Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Application of generalized estimating equations for crash frequency modeling with temporal correlation

Traditional crash frequency modeling uses crash frequency data averaged across multiple years. When data size is small, crash data in each year are used in the modeling to extend the size of the samples. The extension of sample size could create a temporal correlation among crash frequencies of the different years, which could affect the modeling accuracy. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the application of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) procedures to account for the temporal correlation in the longitudinal crash frequency data. Four-year crash data at exit ramps on a freeway in China were collected for modeling. Based on the same data, traditional generalized linear models (GLMs) were estimated for model comparison. Results showed that traditional GLM underestimated the standard errors of coefficients for explanatory variables. The GEE procedure with an exchangeable correlation structure successively captured the temporal correlation among the crash frequencies of the different years. The GLM with GEE outperformed the traditional GLM in providing a good fit for the crash frequency data. Results of this study can help researchers better understand how various factors affect the crash frequencies at freeway divergent areas and propose effective countermeasures.
The transient 42 second X-ray pulsar EXO 2030+375. I: The discovery and the luminosity dependence of the pulse period variations

The discovery of a new transient X-ray pulsar, EXO 2030+375, that is associated with a Be star companion, is reported. The results of a series of EXOSAT observations, where the evolution of the pulsar's properties over two orders of magnitude in luminosity was monitored. The dependence of the change in pulsar period on luminosity is measured and compared with that predicted by accretion torque theory. The pulsar properties are also compared with those of other transient X-ray pulsars. 58 refs.
Honey and Black Seed Synergistically Promote Regeneration of Oligodendrocytes in Cuprizone Intoxicated Quail Brain

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder, characterized by demyelination and loss of axonal parts of neurons in the central nervous system involving multiple genetic and environmental factors. Although, the demyelinated lesions develop throughout the brain, but more frequently are extensive in white matter. Currently, three different approaches are being utilized to treat MS, where synthetic drugs are the most frequently used but they do not cure the disease. Secondly, the stem cell therapy but this too has limited success in treating MS in humans. The thirds technique involving administering hormones has been found to be most effective method but this too have some significant side effects. Alternatively, natural products can potentially serve as an affordable and effective substitute for the treatment of MS with minimum or no side effects. Blackseeds ( Nigella sativa) and honey possessing potent neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties with no reported side effects can be a prospective candidate for an alternate remedial treatment of MS in animal model as well as in humans. In this study we established a new animal model (quail), to assess the synergistic efficacy of honey and black seed against demyelination within brain. A total of 35 male quails were used, among 10 were non treated and 25 were treated with 200 mg/kg/day cuprizone (CPZ) demyelination for six months to induce demyelination. After that they were divided into seven groups of five animal each where 3 CPZ treated groups received either honey, black seed oil or mixture of both for 6 weeks after demyelination. Behavioral tests were performed at the end of treatment. Afterwards, oligodendrocyte population was estimated in cerebellar white matter after histology. It was found that all three treatments efficiently induce remyelination. Interestingly, the mixture of honey and black seed was significantly more efficient than honey and black seed alone. Our data support the need of clinical trials for administration of N. sativa and honey in MS patients.
Sensitivity of arctic summer sea ice coverage to global warming forcing: towards reducing uncertainty in arctic climate change projections

Abstract Substantial uncertainties have emerged in Arctic climate change projections by the fourth Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report climate models. In particular, the models as a group considerably underestimate the recent accelerating sea ice reduction. To better understand the uncertainties, we evaluated sensitivities of summer sea ice coverage to global warming forcing in models and observations. The result suggests that the uncertainties result from the large range of sensitivities involved in the computation of sea ice mass balance by the climate models, specifically with the changes in sea ice area (SIA) ranging from 0.09 × 106 to −1.23 × 106 km2 in response to 1.0 K increase of air temperature. The sensitivities also vary largely across ensemble members in the same model, indicating impacts of initial condition on evolution of feedback strength with model integrations. Through observationally constraining, the selected model runs by the sensitivity analysis well captured the observed changes in SIA and surface air temperatures and greatly reduced their future projection uncertainties to a certain range from the currently announced one. The projected ice-free summer Arctic Ocean may occur as early as in the late 2030s using a criterion of 80% SIA loss and the Arctic regional mean surface air temperature will be likely increased by 8.5 ± 2.5 ◦C in winter and 3.7 ± 0.9 ◦C in summer by the end of this century.
Model of Droplet Impingement Based on Least-Squares Solution of Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Basis Matrices

A reduced order model of the surface profiles of droplets impinging on a flat surface is presented based on axisymmetric, transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The free surfaces resulting from the volume-of-fluid simulations were interpolated in polar coordinates and arranged as rectangular matrices (time versus space). Proper orthogonal decomposition was then used to expand the data into sets of temporal and spatial basis vectors, which were truncated beyond diminishing singular values. The reduced model is a general linear combination of constant matrices and dimensionless parameters that, when combined, recreate the temporal and spatial basis vectors for each case. The constant matrices were determined with a least-squares solution to the overdetermined linear combinations. To predict a new case, the initial Reynolds, Weber, and Ohnesorge numbers were combined with the calculated constant matrices to determine the new basis vectors, which were used to create the new free surface profile. A new case predicted by the model was validated using a CFD simulation. The single maximum error between the CFD profile and the general linear model was approximately 9% of the initial droplet diameter. The root-mean-squared error for the entire droplet motion was approximately 2% of the initial droplet diameter.
Classifying geometries in general relativity: II. Spinor tools

This is the second in a series of papers concerning a project to set up a computer database of exact solutions in general relativity which can be accessed and updated by the user community. In this paper, we discuss the choice of computer algebra platform and the general relativity application package. The derivative operators needed in the Cartan-Karlhede classification algorithm and the behaviour of symmetric spinors under frame rotations are then presented.
The correlation of metabolic and renal biomarkers with vitamin D status in postmenopausal women

Background To our knowledge, the mutual involvement of a variety of metabolic and renal biomarkers and vitamin D (determined as 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) in postmenopausal women has not been examined yet. Therefore, we aimed to explore such a relationship by a thorough statistical multimarker approach. Methods A total of 150 (diabetes and cardiovascular disease-free) postmenopausal women were included. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured. The fatty liver index (FLI) and Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to test the predictions of cardiometabolic markers for [25(OH)D] status. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to explore the effect of examined biomarkers on [25(OH)D] status.
Doing it with others: The social dynamics of Do-It-Yourself musicking

This article reflects upon Do It Yourself (DIY) musical activities in an effort to open them up to critical academic inquiry. It begins with a discussion of what ‘DIY’ means in a musical context, which is embellished with a brief historical account of early DIY ‘musicking’ and its subsequent development and diversification. The second part of the article uses Howard Becker’s account of the importance of resources, conventions and networks to the doing of art to bring a sociological perspective to bear upon DIY musicking. Each of these three factors is important in relation to DIY musicking and a consideration of them both allows us to ask questions about it and suggests potentially fruitful lines of inquiry for future research.
Age‐dependent nuclear lipid droplet deposition is a cellular hallmark of aging in Caenorhabditis elegans

Aging is the major risk factor for several life‐threatening pathologies and impairs the function of multiple cellular compartments and organelles. Age‐dependent deterioration of nuclear morphology is a common feature in evolutionarily divergent organisms. Lipid droplets have been shown to localize in most nuclear compartments, where they impinge on genome architecture and integrity. However, the significance of progressive nuclear lipid accumulation and its impact on organismal homeostasis remain obscure. Here, we implement non‐linear imaging modalities to monitor and quantify age‐dependent nuclear lipid deposition in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that lipid droplets increasingly accumulate in the nuclear envelope, during aging. Longevity‐promoting interventions, such as low insulin signaling and caloric restriction, abolish the rate of nuclear lipid accrual and decrease the size of lipid droplets. Suppression of lipotoxic lipid accumulation in hypodermal and intestinal nuclei is dependent on the transcription factor HLH‐30/TFEB and the triglyceride lipase ATGL‐1. HLH‐30 regulates the expression of ATGL‐1 to reduce nuclear lipid droplet abundance in response to lifespan‐extending conditions. Notably, ATGL‐1 localizes to the nuclear envelope and moderates lipid content in long‐lived mutant nematodes during aging. Our findings indicate that the reduced ATGL‐1 activity leads to excessive nuclear lipid accumulation, perturbing nuclear homeostasis and undermining organismal physiology, during aging.
The Influence of Product Differentiation, Price and Positioning on Purchasing Decisions at Niceso Stores in South Tangerang

This study aims to analyze the effect of product differentiation, price and positioning on purchasing decisions. This type of research uses quantitative, the population used is Nice so product customers with a sample taken of 122 respondents. The method used is multiple linear regression analysis with processing using SPSS 26 software. The sampling technique in this study used a purposive sampling technique. The results of the study show that product differentiation, price and positioning have a positive and significant effect on purchasing decisions
A quantitative assessment of factors affecting the rooting of grapevine rootstocks (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grapevine is a fruit species of great agronomic interest since both fresh fruit and wine are highly marketable products. Therefore, there is growing interest in this crop among researchers in the pursuit of increased yields and better cultivation conditions. Asexual propagation is the most commonly used method for propagating grapevine seedlings, with cuttings used for rootstock formation and subsequent grafting of materials to form the canopy. The rootstock is responsible for support, water, and nutrient uptake, thus determining the vigor of the plant; therefore, it is essential to understand the suitable conditions in which roots can thrive and thereby enhance plant growth. The type of cutting, type of substrate, and application of exogenous auxins are among the factors that interfere with the rooting of grapevine rootstocks, and determining and implementing the best combination of these factors could provide for more vigorous plants. Reviewing high-quality published scientific research from diverse countries is a method of identifying data, grouping information, and obtaining reliable answers. Furthermore, it can allow for the detection and grouping of the main factors affecting the rooting of grapevine cuttings, thus enabling a clearer recommendation and better understanding of the issue.
Characteristics of visits from otolaryngological patients before and during three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare systems around the world. The rapid spread of the virus caused several restrictions, including limited access to outpatient clinics. The purpose of the study was to compare the characteristics and reasons of the visits of otolaryngological patients conducted during the first three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic with those of the prepandemic period. MATERIALS AND METHODS Volume, demographic data, type of visits, additional tests, referral types, and reasons for consultation were analyzed. RESULTS There were 1578 visits performed before the pandemic and, respectively, 434, 1198 and 1299 during the first, second and third waves. The patients in the first and second waves were older than the patients before the pandemic (mean age 59, 56, and 52 years, respectively, for both comparisons p<0.0001). Regarding the type of visit, the vast majority were in-person visits in all groups. The highest percentage of teleconsultations was in the first wave and was equal to 3.46%. Before the pandemic, patients were admitted mainly due to upper respiratory system diseases (52.15%), while during the first wave the main reasons were tumors (39.86%, malignant and benign tumors comprised 29.26% and 10.6%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic, especially the first wave, changed the profile of ambulatory patients. In the first wave, a higher prevalence of tumor patients and a lower prevalence of patients with diseases of the upper respiratory system were observed. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an increase in number of teleconsultations, but its role was limited.
Aggregate Data, Ecological Regression, and Voting Transitions

Abstract Voting data typically comprise the marginal distributions of votes cast at two successive elections. The fact that these obtain separately for many voting precincts or areas enables one to estimate the actual transition probabilities for movements between the options available to the voter at each election. An aggregated compound multinomial model is proposed. This allows log-linear dependence on various covariates and specifies a simple and illuminating structure of random effects. The information in such aggregated data is compared with that which would obtain had all of the transitions been observed. The model is applicable to many other types of aggregated data and meets many of the difficulties inherent in “ecological regression. ” It is illustrated with an analysis of the British European election of 1984.
Asymptotics of some estimators and sequential residual empiricals in nonlinear time series

This paper establishes the asymptotic uniform linearity of M- and R-scores in a family of nonlinear time series and regression models. It also gives an asymptotic expansion of the standardized sequential residual empirical process in these models. These results are, in turn, used to obtain the asymptotic normality of certain classes of M-, R- and minimum distance estimators of the underlying parameters. The classes of estimators considered include analogs of Hodges-Lehmann, Huber and LAD (least absolute deviation) estimators. Some applications to the change point and testing of the goodness-of-fit problems in threshold and amplitude-dependent exponential autoregression models are also given. The paper thus offers a unified functional approach to some aspects of robust inference for a large class of nonlinear time series models.
Characteristics of the capacitively loaded flux gate sensor

Starting with a variational principle (through Lagrange's equation), a new and simpler form of the equations for reactively loaded flux gate elements has been developed. Apart from the simplicity of the derivation, the result offers the advantage that it is expressed in terms of easily measurable parameters. By capacitively loading the flux gate there may be obtained through parametric amplification sensitivity increases of two or more orders of magnitude without additional noise-producing components. In order to make optimal use of parameteric amplification, it is necessary to be able to predict the effect of component selection on operating point and on overall performance. Some unfortunate choices of components and operating points can lead to extreme sensitivity to component values, and other combinations can lead to oscillation. The theory of Fluoquet [1], as presented in Nayfeh and Mook [2], has been adapted to predict the stability of the solutions. We present plots showing the growth with time of currents and charge in typical unstable modes. Typical maps showing regions of stability and instability also are presented. The results agree with our laboratory observations. They provide a basis on which to make preferred design choices for practical instruments.
The two-dimensional flow of a foam through a constriction: Insights from the bubble model

The flow of a two-dimensional foam through a constriction is investigated numerically with the bubble model, and results are compared with existing experimental and numerical studies. We predict the dynamical behavior of the foam by measuring its flowrate as a function of the imposed pressure drop. We show that two flow regimes can be observed, with an affine relationship between flowrate and pressure drop. The model also shows that the flowrate increases with the width of the distribution of bubble sizes. The simulations exhibit a power law dependency of the flowrate in the width of the constriction. The local properties of the flow are also investigated by measuring the velocity field, the frequency and direction of plastic events, and main orientations of strain. We show that the main qualitative features of the plastic and strain tensors fit with existing experiments. Finally, we test a theoretical model that predicts a relationship among plasticity, deformation, and strain.
Diagnostic and cost‐effectiveness of axial skeleton MRI in staging high‐risk prostate cancer

Current literature suggests that axial skeleton magnetic resonance imaging (AS‐MRI) is more sensitive than Tc 99m bone scintigraphy (BS) for detecting bone metastases (BM) in high‐risk prostate cancer (PCa). However, BS is still widely performed. Its diagnostic accuracy has been studied; however, its feasibility and cost implications are yet to be examined.
Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions towards COVID-19 Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Pakistan

Background and Objectives: Several vaccines have been approved for the prevention of the coronavirus disease, discovered on 31 December in Wuhan, China. Pakistan procured vaccines from various countries. However, the lack of knowledge and reluctance of the general population to embrace the use of the vaccines are considered to be the major determinant of the slow vaccination rate. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the willingness of the general population about their perception of the COVID-19 vaccination. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey based on a self-structured questionnaire comprising 18 questions was conducted (from 21 April–21 June) on 400 Pakistani participants to evaluate their knowledge, attitude, and perception towards the COVID-19 vaccination. Chi-square independent t-test and one-way Anova including a multiple step wise linear regression were used to draw conclusions about the results. p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 400 participants responded in the knowledge, attitude, and perception (KAP) survey of which 46.5% were female and 53.5% were male. The mean age of participants was 36.08 years. This survey showed a poor knowledge (50.5%), a fair attitude (75.1%) and a poor perception (58.1%) towards the COVID-19 vaccination. Higher mean knowledge and attitude scores were reported in the age group 21–40, females, and unmarried urban citizens. Regression analysis showed that age, education, residence, and employment status influenced the knowledge and perception score to a considerable extent. Conclusions: The findings reflect an inadequate knowledge and perception on the one hand, but a better attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccination. This knowledge attitude and perception (KAP) survey will help in better understanding the opinion of the general population towards vaccination, and will be useful for policy makers and health care authorities aiming to increase the vaccination rate.
Deformation twins in nanocrystalline Al

Due to its high stacking fault energy, no deformation twin has ever been observed in coarse-grained Al. Recent molecular dynamic (MD) simulations predicted the formation of deformation twins in nanocrystalline (nc) Al. Here, we report transmission-electron-microscopic observations of two types of twins in nc Al processed by cryogenic ball milling. They were formed via mechanisms suggested by the MD simulations. We also observed curved twin boundaries caused by partial dislocations. These results indicate that deformation mechanisms not accessible to coarse-grained Al are active in nc Al. They could be responsible for some unique mechanical properties of nc materials.
Nonuniversality of sublayer streaks in turbulent flow

Coefficients of series expansions of turbulent velocity fluctuations in the viscous wall region are used to generate an arbitrary but quantitative measure of the time‐average strength of the near‐wall quasi‐streamwise vortices, which appear as ‘‘streaks’’ in flow visualization. Existing databases from direct numerical simulations of wall bounded turbulence are used to compute some estimates. The results show that the strength of the streaks is Reynolds‐number‐dependent, even in simple flows, as well as flow‐dependent, contrary to traditional law‐of‐the‐wall arguments.
A search for weak distortion of distant galaxy images by large-scale structure

We have completed a feasibility study for the measurement of weak distortion of distant galaxy images by intervening large-scale structure by using the 5-m Hale reflector to acquire a very deep, r 26, exposure of a single field. The error budget of our observations is dominated by the effects of atmospheric seeing (which strongly degrades this signal because the faintest images are under-resolved) and telescope effects. After performing a correction for telescope aberrations and possible guiding errors, the observed mean 'polarization' of the images of 4363 galaxies with magnitudes 23:::;r::;26 within a circle of radius 4.8 arcmin was found to be p= 0.01 ± 0.01. The associated two-point polarization correlation function has a constant value of