
Availability and utilization of instructional materials for effective teaching of fish production to students in senior secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria

This study paper assessed the availability and utilization of instructional materials for effective teaching of fish production to students in senior secondary schools in Benue State, Nigeria. Four specific objectives and four research questions were developed to guide the study. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was carried out in Benue State. The population of the study was 284 teachers of Agricultural science. The sample for the study was 142 teachers of Agricultural science obtained through stratified random sampling technique. A Fish Production Instructional Material Questionnaire (FPIMQ) was used for data collection. Six field work assistants helped in administering and retrieving the questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools such as frequency table, percentage, and mean scores. The results of this study revealed that out of all the instructional materials recommended for teaching fish production to students, 8 of them are available, 5 are accessible, and 8 are often utilized by teachers in senior secondary schools. The study also revealed that 12 challenges were encountered by teachers in accessing and utilizing available instructional materials in fish production in senior secondary schools in Benue State. It was recommended that teachers of Agricultural science should improvise some of the instructional materials lacking in the school locally, among others. Key words: Availability, utilization, instructional materials, fish production.
Robust load frequency control using genetic algorithms and linear matrix inequalities

In this paper, two robust decentralized control design methodologies for load frequency control (LFC) are proposed. The first one is based on H/sub /spl infin// control design using linear matrix inequalities (LMI) technique in order to obtain robustness against uncertainties. The second controller has a simpler structure, which is more appealing from an implementation point of view, and it is tuned by a proposed novel robust control design algorithm to achieve the same robust performance as the first one. More specifically, genetic algorithms (GAs) optimization is used to tune the control parameters of the proportional-integral (PI) controller subject to the H/sub /spl infin// constraints in terms of LMI. Hence, the second control design is called GALMI. Both proposed controllers are tested on a three-area power system with three scenarios of load disturbances to demonstrate their robust performances.
Analysis of edge-coupled heterojunction phototransistors

The optical and electrical performance of edge-coupled InGaAs-InP heterojunction phototransistors (HPT's), suitable for detector/mixer applications in millimeter wave radio-fiber systems, has been analyzed. It is shown that the performance can be strongly dependent on the polarization of the incident light, unless the emitter layer is sufficiently thick. A new analytical model for the optical gain of edge-coupled HPT's is developed for strongly confined waveguide modes supported by the heterostructure. The model is shown to be useful for rapid optimization of the epitaxial structure for high transit frequency and high optical gain.
Multicenter Technical Validation of 30 Rapid Antigen Tests for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 (VALIDATE)

During COVID19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) were marketed with minimal or no performance data. We aimed at closing this gap by determining technical sensitivities and specificities of 30 RATs prior to market release. We developed a standardized technical validation protocol and assessed 30 RATs across four diagnostic laboratories. RATs were tested in parallel using the Standard Q® (SD Biosensor/Roche) assay as internal reference. We used left-over universal transport/optimum media from nasopharyngeal swabs of 200 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-negative and 100 PCR-positive tested patients. Transport media was mixed with assay buffer and applied to RATs according to manufacturer instructions. Sensitivities were determined according to viral loads. Specificity of at least 99% and sensitivity of 95%, 90%, and 80% had to be reached for 107, 106, 105 virus copies/mL, respectively. Sensitivities ranged from 43.5% to 98.6%, 62.3% to 100%, and 66.7% to 100% at 105, 106, 107 copies/mL, respectively. Automated assay readers such as ExDia or LumiraDx showed higher performances. Specificities ranged from 88.8% to 100%. Only 15 of 30 (50%) RATs passed our technical validation. Due to the high failure rate of 50%, mainly caused by lack of sensitivity, we recommend a thorough validation of RATs prior to market release.
Modeling and experimental verification of a 25W fabricated PEM fuel cell by parametric and GMDH-type neural network

In this paper two artificial intelligence techniques to predict and control behavior of a 25W fabricated proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, have been investigated. These approaches are: “Parametric Neural Network (PNN)” and “Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH)” for the first time. A PNN model is developed by introducing a “p ” parameter in the activation function of the neural network. PNN model with its specific tangent hyperbolic transfer function have the ability to be with different nonlinearity degrees of input data. To develop GMDH network, quadratic polynomial was utilized. To determine proper weights of GMDH network, back propagation algorithm has been used. The input layer consists of gas pressure, fuel cell temperature and input current experimental data, to predict the output voltage. The results show that both generalized Parametric and GMDH-type neural networks are reliable tools to predict the output voltage of PEM fuel cell with high coefficient of determination values of 0.96 and 0.98.
KINEMATICS OF TAKEOFF MOTION OF THE WORLD ELITE LONG JUMPERS

INTRODUCTION: In 1991, Mike Powel (USA) marked the world record of men’s long jump of 8.95 m at the 3rd World Championships in Athletics (WC) in Tokyo. The world record has not been renewed for 17 years. The purpose of this study was to investigate kinematics of the takeoff motion of the world elite male long jumpers who participated in the final of the 11th WC in Osaka.