Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Research and Implementation of License Plate Location Based on Improved YOLO Algorithm

At present, license plate location technology mainly has traditional methods and deep learning methods. The traditional license plate location mainly relies on manual extraction of features, and according to the shape and proportion of the license plate to achieve license plate positioning. However, the traditional license plate location method is difficult to meet the requirements of license plate size, shape, illumination and other changes, and it is difficult to achieve the robustness of license plate location. The license plate location technology based on deep learning does not need to select features and design classifiers manually. Its implementation is mainly based on the network automatically learning features of the data to achieve end-to-end license plate location. In this paper, we mainly study You Only Look Once (YOLO) algorithm, which is not accurate enough for the small target positioning, and in order to further improve the license plate location accuracy and speed, we propose to use the large feature map size of 14x14, improve the loss function by adding the Generalized Intersection over Union (GIoU) loss, and when it is training, the Intersection over Union (IoU) calculation method is changed to GIoU, the feature extraction network uses ShuffleNetV2, MobileNetV2 and other networks to extract more accurate features. In the data about campus bayonet vehicles, compared with Single Shot MultiBox Detector (SSD) and YOLOv2, the improved YOLO algorithm has better location accuracy and less location time. The Mean Average Precision (mAP) of improved DetNet59 have reached 99.79% and the precision (prec) has reached 99.97%. For the color image with a width of 680 pixels, and height of 480 pixels, the license plate location time is about 47 milliseconds (ms).
Within‐Patch Dynamics in a Metapopulation

We formulate a single—species model to study the dynamics of a metapopulation that is composed of several subpopulations spread among distinct patches. In the case where extinction rates within a patch are a decreasing function of population size, and all disasters lead to extinction of the local population, we determine the equilibrium distribution of numbers within patches. We show that any equilibrium is stable. This model is also applicable to some systems of mutualists, such as some plant—pollinator systems, where the focus is on the dynamics of the plant species. Unlike models for obligate mutualism that do not incorporate spatial structure, our patch model always has a stable equilibrium. See full-text article at JSTOR
A new species-group of Camptothlipsis (Braconidae: Agathidinae) from South Africa,with notes on the evolution of long mouthparts

A new species-group of Camptothlipsis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Lingualongis, endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa is proposed and three new species are described, i.e., Camptothlipsis lingualongis, Camptothlipsis aagota and Camptothlipsis inertusursus. Phylogenetic analyses support this as a distinct monophyletic group within Camptothlipsis. The phenomenon of elongate mouthparts in Hymenoptera and the unusual multiple evolution of such within the agathidines is briefly discussed.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of fluoridated and non-fluoridated desensitizing agents in dentinal tubule occlusion using scanning electron microscopy. An in-vitro study

Background: Dentin hypersensitivity is primarily caused due to patent or exposed dentinal tubules. Nonfluoridated-desensitizing agents deposit hydroxycarbonate apatite (HCA), within the dentinal tubules, thereby relieving hypersensitivity. Fluoride-containing bioactive glass-based agents form fluorapatite which is less soluble when compared to hydroxyapatite and HCA. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study forty dentin specimens obtained from extracted human premolars were divided randomly into four groups (n = 10): Group 1 – fluoridated bioactive glass (FBaG); Group 2 – bioactive glass (BaG); Group 3 – arginine calcium carbonate; Group 4 – saline. 37.5% phosphoric acid was used to ensure patent dentinal tubules. Test agents from each group were applied using a rubber cup. Half the treated samples were then subjected to 6% citric acid treatment. The degree of occlusion was evaluated using the scanning electron microscope, and the microscopic images were scored before and after the citric acid challenge by two blinded endodontists. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc Tukey test (P = 0.05). Results: Group 1 demonstrated better tubule occlusion in comparison with Group 2 and a statistically significant difference when compared to Group 3 (P = 0.001). Following acid challenge, Group 2 showed significantly more occluded tubules when compared with Group 3 (P = 0.001) and comparable difference with Group 1. Conclusion: All desensitizing agents showed satisfactory dentinal tubule occlusion. While fluoridated bioactive glass demonstrated better occlusion immediately after application, Bioactive glass showed better resistance to acid treatment.
Homoeopathy in epidemics: Bridging the gap

This special issue of IJRH has been planned keeping in view the ongoing pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19. As a research council, it was felt that it is our responsibility to bring forth scientific information that could be useful for all the stakeholders involved in the efficient management of the current pandemic. The impact of such research publications on the scientific, medical and political experts would enable a rational approach to treatment with a clear perspective of the strengths and weaknesses of Homoeopathy, and how best can the opportunities be availed for the benefit of society at large.
A randomized prospective study comparing concomitant chemoradiotherapy using paclitaxel-carboplatin with concomitant chemoradiotherapy using etoposide-cisplatin in inoperable or nonresectable locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Context: Several randomized trials have established that the best survival can be achieved in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with concurrent chemoradiation (CRT). In this study, we have compared different chemotherapy regime along with radiation in locally advanced NSCLC. Aims: Compare the disease response, toxicity, quality of life (QoL) and overall survival in concomitant CRT using paclitaxel-carboplatin versus cisplatin-etoposide for the radical treatment of NSCLC. Subjects and Methods: In this randomized study, 36 patients were enrolled. In study arm, patients were treated with injection cisplatin-etoposide along with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to a total dose of 60 Gy, using CO-60 machine. In study arm, patients were treated with injection paclitaxel-carboplatin along with EBRT. QoL was evaluated using QLQ–LC13 questionnaire. Results: The median age of patients was 65 years. Complete response was obtained in two patients in control and two patients in the study arm. Partial response was obtained in 11 patients in the control arm and 13 patients in the study arm. The observation was statistically insignificant. When Grade ≥III toxicities are analyzed, the total number of events in the control arm were three (16.7%) and in the study arm were five (27.8%) which is statistically insignificant. Statistical Analysis Used: The data were analyzed using Chi-square and t-test, and P values were calculated. Conclusion: The response rates and disease progression are similar between the two arms. The other endpoints are also similar between the two arms. However, larger studies are needed to establish comparability.
Seasonal, Annual and Geographic Variation in Color Morph Frequencies of the Cricket Frog, Acris crepitans, in Illinois

A three-year field study was conducted in Illinois to investigate seasonal, annual and geographic variation in color morph proportions of the cricket frog, Acris crepitans. Life history information (i.e., time of overwintering, emergence of adults in spring, breeding, metamorphosis, emergence of juveniles in summer, and growth and survival) for A. crepitans color morphs was compared to evaluate the potential adaptive significance of this polymorphism. Although seasonal variations in color morph proportions were not significant, some annual and geographic differences were. No differences were found among morphs related to the timing of various life history events. Studies of individual movements, dispersal, growth and survivorship also revealed no differences among morphs. Comparison of these data, as well as physiological and behavioral data for A. crepitans from Illinois, with similar data from Texas and elsewhere suggests that different factors must operate throughout the species range to maintain this color polymorphism. Chance may be a major factor in determining color morph proportions in localized populations in Illinois. 22 references, 5 figures, 3 tables.
Functional and Bioactive Properties of Quinoa and Amaranth

Antioxidant activity, antihypertensive activity and allergenicity of quinoa and amaranth were investigated and compared with those of seven cereals: buckwheat, barley, wheat, rice, foxtail millet, Japanese millet and millet. The radical scavenging activities of quinoa and amaranth were 42.3 and 22.6 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, respectively; thus, the pseudocereals have stronger radical scavenging ability than cereals. On the other hand, the antioxidant ability against linoleic acid was not very strong. Quinoa exhibited high angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activity, which was equal to that of buckwheat. The ACE inhibition activity of amaranth was lower than that of quinoa, but higher than that of rice and wheat. Quinoa and amaranth did not show a positive reaction band against wheat protein antibodies.
Seasonal Decline in Fertility of Turkey Eggs

Abstract KNOX and Marsden (1954) reported while egg numbers in the Beltsville Small White turkey increased by selection in eight generations from 80 to 146 per hen, the fertility (Olsen and Marsden, 1952) was satisfactory only from January through April. This reduced fertility prevents high reproductive efficiency when selecting for genetic improvement in persistency of egg production. Lorenz et al. (1959) suggest inherited differences and age as factors accounting for some of the variations in sperm viability of individual hens and that, “sperm have a shorter life in old hens’ oviducts than in those of young hens. ” More recently Van Krey et al. (1967) have shown late season declines in fertility due to non-retention of spermatozoa within the uterovaginal site. The research reported herein was conducted to determine the effect of age, sex difference and semen characteristics on seasonal decline in fertility of the turkey. PROCEDURE Late May hatched Medium White…
Molecular Characterization of sca Genes Found in Orientia tsutsugamushi Genome

Scrub typhus is an acute, febrile illness caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi infection and it is one of the main causes of acute febrile illness in the Asian-Pacific region. The incidence of scrub typhus has been significantly increased in Korea during last 10 years. Although early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment are important to prevent severe complications, the clinical discrimination of scrub typhus from other undifferentiated fevers, such as leptospirosis or dengue fever, is often very difficult. In addition, an effective vaccine has not yet been developed. As a novel diagnostic and vaccine target for scrub typhus, we described surface cell antigen (sca) family genes encoding autotransporter proteins found in the genome of O. tsutsugamushi. The molecular characteristics and recent findings on the bacterial genes were introduced in this letter.
Seasonal and ontogenetic dynamics in trophic transmission of parasites

Transmission rates from the intermediate (amphipods) to the definitive hosts (fish) were quantified for two helminth species (Cyathocephalus truncatus, Cestoda, and Cystidicola farionis, Nematoda) both seasonally and through the ontogeny of the final hosts (arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, and brown trout, Salmo trutta). Amphipods (Gammarus lacustris) were important prey for both fish species, especially in the autumn. Both parasite species had low infection levels in amphipods compared to high abundance in fish. The seasonal variations in transmission rate of C. truncatus procercoids from amphipods to fish were in accordance with the observed abundance in fish hosts, being highest in the autumn and lowest during late winter and early summer. During summer, however, the estimated monthly transmission rates of C. truncates were higher than the observed infection levels in the fish, suggesting restricted establishment success and shorter development time and longevity of the cestode in fish at higher temperatures. The accumulated transmission of C. farionis over the ontogeny of arctic charr was similar to the observed age-specific infection levels, reflecting a high establishment success and longevity of this parasite in charr. In contrast, brown trout exhibited an infection level that was much lower than the estimated transmission rates, suggesting a high resistance against C. farionis in these fish. The magnitudes of the estimated transmission rates were sufficient to explain the paradoxical contrast between low infection levels in the intermediate and high in the final hosts.
The influence of previous feeding regime on the compensatory growth response of maturing and immature Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus

Alternating periods of food deprivation with those of unlimited provision of food depressed the growth of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, below that of controls. Fish that were deprived of food and then fed on alternate weeks (1:1) were larger than those that were exposed to periods of 1 5- or 3-week deprivation and feeding (1·5:1·5 or 3:3). On receiving excess food supplies following 24 weeks on the restricted feeding regimes the previously-restricted fish grew more rapidly than the controls. The greatest compensatory growth was displayed after the 3:3 regime, followed by the 1·5:1·5 and then the 1:1 feeding regime. At the termination of the experiment there were no significant differences in body weight between fish fed according to the different regimes during the period that food restriction was imposed. Growth patterns of the immature males and females were similar, but mature males were significantly lighter than the immature fish by the end of the experiment. Both immature and maturing fish displayed a compensatory growth response on return to adequate feeding. Beginning food restriction in May did not influence the proportions of male fish (c. 60%) which were mature in the autumn.
Development and psychometric properties of the Digital Difficulties Scale (DDS): An instrument to measure who is disadvantaged to fulfill basic needs by experiencing difficulties in using a smartphone or computer

Today, some individuals may be at a disadvantage by experiencing difficulties in using a smartphone or computer to reach specific outcomes (e.g., looking for a job, searching for information on insurances) or in general (e.g., not knowing how to change the settings of an app or website). The aim of this study is to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new instrument, called the Digital Difficulties Scale (DDS). A multi-phase method was performed to develop the questionnaire in the period from January 2019 to November 2019. The item pool was generated based on a literature review, informal observations and interviews. Then, this item pool was presented both to experts (n = 6) and non-experts (n = 492) to assess content and face validity. In a second stage, construct validity (both exploratory and confirmatory), convergent and divergent validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire were tested. These analyses were based on a representative sample (n = 1000), and an independent sample for test-retest reliability (n = 44). Twenty-four items were generated and refined during content and face validity assessment. The exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors (Specific Digital Difficulties, General Digital Difficulties, and Worries about Future Digital Difficulties) containing sixteen items, together explaining 73.03% of the observed variance. The confirmatory factor analysis proved adequate model fitness. Both convergent and divergent validity were good, and internal consistency was excellent, with Cronbach’s alphas ranging between . 93 and . 97. Finally, our instrument demonstrated good test-retest reliability, with interclass correlation coefficients between . 73 and . 86. Consequently, the DDS can be used both in future research and practice, as it is a valid and reliable instrument to measure who is disadvantaged to fulfill basic needs by experiencing difficulties in using a smartphone or computer.
Urinary incontinence in men with Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy

The prevalence of urinary incontinence in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (D/BMD) is reported to be between 15–29%, this however includes ages across the lifespan, and with no description of impact on daily life. The present study, aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in men with D/BMD, and to identify which aspects of daily life were impacted by urinary incontinence. Twenty-seven adult males, 11 with BMD and 16 with DMD, aged 20–57 years, volunteered to participate in this study. Six questionnaires were completed to provide an overview of participant mobility, urinary incontinence and distress caused by urinary incontinence. These included: The Barthel index of disability, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Urinary Incontinence Form, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form, The Urogenital Distress Inventory, and the Brooke and Vignos scale. The prevalence of urinary incontinence within the present men with D/BMD was 37%, assessed as urine leakage of once a week or more. Those with urinary incontinence all reported only a “small amount” of urine leakage, with urinary incontinence frequency of once a week in 5/10 participants, two or three times a week in 2/10 participants, and once a day in 3/10 participants. Of those with urinary incontinence 8/10 experienced some impact on their daily life from urine leakage including travel (4/10), social aspects (5/10), and emotional aspects (8/10). All participants with urinary incontinence were bothered by some aspect, including urine leakage (9/10), and frequent urination (4/10). In conclusion, 37% of the present men with D/BMD experience urinary incontinence on a weekly or daily basis and negatively impacted aspects of life related to travel, social and emotional wellbeing. Urine leakage, and frequent urination should be considered a meaningful problem by care providers, and discussed openly with those with D/BMD.
Dissecting the effect of continuous cropping of potato on soil bacterial communities as revealed by high-throughput sequencing

Plant rhizosphere-associated bacterial communities play key roles in affecting host health in response to diverse biotic stresses. Currently, the effect of continuous cropping of potato on soil bacterial communities and physiochemical parameters has not been well documented. Herein, we compared bacterial composition and diversity in rotationally and continuously (5, 10, and 30 years) cropped soils, and clarified the correlations between soil properties and the bacterial communities revealed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. Our results demonstrated that Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes were the predominant phyla in all the tested soil samples. While the abundance of Proteobacteria showed an increase, the abundance of Actinobacteria and Firmicutes displayed a reduction with the increase of continuous cropping years. At the genus level, as continuous cropping years increasing, the abundance of Pseudarthrobacter, Bacillus and Pseudomonas decreased, but the abundance of Rhodanobacte, Sphingobium, Mizugakiibacter and Devosia increased. Our results also demonstrated that the abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in the rotationally cropped soil was significantly higher than that of continuously cropped soil. Furthermore, our results showed that soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium were significantly correlated with bacterial community distribution. Overall, our work provides a comprehensive view of altered structure and composition of bacterial communities between the continuously cropped soil and rotationally cropped soil.
Peripheral endothelial function can be improved by daily consumption of water containing over 7 ppm of dissolved hydrogen: A randomized controlled trial

Background Measurement of the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) using peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) has shown benefits in the evaluation of vascular endothelial function and prediction of cardiovascular disease prognosis. Thus, it is important to examine the factors that promote the RHI. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) on reactive hyperemia-PAT of the small arteries of fingers in healthy people. Methods To determine the efficacy of H2 for improving peripheral vascular endothelial function, water containing high H2 concentrations was administered to participants, and the Ln_RHI was measured in the finger vasculature. Sixty-eight volunteers were randomly divided into two groups: a placebo group (n = 34) that drank molecular nitrogen (N2)-containing water and a high H2 group (n = 34) that drank high H2 water (containing 7 ppm of H2: 3.5 mg H2 in 500-mL water). The Ln_RHI was measured before ingesting the placebo or high H2 water, 1 h and 24 h after the first ingestion, and 14 days after daily ingestion of high H2 water or the placebo. The mixed effects model for repeated measures was used in data analysis. Results The high H2 group had a significantly greater improvement in Ln_RHI than the placebo group. Ln_RHI improved by 22.2% (p<0.05) at 24 h after the first ingestion of high H2 water and by 25.4% (p<0.05) after the daily consumption of high H2 water for 2 weeks. Conclusions Daily consumption of high H2 water improved the endothelial function of the arteries or arterioles assessed by the PAT test. The results suggest that the continuous consumption of high H2 water contributes to improved cardiovascular health.