Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Baby Steps Toward Connection: A Heuristic Inquiry of Postpartum Mothers’ Experience With a Latin Dance Group Counseling Intervention

Motherhood involves intense physical, psychological, and identity transformation, and mental health difficulties can arise through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. Dismantling group counselors’ participation in relying on Eurocentric counseling ideologies can involve reclaiming the indigenous roots of counseling and healing, including integrating Latin dance as a modality for social connection and internal healing for postpartum mothers. We explore coresearchers’ experiences with a group that embodied Latin values and culture, specifically music and dance. Findings from a heuristic inquiry elucidate the experiences of four postpartum mothers and their babies who danced and connected through a Latin dance group counseling intervention.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and COVID-19: Prevention or Adjuvant Therapy?

The mechanisms of COVID-19 complications are multifactorial, including long-term tissue dam-ages from direct viral attack, dysregulation of both immunity and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and coagulation system, unresolved systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 or n-3 PUFAs) might have favorable effects on immunity, inflammation, oxidative stress at different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Omega-3 and their metabolites including specialized proresolvin mediators, have shown effects in reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, accelerating the resolution of chronic inflammation and restoring tissue homeostasis, and therefore offer a promising strategy against COVID-19. This article will discuss the inflammatory condition during COVID-19 pandemic, focus on the mechanisms that may contribute to the likely benefits of omega-3 and provide potential recommendations to pro-mote strategies for wellness.
Sorption of Halogenated Anti-Inflammatory Pharmaceuticals from Polluted Aqueous Streams on Activated Carbon: Lifetime Extension of Sorbent Caused by Benzalkonium Chloride Action

The enhancement of the adsorption capacity of activated carbon (AC) using benzalkonium chloride (BAC) within the adsorption of halogenated pharmaceuticals flufenamic acid (flufa) and diclofenac (dcf) was investigated in this study. An adsorption kinetic study was performed to evaluate the adsorption mechanisms. The adsorption mechanism of both drugs on granulated AC as well as saturated AC activated by BAC can be evaluated via pseudo-second kinetic order. The equilibrium adsorption capacity of spent granulated AC in co-action with BAC (qflufa = 195.5 mg g−1 and qdcf = 199.5 mg g−1) reached the adsorption capacity of virgin granulated AC (qflufa = 203.9 mg g−1 and qdcf = 200.7 mg g−1). Finally, batch and column arrangements were compared in an effort to possible practical application of exhausted AC in co-action with BAC. In both column and batch experiments, adsorption capacities of spent granulated AC for flufa increased using BAC by 170.4 mg g−1 and 560.4 mg g−1, respectively. The proposed mechanism of adsorption enhancement is the formation of less polar ion pairs and its better affinity to the non-polar AC surface. The drug concentrations were determined using the voltammetric method on carbon paste electrodes. The formation of ion pairs has been studied by the H1 NMR technique, and solubility in water of drugs and respective ion pairs were investigated using octan-1-ol/water coefficients (POW).
Contrastive Learning Methods for Deep Reinforcement Learning

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has shown promising performance in various application areas (e.g., games and autonomous vehicles). Experience replay buffer strategy and parallel learning strategy are widely used to boost the performances of offline and online deep reinforcement learning algorithms. However, state-action distribution shifts lead to bootstrap errors. Experience replay buffer learns policies with elder experience trajectories, limiting its application to off-policy algorithms. Balancing the new and the old experience is challenging. Parallel learning strategies can train policies with online experiences. However, parallel environmental instances organize the agent pool inefficiently with higher simulation or physical costs. To overcome these shortcomings, we develop four lightweight and effective DRL algorithms, instance-actor, parallel-actor, instance-critic, and parallel-critic methods, to contrast different-age trajectory experiences. We train the contrast DRL according to the received rewards and proposed contrast loss, which is calculated by designed positive/negative keys. Our benchmark experiments using PyBullet robotics environments show that our proposed algorithm matches or is better than the state-of-the-art DRL algorithms.
DNA Methylation Patterns in Relation to Acute Severity and Duration of Anxiety and Depression

Depression and anxiety are common mental disorders that often occur together. Stress is an important risk factor for both disorders, affecting pathophysiological processes through epigenetic changes that mediate gene–environment interactions. In this study, we explored two proposed models about the dynamic nature of DNA methylation in anxiety and depression: a stable change, in which DNA methylation accumulates over time as a function of the duration of clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression, or a flexible change, in which DNA methylation correlates with the acute severity of clinical symptoms. Symptom severity was assessed using clinical questionnaires for anxiety and depression (BDI-II, IDS-C, and HAM-A), and the current episode and the total lifetime symptom duration was obtained from patients’ medical records. Peripheral blood DNA methylation levels were determined for the BDNF, COMT, and SLC6A4 genes. We found a significant negative correlation between COMT_1 amplicon methylation and acute symptom scores, with BDI-II (R(22) = 0.190, p = 0.033), IDS-C (R(22) = 0.199, p = 0.029), and HAM-A (R(22) = 0.231, p = 0.018) all showing a similar degree of correlation. Our results suggest that DNA methylation follows flexible dynamics, with methylation levels closely associated with acute clinical presentation rather than with the duration of anxiety and depression. These results provide important insights into the dynamic nature of DNA methylation in anxiety and affective disorders and contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between stress, epigenetics, and individual phenotype.
Modelling Progression of Competitive Sport Performance

14 CHAPTER 1 . 15 INTRODUCTION . 15 1.1. Rationale . 15 1.2. Objectives. 16 1.3. Literature Review . 16 1.4. Methodological Approach. 18 1.5. Thesis Structure . 19 1.6. Research Publications and Conference Presentations . 22 CHAPTER 2 . 23 VARIABILITY OF COMPETITIVE ELITE PERFORMANCE . 23 Overview . 23 2.
Intelligent and Active Packaging System Application in Evaluating and Maintaining the Tuna (Thunnus Sp.) Fillets’ Quality at Cold Temperature

This study developed intelligent and active packaging combined for tuna fillets. The purposes of this study were to determine the colour change of packaging indicator labels and the effectiveness of edible coatings (citronella oil concentrations of 0%, 0.5%, and 1%), as well as to establish a correlation between the colour analysis values of intelligent indicator and observed spoilage criteria of tuna stored at refrigerated temperatures (4±1°C). The parameters tested included the determination of Total Volatile Bases Nitrogen, Total Plate Count, pH, and sensory analysis. The test was carried out every three days for 18 days, with two replications. The findings indicated that the intelligent indicator label (Bromothymol blue + Methyl Red (1:1)) changed colour from deep red to yellow and then green. Edible coating with 0.5% citronella oil gave the best result in this study. The correlation between the colour analysis of the intelligent indicators and the parameters of the fish spoilage test is positive, suggesting a consistent trend pattern in determining the degree of decay in tuna fillets. Correlation coefficient values vary from 0.98 to 0.99, showing a significant correlation. The combination of intelligent and active packaging in a single packaging system allows for monitoring tuna's quality while increasing its shelf life.
The Role of Brand Awareness Mediating the Influence of Social Media Marketing on Purchase Intention

Social media marketing can be utilized as a digital marketing channel to establish brand awareness, as a well-known brand provides a sense of security and makes it easier for potential customers to identify a brand. Strong brand awareness has a greater chance of being chosen, and therefore, it has the potential to increase purchase intention. This research attempts to explain the crucial role of brand awareness in mediating the impact of social media marketing on purchase intention among potential consumers of the online travel agent Traveloka. The study was conducted in the Badung Regency, which is the tourism hub of Bali Province. The sample size consisted of 104 respondents, selected using a non-probability sampling technique from the population of potential Traveloka consumers. The survey was distributed online through the Google Form platform. This research follows a quantitative associative approach, employing path analysis and the Sobel test for analysis. The findings of the study reveal that social media marketing has a positive and significant impact on purchase intention; social media marketing has a positive and significant impact on brand awareness; brand awareness has a positive and significant impact on purchase intention; and brand awareness significantly mediates the effect of social media marketing on purchase intention
Breakdown of electroneutrality in polyelectrolyte gels

Mathematical models of polyelectrolyte gels are often simplified by assuming the gel is electrically neutral. The rationale behind this assumption is that the thickness of the electric double layer (EDL) at the free surface of the gel is small compared to the size of the gel. Hence, the thin-EDL limit is taken, in which the thickness of the EDL is set to zero. Despite the widespread use of the thin-EDL limit, the solutions in the EDL are rarely computed and shown to match to the solutions for the electrically neutral bulk. The aims of this paper are to study the structure of the EDL and establish the validity of the thin-EDL limit. The model for the gel accounts for phase separation, which gives rise to diffuse interfaces with a thickness described by the Kuhn length. We show that the solutions in the EDL can only be asymptotically matched to the solutions for an electrically neutral bulk, in general, when the Debye length is much smaller than the Kuhn length. If the Debye length is similar to or larger than the Kuhn length, then phase separation can be initiated in the EDL. This phase separation spreads into the bulk of the gel and gives rise to electrically charged layers with different degrees of swelling. Thus, the thin-EDL limit and the assumption of electroneutrality only generally apply when the Debye length is much smaller than the Kuhn length.
A Review of the Molecular Landscape of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Gland

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) has a worldwide incidence of three to four cases per million population. Although more cases occur in the minor and major salivary glands, it is the most common lacrimal gland malignancy. ACC has a low-grade, indolent histological appearance, but is relentlessly progressive over time and has a strong proclivity to recur and/or metastasise. Current treatment options are limited to complete surgical excision and adjuvant radiotherapy. Intra-arterial systemic therapy is a recent innovation. Recurrent/metastatic disease is common due to perineural invasion, and it is largely untreatable as it is refractory to conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Given the rarity of this tumour, the molecular mechanisms that govern disease pathogenesis are poorly understood. There is an unmet, critical need to develop effective, personalised targeted therapies for the treatment of ACC in order to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with the disease. This review details the evidence relating to the molecular underpinnings of ACC of the lacrimal gland, including the MYB–NFIB chromosomal translocations, Notch-signalling pathway aberrations, DNA damage repair gene mutations and epigenetic modifications.
Nuevas evidencias de la coespecificidad entre Hipparion primigenium melendezi Alberdi, 1974 de Los Valles de Fuentidueña (Segovia) e Hipparion concudense concudense Pirlot, 1956 de Concud (Teruel) España

This paper reports a morphological and biometric comparison of Hipparion primigenium melendezi from Los Valles de Fuentiduena (Segovia) and Hipparion concudense concudense from Concud (Teruel) to investigate their possible conspecificity. Comparisons with other Spanish (La Roma 2, Puente Minero, Milagros, Las Casiones and Venta del Moro) and Eurasian (Howenegg, Germany; Pavlodar, Kazakhstan [small form]) material were also made. Based on their morphology, and on bivariate and multivariate analysis to establish size similarities, the Hipparion remains from Los Valles de Fuentiduena and Concud were both determined to belong to Hipparion concudense . However, differences in both dental morphology and limb slenderness could suggest differences at the subspecific level.
Genetic variation in the southern pines: evolution, migration, and adaptation following the pleistocene

Climate has certainly changed over time, requiring genetic change or migration of forest tree species. Little is known about the location of the southern pines during the Pleistocene glaciation, which ended around 14,000 years ago. Macrofossils of spruce (Picea spp.) dating from the late Pleistocene, which are typical of climates much cooler than presently occupied by the southern pines, have been found within the current range of the southern pines, indicating that the climate was considerably colder at that time. From this discovery it is reasonable to assume that the southern pines were situated south of their present range during the Pleistocene and migrated to their current location after the glaciers receded. Variation in adaptive and non-adaptive traits of the southern pines suggests that loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) existed in two refugia, one in south Texas/north Mexico, and one in south Florida. Longleaf pine (P. palustris) probably existed only in the western refugium. Slash pine (P. elliottii), on the other hand, presumably resided only in the Florida refugium, whereas shortleaf pine (P. echinata) is cold-hardy enough to have existed in a continuous distribution across the Gulf Coast. Implications of climate warming on the future of southern pines are discussed.
Seasonal variation of physicochemical parameters of reedbed habitats of several water bodies in Ełk Lakeland and their dominant macrophytes in 2006-2007

Summary. Several physicochemical parameters of a few water bodies of Elk Lakeland were assessed every month during the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007. Water, sediment and plant tissues were examined. The content of phosphates decreased in the tissues of green stems during the growing season. It did not follow the phosphate level variation in the habitat. The iron content was the highest in the water and sediment of astatic ponds. The macrophytes from those habitats also had a relatively high level of this element in their tissues. However, the highest level was noted in Sparganium erectum from Lake Łaśmiady, being higher than the content of iron in S. erectum from a pond as well. In some cases habitats covered by the same species had different physicochemical parameters. Several parameters changed in the successive months of the growing season irregularly, and the pattern of the variation was not repeated in the next year.
Constraining mechanistic models of indicator bacteria at recreational beaches in Lake Michigan using easily-measurable environmental variables

CONSTRAINING MECHANISTIC MODELS OF INDICATOR BACTERIA AT RECREATIONAL BEACHES IN LAKE MICHIGAN USING EASILY-MEASURABLE ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES By Aaron Wendzel Beach closures have significant economic and human health implications. The ability to create and use near-real time hydrodynamic and transport models that simulate fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) levels at our nation’s recreational beaches is important to effectively managing coastal resources. Described herein is the development and application of an unsteady, threedimensional hydrodynamic fate and transport model constrained using easily measurable environmental variables such as electrical conductivity (EC) and turbidity. The model was able to simulate observed Escherichi coli (E. coli) concentrations at three beaches in close proximity to the Burns Waterway along the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. This model utilized an unstructured grid that has the ability to accurately represent local features in the area, including the complex shoreline and breakwaters that influence hydrodynamics and mixing. This allows for the better prediction of FIB at local beaches, reducing human health risks and decreasing the number of unnecessary beach closures. Copyright by AARON WENDZEL 2013
Magnetic Carbon Quantum Dots/Iron Oxide Composite Based on Waste Rice Noodle and Iron Oxide Scale: Preparation and Photocatalytic Capability

To provide an economical magnetic photocatalyst and introduce an innovative approach for efficiently utilizing discarded waste rice noodle (WRN) and iron oxide scale (IOS), we initially converted WRN into carbon quantum dots (CQDs) using a hydrothermal method, simultaneously calcining IOS to obtain iron oxide (FeOx). Subsequently, we successfully synthesized a cost-effective, magnetic CQDs/FeOx photocatalytic composite for the first time by combining the resulting CQDs and FeOx. Our findings demonstrated that calcining IOS in an air atmosphere enhanced the content of photocatalytically active α-Fe2O3, while incorporating WRN-based CQDs into FeOx improved the electron-hole pair separation, resulting in increased O2 reduction and H2O oxidation. Under optimized conditions (IOS calcination temperature: 300 °C; carbon loading: 11 wt%), the CQDs/FeOx composite, utilizing WRN and IOS as its foundation, exhibited exceptional and reusable capabilities in photodegrading methylene blue and tetracycline. Remarkably, for methylene blue, it achieved an impressive degradation rate of 99.30% within 480 min, accompanied by a high degradation rate constant of 5.26 × 10−3 min−1. This composite demonstrated reusability potential for up to ten photocatalytic cycles without a significant reduction in the degradation efficiency, surpassing the performance of IOS and FeOx without CQDs. Notably, the composite exhibited strong magnetism with a saturation magnetization strength of 34.7 emu/g, which enables efficient and convenient recovery in photocatalytic applications. This characteristic is highly advantageous for the large-scale industrial utilization of photocatalytic water purification.
Training Spiking Neural Networks Using Lessons From Deep Learning

The brain is the perfect place to look for inspiration to develop more efficient neural networks. The inner workings of our synapses and neurons provide a glimpse at what the future of deep learning might look like. This article serves as a tutorial and perspective showing how to apply the lessons learned from several decades of research in deep learning, gradient descent, backpropagation, and neuroscience to biologically plausible spiking neural networks (SNNs). We also explore the delicate interplay between encoding data as spikes and the learning process; the challenges and solutions of applying gradient-based learning to SNNs; the subtle link between temporal backpropagation and spike timing-dependent plasticity; and how deep learning might move toward biologically plausible online learning. Some ideas are well accepted and commonly used among the neuromorphic engineering community, while others are presented or justified for the first time here. A series of companion interactive tutorials complementary to this article using our Python package, snnTorch, are also made available: https://snntorch.readthedocs. io/en/latest/tutorials/index.html.
Instance-Guided Point Cloud Single Object Tracking With Inception Transformer

Single object tracking (SOT) in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) point clouds is a challenging problem in computer vision. Compared to object-level point clouds, scene-level point clouds for tracking are more complex, requiring long-range semantic awareness and local shape context. However, previous methods directly filter candidates under limited matched features without systematically considering these two factors. Inspired by transformer to establish long-distance dependence and convolution to capture local high-frequency information, we propose a point-tracking inception transformer (PTIT), which efficiently predicts high-quality 3-D tracking results in a coarse-to-fine manner with the support of spatio-temporal point clouds. PTIT consists of three novel designs as follows. 1) We design instance-guided sampling (IGS) to help identify and preserve the relevant points of the given template and the foreground points of the search area. 2) We propose a point inception transformer (PIT), which consists of a multifrequency attention and cross-attention module, where the former captures both remote dependency and local detail and the latter matches template and search area features. 3) After generating coarse tracking results from cross-attention, we locate the target by motion transformation in the spatio-temporal point cloud to generate a fine-grained 3-D bounding box (BBox). In addition, we perform feature augmentation on the points and boxes to mitigate the negative effects of LiDAR point clouds without texture and incompleteness. PTIT performs significantly better than previous state-of-the-art methods on KITTI and nuScenes datasets. Our further analysis confirms the effectiveness of each component and shows the great potential of the inception transformer-centric paradigm when combined with spatio-temporal point clouds. Our code is available at https://github.com/ywu0912/TeamCode.git.
The effect of long-term tillage practices on selected soil properties in the Swartland wheat production area of the Western Cape

ii OPSOMMING . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . vi TABLE OF CONTENTS. vii LIST OF APPENDICES . xi LIST OF FIGURES . xii LIST OF TABLES . xvi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background . 1 1.2 Previous research . 3 1.3 Focus of the study . 4 1.3. 1 Rationale . 4 1.3. 2 Objectives. 4 1.3. 3 Aim . 5 1.4 Scope of the study . 5 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE STUDY . 6 2.