Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identity Evolutions, Models of Using Internet and Bonding Social Capital in Iran (A Step in the Direction of Presenting a Structural Model (Path Model) with Case Study of Kerman City)

In this research, we are attempting to review the relationship between users' models of using internet and bonding social capitals in Iran. The theoretical framework of the research are based on theoretical approaches of Dearnly and Feder, Velleman, Katz in the field of internet and models of using it and views of Putnam, Woolcock regarding social capital. The method used in this research is a qualitative – quantitative mixed method and the sampling method which has been used in the qualitative method is the purposive sampling method (theoretical sampling) and in the quantitative method, a combination of clustering, systematic and stratified sampling method in proportion with age and gender has been used. The statistical population of all persons who are 15 years old and more in Kerman city has been estimated to be 515114 persons in 2019 and the research sample has been estimated to be about 400 persons. Research results indicate that the rate of citizens' usage of internet in Kerman city is very low (less than 5 hours per week). Other results of the research indicate that regarding the model based on information associated with news, mostly filtered and unpermitted news sites such as VOA, BBC and other networks have been used. Research data regarding social identity is indicative of formation of identity evolutions in the contemporary society of Iran. The results of the path model test of the research indicate that news and economic information based models have about (0.11) direct and positive impact and ethnic identity has a direct and positive impact (0.189) and group identity has about (-0.131) impact and entertainment based model has about (0.130) impact on social capital. The results of variables' indirect impacts have also been expressed in the research
Deep Neural Network Compression for Plant Disease Recognition

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have become the de facto standard for image recognition tasks, and their applications with respect to plant diseases have also obtained remarkable results. However, the large number of parameters and high computational complexities of these network models make them difficult to deploy on farms in remote areas. In this paper, focusing on the problems of resource constraints and plant diseases, we propose a DNN-based compression method. In order to reduce computational burden, this method uses lightweight fully connected layers to accelerate reasoning, pruning to remove redundant parameters and reduce multiply–accumulate operations, knowledge distillation instead of retraining to restore the lost accuracy, and then quantization to compress the size of the model further. After compressing the mainstream VGGNet and AlexNet models, the compressed versions are applied to the Plant Village dataset of plant disease images, and a performance comparison of the models before and after compression is obtained to verify the proposed method. The results show that the model can be compressed to 0.04 Mb with an accuracy of 97.09%. This experiment also proves the effectiveness of knowledge distillation during the pruning process, and compressed models are more efficient than prevalent lightweight models.
Local Perceptions of Climate Change and Adaptation Responses from Two Mountain Regions in Tanzania

Mountain environments and communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change. Changes in temperature are greater than at lower elevations, which affect the height of the cloud base and local rainfall patterns. While our knowledge of the biophysical nature of climate change in East Africa has increased in the past few years, research on Indigenous farmers’ perceptions and adaptation responses is still lacking, particularly in mountains regions. Semi-structured interviews were administered to 300 farmers on Mount Kilimanjaro (n = 150) and the Udzungwa Mountains (n = 150) in Tanzania across gender and wealth groups. Respondents in both mountains reported not only changes in rainfall and temperature, corresponding with meteorological data, but also a greater incidence of fog, wind, frost, and hailstorms—with impacts on decreased crop yields and increased outbreaks of pests. The most common adaptation strategies used were improved crop varieties and inputs. Wealthier households diversified into horticulture or animal rearing, while poorer households of Hehe ethnicity diversified to labour and selling firewood. Despite being climate change literate and having access to radios, most respondents used Indigenous knowledge to decide on planting dates. Our findings highlight how context and culture are important when designing adaptation options and argue for greater involvement of local stakeholders in adaptation planning using a science-with-society approach. Place-based results offer generalisable insights that have application for other mountains in the Global South.
Nonparametric k‐sample test on shape spaces with applications to mitochondrial shape analysis

An important hypothesis in animal cell biology is that an animal’s acute exercise regimen affects some subcellular structures, for example mitochondrial morphology, in its muscle tissue. This paper investigates that hypothesis using a nonparametric metric‐based energy test for comparing mitochondrial populations. It explores two shape spaces—the elastic shape space and Kendall shape space—and five corresponding shape metrics on these spaces. The results overwhelmingly point to the statistical significance of the effect of an acute exercise regimen on the shape of SS‐type mitochondria. Although past studies based on specific morphological features derived from mitochondria failed to detect this significance. In this analysis, a potentially significant factor is cell membership and a k‐sample generalization of the energy test—the DISCO test shows that the cell effect is indeed significant. The energy test cannot be applied directly due to the hierarchical structure of the distance matrix. We propose a compression method to remove the significant cell effect while testing for the exercise effect. With this compression, only the elastic scaled metric shows statistical significance of the exercise factor in this more complicated scenario. This result is because the elastic‐scaled metric is more sensitive to subtle changes in mitochondrial shapes caused by acute exercise.
The Chinese version of the Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ): Associations with personality traits and gender

Sensitivity to music reward varies across individuals. The Barcelona Music Reward Questionnaire (BMRQ) is an effective tool in the assessment of sensitivity to music reward. The current study investigated the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the BMRQ, including its internal consistency, factor structure, criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance across gender. In addition, the relationship between personality traits and sensitivity to music reward was explored. A total of 1,120 Chinese undergraduate students completed a pen-and-paper version of the BMRQ, either in individual sessions or in class groups. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit for the revised model of the BMRQ. In addition, good internal consistency reliability of the overall scale and criterion-related validity with the BIS/BAS scale were also supported in this study. Evidence of configural, metric, and scalar invariance supported its measurement invariance across gender. On this basis, women in our sample reported themselves more sensitive than men to music reward. Results also showed that the personality traits Openness to Experience and Agreeableness were the strongest contributors to music reward sensitivity, while Extraversion did not make a significant contribution. These findings may provide a reference point for therapists wishing to predict the efficacy of music therapy for individuals.
Experimental Investigation Of The Effect Of Compliance Properties On The Flow In An Analogous Ex-Vivo Heart Perfusion System

—The heart transplant waiting list far exceeds supply. This shortage is generally attributed to the high number of discarded hearts and to the narrow six-hour time window currently available through the standard preservation method: static cold storage (SCS). An alternative method called ex-vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) maintains a human donor heart beating outside the body for the time preceding transplantation surgery. By keeping the heart working in a physiologically consistent way and monitoring its functions, the organ’s health can be assessed and the transplant time window can be extended. In order to improve and optimize the EVHP system, the present work aims to further investigate the relationship between pulsatile flow and compliance by assessing the effect of different compliant tubes on the upstream and downstream pressure and flow fields. Hence, silicone tubes of variable compliance, length, and geometrical shape were developed for this study — although only one sample has been tested so far, in addition to an experimental setup containing a hydraulic circuit analogous to the left flow loop of the EVHP system. The flow fields downstream of the compliant section are assessed using laser Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Findings will include novel visualizations of these flow fields as well as comparisons of pressure waveforms from an assortment of compliance conditions .
Nonlinear models in the height description of the Rhino sunflower cultivar

ABSTRACT: Sunflower produces achenes and oil of good quality, besides serving for production of silage, forage and biodiesel. Growth modeling allows knowing the growth pattern of the crop and optimizing the management. The research characterized the growth of the Rhino sunflower cultivar using the Logistic and Gompertz models and to make considerations regarding management based on critical points. The data used come from three uniformity trials with the Rhino confectionery sunflower cultivar carried out in the experimental area of the Federal University of Santa Maria - Campus Frederico Westphalen in the 2019/2020 agricultural harvest. In the first, second and third trials 14, 12 and 10 weekly height evaluations were performed on 10 plants, respectively. The data were adjusted for the thermal time accumulated. The parameters were estimated by ordinary least square’s method using the Gauss-Newton algorithm. The fitting quality of the models to the data was measured by the adjusted coefficient of determination, Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, and through intrinsic and parametric nonlinearity. The inflection points (IP), maximum acceleration (MAP), maximum deceleration (MDP) and asymptotic deceleration (ADP) were determined. Statistical analyses were performed with Microsoft Office Excel® and R software. The models satisfactorily described the height growth curve of sunflower, providing parameters with practical interpretations. The Logistics model has the best fitting quality, being the most suitable for characterizing the growth curve. The estimated critical points provide important information for crop management. Weeds must be controlled until the MAP. Covered fertilizer applications must be carried out between the MAP and IP range. ADP is an indicator of maturity, after reaching this point, the plants can be harvested for the production of silage without loss of volume and quality.
Protective Effect of Quercetin, a Flavonol against Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Lung Injury via Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Angiogenesis and Cyclooxygenase-2 Signalling Molecule

Quercetin (Qu) is an important polyphenolic flavonoid which exhibits tremendous antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other health promoting effects. The aim of the current study was to explore the therapeutic role of Qu on benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced lung injury in rats. B(a)P was given to the rats at dose of 50 mg/kg b.w. for continues 8 weeks through oral gavage. The rats were treated with Qu at dose of 50 mg/kg b.w prior 30 min before the oral administration of B(a)P. The effects of Qu were studied by measuring the level of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), anti-oxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory cytokines, lung tissues architecture and expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β (27.30 vs. 22.80 pg/mL), IL-6 (90.64 vs. 55.49 pg/mL) and TNF-α (56.64 vs. 40.49 pg/mL) increased significantly and antioxidant enzymes decreased significantly in benzopyrene-induced lung injury in comparison to the control group. The treatment with Qu potentially reversed the effects of B(a)P to a great extent, as it led to the enhancement of antioxidant enzymes and decreased proinflammatory cytokines level. A significant surge of VEGF level was noticed in the B(a)P group as compared to the control group, while the Qu treatment groups exhibited less angiogenesis as lower level of VEGF levels, compared with the B(a)P treatment group. The Qu treatment significantly decreased the degrees of histopathological changes and collagen deposition in B(a)P-induced lung injury. The B(a)P-treated group showed higher cytoplasmic expression of COX-2 protein, which significantly decreased in the Qu treatment group. These outcomes recommend an effective role of Qu in the protection of lung injury against B(a)P through the regulation of the inflammatory factors, oxidative stress and the maintenance lung tissue architecture.
Consumers’ Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Organically Farmed Fish in Bangladesh

Abstract This study aims to assess the market potential for organically farmed shrimp. The rank-ordered logit model was employed to investigate consumer perceptions; the findings reveal that consumers prefer organic shrimp from mariculture, and inland-farmed shrimp to the coastal version. The willingness to pay (WTP) for conventional shrimp amongst consumers with low knowledge is less than that for organic shrimp amongst highly knowledgeable ones. In addition, the lower WTP for organic shrimp compared with safe shrimp amongst those with a medium knowledge level shows that the organically farmed shrimp market is lagging behind due to limited knowledge and confusion.
A Comparative Study of the Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Pneumatic Trabeculoplasty and Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Background We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Material/Methods We randomly divided 120 cases (120 eyes) of POAG or OHT into 2 groups: PNT and SLT. The changes in anterior chamber angle, intraocular pressure (IOP), treatment effect, macular retinal ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness, visual field, adverse reactions, and complications were observed before and 3 months after treatment. Results In the PNT group, the opening range of anterior chamber angle at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery was significantly larger than that before surgery. In the SLT group, the open range of anterior chamber angle was significantly less than that before surgery at 1 week and 2 weeks after surgery. The open range of anterior chamber angle in the PNT group was significantly larger than that in the SLT group at 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery. The mean IOP of the 2 groups decreased significantly after surgery. The postoperative mean IOP of the SLT group was significantly higher than that of the PNT group, and the decrease of IOP in the PNT group was significantly greater than that of the SLT group. The effective rate of the PNT group was higher than that of the SLT group. Conclusions Both PNT and SLT can reduce the IOP of patients with POAG and OHT. PNT appears to have better short-term treatment efficiency than SLT.
Practice of Eye Checks among Medical Doctors in South-East Nigeria

Visual impairment greatly affects one’s quality of life. The number of persons with visual impairment and blindness in the world is on the increase. Eye screening allows for early detection of sight-threatening diseases and timely intervention could be sight-saving. Aim: To determine the practice of eye checks and identify the factors that affect periodic eye checks among medical doctors in south-east Nigeria. Methodology: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted among practicing medical doctors in private and public hospitals in Anambra State Nigeria, using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Information obtained from the participants included the sociodemographics data, type and duration of practice, presence of any medical and/or ocular condition, family history of eye diseases, history of use of spectacles, practice of eye check and interval of eye check, factors affecting the practice of eye check, and ways of promoting regular eye check. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23. Statistical significance was set at p˂0.05. Results: One hundred and eighty-seven practicing medical doctors were interviewed. There were 123 (65.8%) males and 64 (34.2%) females. Their ages ranged from 24 to 80 years, with a mean age of 44.81 ± 12.73 years. The mean duration of professional practice was 18.16 ± 11.9 years. Majority, 124 (66.3%) works in government-owned hospitals. Among the study participants, 93(49.7%) doctors had been diagnosed with different ocular diseases; 99(52.9%) had a family history of ocular problems; 94(50.3%) had used prescription lenses; and 51(27.3%) had medical conditions. One hundred and twelve (59.9%) had undergone at least eye examinations once, of which 54(48.2%) had their last eye examination over 5 years ago. The prevalence of eye check was 59.9% (95%CI: 52.9 – 66.9%). Eye checks were significantly associated with medical practice of over 20 years (P=0.030), working in a private practice (P=0.001), having eye diseases such as cataract (P=0.006), refractive error (P˂0.001), presbyopia (P˂0.001), and use of prescription spectacles (P˂0.001). ‘Belief of not having eye problems’ and ‘No time’ which accounted for 58.7% and 24.0% respectively were the commonest reasons for not regularly having eye examinations. Conclusion: Poor attitude to periodic eye examinations was seen in medical doctors in south east Nigeria.
Model updating of a wind turbine blade finite element beam model with invertible neural networks

Abstract. Digitalization, especially in the form of a digital twin, is fast becoming a key instrument for the monitoring of a product's life cycle from manufacturing to operation and maintenance, and has recently been applied to wind turbine blades. Here, model updating plays an important role for digital twins, in the form of adjusting the model to best replicate the corresponding real-world counterpart. However, classical updating methods are generally limited to a reduced parameter space due to low computational efficiency. Moreover, these approaches most likely lack a probabilistic evaluation of the result. The purpose of this paper is to extend a previous feasibility study to a finite element beam model of a full blade, for which the model updating process is conducted through the novel approach with invertible neural networks (INNs). This type of artificial neural network is trained to represent an inversion of the physical model, which in general is complex and non-linear. During the updating process, the inverse model is evaluated based on the target model's modal responses, which then returns the posterior prediction for the input parameters. In advance, a global sensitivity study will reduce the parameter space to a significant subset, on which the updating process will focus. The finally trained INN excellently predicts the input parameters' posterior distributions of the proposed generic updating problem. Moreover, intrinsic model ambiguities, such as material densities of two closely located laminates, are correctly captured. A robustness analysis with noisy response reveals a few sensitive parameters, though most can still be recovered with equal accuracy. And, finally, after the resimulation analysis with the updated model, the modal response perfectly matches the target values. Thus, we successfully confirmed that INNs offer an extraordinary capability for structural model updating of even more complex and larger models of wind turbine blades.
Right ventricular function is associated with 28-day mortality in myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock: A retrospective observational study

Background Right ventricular (RV) function is increasingly being recognised as an important factor influencing outcomes in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS). In this study, we investigated RV echocardiographic parameters’ association with 28-day mortality in patients admitted to intensive care with STEMI complicated by CS with reduced left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF). Method We performed a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) in a single tertiary cardiac centre over a 34-month period with STEMI complicated by CS and LVEF < 40%. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected and correlated with 28-day mortality. Results One-hundred patients were included with a mean age of 62.6 ±12.7 years and 78% were male. Mortality at 28 days was 37%. Respectively, 85%, 40% and 25% of patients required mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support and renal replacement therapy. Tricuspid annulus peak systolic velocity (RV S’) was significantly higher in survivors (12 ± 3.3 v 10 ± 3.5 cm/s, p = 0.03) and was an independent predictor of mortality (odds ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.4, p = 0.04). RV S’ of 10.5 cm/s exhibited best sensitivity and specificity (64% and 65%, respectively; p = 0.02) for mortality. The Kaplan–Meier curve demonstrated 85% risk of 28-day mortality for RV S’ < 10.5 cm/s v 53% for RV S’ > 10.5 cm/s (p = 0.02). Conclusion RV function is associated 28-day mortality in patients admitted to ICU with STEMI complicated by CS with reduced LVEF. RV S’ predicted mortality with good sensitivity and specificity.