Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Crack-Parallel Stress Effect on Fracture of Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Revealed by Gap Tests

: This paper presents an experimental study on how the crack-parallel stress affects the fracture properties of fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) using the gap test — a new simple fracture test invented and used for concrete at Northwestern University in 2020. First, it was conducted for plain concrete and was successfully applied to cross-ply carbon-fiber composite and to aluminum. An advantage of this test is that it is unambiguous because the test setup changes from one statically determinate configuration to another. The gap test, combined with the standard notched three-point-bend test, is now applied to geometrically scaled FRC specimens to determine how the fracture energy, G f , and the effective size, c f , of the fracture process zone (FPZ), are changed by the crack-parallel stress, σ xx . For σ xx equal to about 2 = 3 of the standard uniaxial compression strength, the increase in G f is 64% and 78% for the two FRCs, respectively, which is large but not as large as the 126% increase observed in tests of plain concrete. This indicates that the fiber reinforcement mitigates the effect of σ xx , while introducing some degree of ductility into the fracture process. The compressive σ xx also increases the effective size of the FPZ by about 81% and 64% while such increase is 134% in plain concrete. Because crack-parallel stresses are ubiquitous in practice, the implications for design are significant. DOI: 10.1061/JENMDT.EMENG-7531. ©
Automatic Radiology Report Generator Using Transformer With Contrast-Based Image Enhancement

Writing radiology reports based on radiographic images is a time-consuming task that demands the expertise of skilled radiologists. Consequently, the integration of technology capable of automated report generation would be advantageous. Developing a coherent predictive text is the main challenge in automatic report generation. It is necessary to develop methods that can increase the relevance of features in producing predictive text. This study constructed a medical report generator model using the transformer approach and image enhancement implementation. To leverage the visual and semantic features, an approach to enhance the noise-prone nature of the medical image is explored in this study along with the transformers method to generate a radiology report based on Chest X-ray images. Four contrast-based image enhancement methods were used to investigate the effect of image enhancement techniques on the radiology report generator. The encoder-decoder model is used with text feature embedding using Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformer (BERT) and visual feature extraction utilizing a pre-trained model ChexNet and Multi-Head Attention (MHA) mechanism. The performance of the MHA model with gamma correction is 5% in better with a 0.377 value using the Bilingual Assessment Understudy (BLEU) with 4 n-gram evaluation. MHA also produces 15% better results with a 0.412 value than the baseline model. This method is able to outperform the baseline model and other previous works. It can be concluded that the use of transformer MHA encoder layer and BERT is effective in leveraging visual and text features. Additionally, the inclusion of an image enhancement approach has been found to have a positive impact on the model’s performance.
Recent Treatment Strategies for Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a leading gastrointestinal disease that causes hospitalization. Initial management in the first 72 h after the diagnosis of AP is pivotal, which can influence the clinical outcomes of the disease. Initial management, including assessment of disease severity, fluid resuscitation, pain control, nutritional support, antibiotic use, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in gallstone pancreatitis, plays a fundamental role in AP treatment. Recent updates for fluid resuscitation, including treatment goals, the type, rate, volume, and duration, have triggered a paradigm shift from aggressive hydration with normal saline to goal-directed and non-aggressive hydration with lactated Ringer’s solution. Evidence of the clinical benefit of early enteral feeding is becoming definitive. The routine use of prophylactic antibiotics is generally limited, and the procalcitonin-based algorithm of antibiotic use has recently been investigated to distinguish between inflammation and infection in patients with AP. Although urgent ERCP (within 24 h) should be performed for patients with gallstone pancreatitis and cholangitis, urgent ERCP is not indicated in patients without cholangitis. The management approach for patients with local complications of AP, particularly those with infected necrotizing pancreatitis, is discussed in detail, including indications, timing, anatomical considerations, and selection of intervention methods. Furthermore, convalescent treatment, including cholecystectomy in gallstone pancreatitis, lipid-lowering medications in hypertriglyceridemia-induced AP, and alcohol intervention in alcoholic pancreatitis, is also important for improving the prognosis and preventing recurrence in patients with AP. This review focuses on recent updates on the initial and convalescent management strategies for AP.
Rice and Jute yield forecast over Bihar region

Crop Yield forecasting (approximately one month in advance) play an important role in decision making and planning of food need in future. In this paper we have compared results of the statistical model of crop yield forecast for rice and jute crops for the year 2012-to 2014 of all districts of Bihar (for rice) and 6 districts of Bihar ( for jute). The statistical model is based on the correlation and regression approach in which weather parameters are incorporated along with technological trend at various stages of the growth of rice and jute crop. The model prediction as technological trend alone and along with weather shows considerable difference in yield productivity of rice and jute. It is seen from the study that for rice the yield departure from actual ranges -10 % to 12 % and -20 % to 35 % during the years 2012 to 2014. It has been brought out that the yield prediction model used operationally in India Meteorological Department (IMD) under the project forecasting of agriculture output using space, agro meteorology and land based observations (FASAL) shows approximately 60 % improvement after incorporated the weather data in the yield analysis. Almost similar performance has been observed for jute yield during the years 2012 to 2014. The model predicted yield results for rice and jute for the year’s 2012 to 2014 shows reasonably good agreement with the actual yield.
The Characterization of Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue in Sunit Sheep at Different Growth Stages: A Comprehensive Analysis of the Morphology, Fatty Acid Profile, and Metabolite Profile

Adipose tissue is a crucial economically significant trait that significantly influences the meat quality and growth performance of domestic animals. To reveal the changes in adipose tissue metabolism during the growth of naturally grazing sheep, we evaluated the thickness, adipocyte morphology, fatty acid profile, and metabolite profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from naturally grazing Sunit sheep at 6, 18, and 30 months of age (referred to as Mth-6, Mth-18, and Mth-30, respectively). The fat thickness and adipocyte number were significantly increased with the growth of the sheep (p < 0.05), and the increase of which from Mth-18 to Mth-30 was less than that from Mth-6 to Mth-18. Additionally, the alpha-linolenic acid metabolism was enhanced and fatty acid (FA) elongation increased with growth. The metabolomic analysis revealed 76 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in the SAT in different growth stages. Interestingly, we observed elongation of FAs in lipids correlated with sheep growth. Furthermore, the expression of acylcarnitines was downregulated, and fatty acid amides, aspartic acid, acetic acid and phosphocholine were upregulated in Mth-18 and Mth-30 compared to Mth-6. Altogether, the study found that the difference in SAT in Mth-6 was great compared to Mth-18 and Mth-30. An increase in fat deposition via adipocyte proliferation with the growth of the sheep in naturally grazing. The DEMs of acylcarnitines, fatty acid amides, aspartic acid, acetic acid, and phosphocholine emerged as potential key regulators of adipose tissue metabolism. These findings illustrate the variation in and metabolic mechanism of sheep adipose tissue development under natural grazing, thus providing valuable insights into improving the edible quality of sheep meat and developing the mutton sheep industry.
The complete mitochondrial genome of Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

Abstract The genome-level features are crucial genetic resources for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of Aphidius colemani Viereck 1912 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) was sequenced, determined and analyzed. The circular genome is 16,372 bp in length with an overall base composition of 38.9% for A, 46.2% for T, 6.7% for C, and 8.2% for G. The mitochondrial genome of A. colemani contained 13 protein-coding genes that initiated by the ATN codon, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). It shared the same gene arrangement patterns that occurred in two tRNA clusters of trnI-trnQ-trnM and trnW-trnC-trnY with Aphidius gifuensis. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and Maximum-likelihood methods supported that the two species of Aphidiinae formed a clade and sister to other subfamilies of Braconidae.
Nonintrusive spatiotemporal smart debris tracking in turbulent flows with application to debris-laden tsunami inundation

AbstractFlood disasters such as dam breaks and surges from extreme hurricanes or tsunamis entrain and transport substantial amounts of submerged or floating debris. Understanding of motion and spatiotemporal distribution of debris entrained by a flood is thus of great importance to hydraulic, coastal, and structural engineers; the displacement of debris to a location where it may eventually impact critical infrastructure requires scientific attention at the laboratory scale first. In this context, the design and application of a novel smart debris system utilizing off-the-shelf components is presented and discussed. The system tracks the spatial location and orientation of a multitude of debris specimens and it proposes an accurate tool to assess their individual trajectory, velocity, and momentum in a laboratory environment. Contrary to the traditional camera-based approach of video tracking, which often fails once objects are submerged, the proposed smart debris system delivers six-degree-of-freedom (6D.
Acquisition of detrital magnetization in four turbidites

Turbiditic events are mostly avoided in paleomagnetic studies and therefore their remanence and magnetic properties are poorly described. Turbidites are exempt of bioturbation and potentially provide pertinent information about depositional remanence. We studied four quaternary turbidites of different origins in marine sediment cores. Upward fining of both magnetic and sedimentary fractions indicates that coarser grains reached the bottom first. We observe a progressive shallowing of the magnetic inclinations between the upper and bottom layers of the turbidites that increases with the size of the events and obeys a simple linear scaling law. Measurements of magnetic anisotropy suggest that hydrodynamic conditions prevailing during deposition seem to be dominant for the alignment of the magnetic grains. We suggest that small spherical grains are randomly oriented with zero resultant magnetization in presence of strong turbulent conditions, while the alignment of elongated grains is constrained by the competition between gravity and magnetic forces. A possible scenario is that under turbulent conditions they tend to rest at the bottom with their long axes parallel to the sediment surface and therefore with shallow inclinations, whereas weakly turbulent conditions like during the smallest (26 cm thick) event do not disturb the magnetic alignment and therefore do not generate inclination shallowing.
Generalized framework to predict undrained uplift capacity of buried offshore pipelines1

Estimation of undrained uplift capacity is essential for the determination of optimal burial depth of buried offshore pipelines. However, a generalized prediction model that incorporates various factors influencing this capacity is scarce in the literature. In this paper, results from a series of small-strain finite element analyses are presented that explore the effects of pipe embedment, pipe–soil interface roughness, interface tensile capacity, soil shear strength, and unit weight on pipe uplift response. From the study, a simple method to predict the undrained upheaval resistance of buried pipelines for any practical range of pipeline and soil parameters is proposed. Factors associated with transition in failure mechanism with embedment are also examined. The numerical model is validated by comparing the results with available analytical and experimental data. Large-deformation finite element analyses have also been performed independently for a few cases to justify the applicability of small-strain m.
International students’ burnout and self-efficacy profiles and their relation to writing conceptions

International students are at risk of burnout during their studies and face challenges in their writing. This study explores the burnout and self-efficacy profiles of international students and how these profiles differ in writing conceptions. Participants were 162 international students at a research-intensive Finnish university. They completed the HowULearn Questionnaire and the Writing Process Questionnaire. Latent profile analysis identified three profiles combining students’ burnout and self-efficacy: high burned-out students (16.0%), moderate burned-out students (45.1%), and low burned-out students with high self-efficacy (38.9%). The profile membership was not significantly related to students’ demographic, linguistic, or writing-related characteristics. The results showed that the combination of a lower level of study-related burnout and relatively higher self-efficacy led to fewer blocks, less procrastination and perfectionism, and more positive conceptions of knowledge transforming and productivity in writing. Overall, the study indicated that study-related burnout and self-efficacy contributes to understanding international students’ writing processes.
A Phylogenetic and Taxonomic Revision of Discula theae-sinensis, the Causal Agents of Anthracnose on Camellia sinensis

Tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) is one of the most important economic plants in China, and has many benefits for human health. Anthracnose is one of the most serious diseases of tea in China, and control of the fungus is important since most Chinese cultivars are susceptible to it. The agent of tea anthracnose was initially described as Gloeosporium theae-sinensis I. Miyake in Japan, which was later transferred to Discula, but this taxonomic position remains problematic. To shed light on these taxonomic and phylogenetic issues, the tea anthracnose pathogens were re-studied. Combining the morphological characteristics and a multigene phylogenetic analysis of nrITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and tef1 sequence data, a new genus Sinodiscula was proposed to accommodate the causal fungi of tea anthracnose, including a new species Sinodiscula camellicola and a new combination Sinodiscula theae-sinensis. Furthermore, the pathogenicity of the pathogens was determined according to Koch’s postulates. This study thoroughly resolves the long-standing taxonomic and phylogenetic problems of the tea anthracnose pathogens.
Computer Vision for Parkinson’s Disease Evaluation: A Survey on Finger Tapping

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder whose prevalence has steadily been rising over the years. Specialist neurologists across the world assess and diagnose patients with PD, although the diagnostic process is time-consuming and various symptoms take years to appear, which means that the diagnosis is prone to human error. The partial automatization of PD assessment and diagnosis through computational processes has therefore been considered for some time. One well-known tool for PD assessment is finger tapping (FT), which can now be assessed through computer vision (CV). Artificial intelligence and related advances over recent decades, more specifically in the area of CV, have made it possible to develop computer systems that can help specialists assess and diagnose PD. The aim of this study is to review some advances related to CV techniques and FT so as to offer insight into future research lines that technological advances are now opening up.
Effectiveness and safety of treat-to-target strategy for methotrexate-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients >75 years of age

Abstract Objectives To identify differences in effectiveness and safety of a treat-to-target (T2T) strategy comparing late-onset MTX-naïve RA patients (LORA) ≥75 or <75 years of age. Methods Treatment was adjusted to target low disease activity with conventional synthetic DMARDs followed by biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) in LORA ≥75 years (n = 98, mean age 80.0 years) and LORA <75 years (n = 99) with moderate–high disease activity. Achievement of Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remission at week 156 by non-responder imputation analysis was evaluated as a primary outcome. Results LORA ≥75 years had more comorbidities than LORA <75 years, but SDAI and ACPA positivity were similar at baseline. Of the LORA ≥75 years, 70.4% started MTX and 34.1% and 37.1% received a bDMARD at week 52 and 156, respectively (very similar to the LORA <75 years). Glucocorticoid use was more frequent in the LORA ≥75 years than in the LORA <75 years. Comorbidities/adverse events more frequently contributed to the reasons for non-adherence to T2T in the LORA ≥75 than in the LORA <75. At week 156, 32.7% of the LORA ≥75 and 66.7% of the LORA <75 achieved SDAI remission (P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) over 156 weeks was 42.8% in the LORA ≥75 and 22.1% in the LORA <75. Multivariable analysis indicated an increased risk of SDAI non-remission at week 156 in the LORA ≥75 [odds ratio 2.82 (95% CI 1.29. 6.14)] after adjusting for comorbidities at baseline, non-adherence to T2T and SAEs. Conclusions It was more difficult to achieve remission in the LORA ≥75 patients than in the LORA <75 patients due to both poor treatment response and safety issues.
Gene Expression-Based Cancer Classification for Handling the Class Imbalance Problem and Curse of Dimensionality

Cancer is a leading cause of death globally. The majority of cancer cases are only diagnosed in the late stages of cancer due to the use of conventional methods. This reduces the chance of survival for cancer patients. Therefore, early detection consequently followed by early diagnoses are important tasks in cancer research. Gene expression microarray technology has been applied to detect and diagnose most types of cancers in their early stages and has gained encouraging results. In this paper, we address the problem of classifying cancer based on gene expression for handling the class imbalance problem and the curse of dimensionality. The oversampling technique is utilized to overcome this problem by adding synthetic samples. Another common issue related to the gene expression dataset addressed in this paper is the curse of dimensionality. This problem is addressed by applying chi-square and information gain feature selection techniques. After applying these techniques individually, we proposed a method to select the most significant genes by combining those two techniques (CHiS and IG). We investigated the effect of these techniques individually and in combination. Four benchmarking biomedical datasets (Leukemia-subtypes, Leukemia-ALLAML, Colon, and CuMiDa) were used. The experimental results reveal that the oversampling techniques improve the results in most cases. Additionally, the performance of the proposed feature selection technique outperforms individual techniques in nearly all cases. In addition, this study provides an empirical study for evaluating several oversampling techniques along with ensemble-based learning. The experimental results also reveal that SVM-SMOTE, along with the random forests classifier, achieved the highest results, with a reporting accuracy of 100%. The obtained results surpass the findings in the existing literature as well.
Treating Organic Pollutants in Urban Runoff Using Slow-Release Oxidants: Laboratory and Field Investigations

EYERDOM, TIMOTHY J., M.S., August 2014, Geological Sciences Treating Organic Pollutants in Urban Runoff Using Slow-Release Oxidants: Laboratory and Field investigations Director of Thesis: Eung Seok Lee Non-point source (NPS) contamination is a major concern for urban aquatic environments. This study tested the feasibility of using slow-release oxidants (SR-O) emplaced in storm pipes for treating organic pollutants in urban storm runoff through proof-of-concept laboratory tests and preliminary field investigations in Athens, OH. Release rates of slow-release persulfate (SR-PS), slow-release hydrogen peroxide (SRHP), and slow-release hydroxide (SR-OH) were estimated through column tests. Results from column tests show that stable release was achieved after 100 hours of testing. Stable release for SR-HP, SR-SP, and SR-OH were up to 2.8x10-3, 5x10-1, and 2.8x10-1 mg min-1, respectively. SR-PS forms were observed to release for two weeks and at 90-100% efficiency. Total organic carbon, chloride, and sulfate concentrations in a two hour storm ranged from 9.8 to 63.4 mg L-1, 6.7 to 23.4 mg L-1, and 6.0 to 59.0 mg L-1, respectively with maximum concentrations shown in the first flush period. Since no organic pollutants were detected in the storm water, pollutant standard solutions were added to storm water samples to evaluate removal efficiencies of base activated SR-PS systems. Base activated persulfate using SR-PS, SR-HP, and SR-OH was found to be the most efficient system in treating organic pollutants within 30 minutes, the estimated residence time of storm water within storm pipes. The proof-of-concept flow-through test demonstrated that up to 60%