Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of uncertainties on the positioning of cable-driven parallel robots

Positioning accuracy of cable-driven parallel robots is influenced by many factors such as geometry, actuator sensor accuracy and disturbances in the applied wrench. Another uncertainty source is the elasticity of the cables. While the influence of many factors may be decreased by calibration and/or sensor fusion, elasticity parameters are difficult to estimate and their effect on the positioning errors has yet to be determined. In this paper we consider a generic cable model that include cable elasticity and the effect of cable weight and we propose a generic algorithm that allows one to safely calculate the minimum and maximum of the positioning error at a given pose when the elasticity parameters are constrained to lie within some given bounds. The algorithm is designed for being able to manage the effect of different uncertainties sources and we compare the influence of elasticity versus the effect of uncertainties in the cable lengths.
Tracking Past Changes in Ocean Heat Content with Atmospheric Noble Gases in Ice Cores

Author(s): Shackleton, Sarah | Advisor(s): Severinghaus, Jeffrey P | Abstract: As an emerging proxy for total ocean heat content, atmospheric noble gas ratios in ice cores have the promise to provide key insights into Earth’s energy budget, and how it has responded to past climate perturbations. This method takes advantage of the mass-conservation of krypton, xenon, and dinitrogen in the combined ocean and atmosphere, and their unique temperature- dependent solubilities in seawater. By measuring changes in the noble gas ratios of the well-mixed atmosphere, we can deduce their change in the ocean due to warming or cooling, which allows us to track changes in total ocean heat content. As a new area of research, there is still much to learn about the proxy’s potential, as well as its limitations. The motivation of this dissertation is twofold: to identify the main sources of uncertainty in mean ocean temperature reconstructions and to apply the mean ocean temperature method to previously unstudied climate intervals.To address our first goal, we focus on processes that decouple the noble gas ratios measured in ice cores from mean ocean temperature. While past studies have focused on this decoupling at the ocean-atmosphere interface (e.g. through dissolved gas disequilibrium), we primarily focus on the decoupling of gases at the atmosphere-ice sheet interface, and within the ice sheet itself. We identify previously unappreciated or underappreciated mechanisms of gas fractionation that, if not appropriately accounted for, introduce error into mean ocean temperature records. Based on our findings, we outline specific steps to identify and correct for these processes in order to minimize error in future mean ocean temperature studies.To address our second goal, we reconstruct mean ocean temperature with ice cores from the Taylor Glacier blue ice area. Taylor Glacier has the advantage of being recently-drilled and clathrate-free, making it an ideal site for mean ocean temperature reconstruction. Using well- established methods of blue ice dating based on gas synchronization with well-dated ice cores, we identify and collect ice cores from the last interglacial period and last glacial inception for mean ocean temperature reconstruction. Considering the mean ocean temperature records presented here, along with previous reconstructions, a pattern emerges from the data; over a range of timescales and background climate states, we find a dominant role of the ocean’s overturning circulation in controlling the timing and magnitude of mean ocean temperature change.
The effect of a lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women on change in gestational metabolic profiles: findings form the UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT) RCT

Background Pregnancy metabolic disruption is believed to be enhanced in obese women and lead to adverse outcomes in them and their offspring. The UK Pregnancies Better Eating and Activity Trial (UPBEAT), a randomised controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention in obese pregnant women, has already been shown to improve diet and physical activity. We used UPBEAT to determine (a) the magnitude of change in metabolic profiles in obese pregnant women and (b) the impact of a lifestyle intervention that successfully improved diet and physical activity on these profiles. Methods Detailed targeted metabolic profiling, with quantification of 158 metabolic features (129 lipid measures, 9 glycerides and phospholipids, and 20 low-molecular weight metabolites) was completed on three occasions (∼17-, 28- and 35-weeks of gestation) in the UPBEAT participants using NMR. Random intercept and random slope models were used to quantify metabolite changes in obese women using the control (usual care) group only (N = 577). The effect of the intervention was determined by comparing rates of metabolite change between those randomised to intervention and usual care, using intention to treat analyses (N = 1158). Results There were adverse changes across pregnancy in most lipoprotein subclasses, lipids, glycerides, phospholipids, several fatty acids and glucose. All extremely large, very large, large, medium, small and very small VLDL particles increased by 2 to 3 standard deviation units (SD), with IDL, and large, medium and small LDL particles increasing by 1 to 2SD, between 16- and 36-weeks. Triglycerides increased by 3 to 4SD and glucose increased by 2SD, with more modest changes in other metabolites. The intervention reduced the rate of increase in extremely large, very large, large and medium VLDL, in particular those containing triglycerides. Triglyceride to phosphoglyceride ratio was reduced and there were improvements in fatty acid profiles (increases in the proportion of all fatty acids that were linoleic, omega-6 and polyunsaturated and decreases in the proportion of saturated). Conclusion Systemic metabolism is markedly disrupted in obese pregnant women, but a lifestyle intervention that improved their diet and physical activity has beneficial effects on some of these profiles; these effects might have long-term benefit.
Influence of Social Status on the Welfare of Sows in Static and Dynamic Groups

Forty-eight Large White x Landrace multiparous sows were mixed into twelve groups of four animals after their piglets were weaned. These groups were defined as static, with no animals being added to or removed from the groups after their formation. Aggressive and submissive behaviours were recorded continuously for 9 h after the sows were mixed, and the sows were assigned high or low social status on the basis of their relative aggressiveness and success in aggressive interactions. After five weeks, each static group was mixed into a dynamic group of 40 ±2 sows for an 11-week period. Three static groups (ie 12 animals) at a time were added to the dynamic group at three-week intervals; the same number of animals was removed at these time-points in order to maintain the group number at 40 ± 2. Injury levels increased significantly with the transition from static groups to the dynamic group (P < 0.001). Sows with low social status had lower bodyweights (P < 0.001) and higher injury levels one week after mixing into static and dynamic groups (P < 0.01). Social status did not significantly affect salivary Cortisol levels. Sows with low social status were positioned lower in the feed order, determined using an electronic feeder (P < 0.001), and tended to be displaced from the feeder queue more often (P < 0.1) in the dynamic group. Sows with low social status were also displaced from the drinker more often than highranking sows in the dynamic group (P < 0.01). This may have led to the greater frequency of drinking behaviour shown by low-ranking sows (P < 0.05). Sows with low social status were observed less often in the kennel areas than were the high-ranking sows in the dynamic group (P < 0.05), suggesting that they were denied access to the prime lying areas. The results suggest that the welfare of sows is negatively affected by low social status in both small static and large dynamic groups.
An Investigation of Integration Debt in Continuous Integration - A design science study

Continuous integration is a commonly used method in software development. It is used to improve the development process by prescribing frequent code integration and testing and thereby creating a mechanism for early feedback. To optimize the use of continuous integration in large scale development in regards to code integration, this study introduced a new term called integration debt. The concept is borrowed from the notion of technical debt, applied to continuous integration and the factors that are involved in this integration debt (which happens due to unintegrated code) are investigated. In this study, a set of integration debt factors is defined and the relationships between the factors are mapped and analyzed. This is done through design science research methodology where the artifact is the mapping of integration debt factors and the set of factors itself. Using various data gathering methods, a set of factors that are involved in integration debt are identified and validated. These factors were lines of code in commits, the number of modified files in commits, code churn, frequency of commits, code dependency, development overlap and lastly the factors related to the organization’s CI system. Additionally, this study investigates, and evaluates, a potential threshold value for one of the factors where the threshold is for when that factor reaches a significant risk to integration. Defining a general and accurate threshold proved to be difficult which suggests that integration debt factor thresholds require significant effort to define. This could perhaps be investigated further in future research. Consequently, the findings of this research study build a foundation for integration debt and how it could be mapped and measured. This can aid companies that work with large scale development, to better manage the integration debt level across their project by taking appropriate actions to avoid large accumulated debt levels. This potentially lowers the costs for companies and reduces the extra effort required to resolve integration problems during development.
The Impact of Age, Gender, and Educational level on the Cybersecurity Behaviors of Tertiary Institution Students: An Empirical investigation on Malaysian Universities

A lot of cybersecurity breaches occur due to human errors. Tertiary institutions need to enhance students’ cybersecurity awareness and capabilities, hence promoting safe cybersecurity behaviors. Socio-psychological factors affects students’ cybersecurity behaviors. We explore to what extent age, gender and educational level, plays a role in mediating the factors affecting tertiary institution students’ cybersecurity behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 340 students and Structural Equation Modelling was employed for evaluating impacts. Data analysis was conducted via SPSS (V.25). Results show that students cybersecurity behaviors varies based on Age for factors such as: Perceived Severity, Peer Behavior, Familiarity with Cyber Threats, Response Efficacy and Perceived Vulnerability. Gender effects existed in Security Self Efficacy, Computer Skills, Cybersecurity Behaviors, Perceived Severity, and little effects in Prior Experiences with Computer Security Practices. Educational level differences existed in Cues to Action and Familiarity with Cyber-Threats. Age, gender and educational level are important factors in mediating students’ cybersecurity behaviors. Practically, our findings can instigate the need for specific/focused cybersecurity training and interventions for students in the tertiary institutions. It can also help cybersecurity training units in the tertiary institutions to target very vital components of cybersecurity behavior model, hence improving the cybersecurity behaviors of the students.
Intraoperative post-conization human papillomavirus testing: an earlier predictive factor of recurrences in patients treated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is now the better predictive factor of recurrent disease during follow-up in women operated for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3. The time between the surgery and the first HPV test depends on the surgical margins: 6 months (if margins are negative) and 4 months (if margins are positive). So, we have to wait a considerable time to know if the virus is still present after the treatment. Purpose: The aim of the present work is to determine if the effectiveness of human papillomavirus testing performed in the same surgical procedure (immediately after the conization), is the same in comparison to human papillomavirus testing performed after 4-6 months of the operation. In this way, cases with recurrent disease during follow-up would be earlier predicted. Design: Prospective, observational and multicentric study. Population: Women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grades 2-3 undergoing cervical conization in a public hospital located in the province of Girona, between 2017 and 2020. Methods: An endocervical sample will be obtained intraoperatively with a cytobrush from the cervix remaining after the conization. The material will be kept in Specimen Transport Medium and processed using the commercially available Hybrid Capture System. Patients will be followed-up for 3 years. The intraoperative HPV test will be compared with HPV test at 4 and 6 months. It will also be compared with the conventional cone margins indicator of recurrences
Pricing efficiency of Saudi exchange traded funds (ETFs)

This paper aims to investigate the pricing efficiency of Saudi Sharia-compliant (i.e. Islamic) exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ,The paper adheres to a positivist research philosophy with a deductive research approach where data is collected, analyzed and interpreted to examine a hypothesis. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions are applied to investigate pricing efficiency and persistence. ,The results show that Saudi ETFs do not currently offer proper diversification for investors, possibly due to their low trading volumes and the delays of market prices in reflecting net asset value (NAV). On average, ETFs trade at a premium to their NAVs. Moreover, the authors find that the deviations of ETF prices from their NAVs (i.e. premiums or discounts) do not disappear in one day. The results reveal a significant positive relationship between the trading volume of Saudi ETFs and volatility, a significant positive correlation between ETF returns and contemporaneous deviations and a significant negative relationship between returns and lagged deviations. These findings can be interpreted as evidence against the market efficiency of Saudi ETFs. ,Individual and institutional investors can use Saudi ETFs, especially as their efficiency improves with increased trading volume (liquidity). Saudi regulators must increase their efforts to educate market participants and expand the availability of information to enhance transparency and awareness of the benefits of investing in ETFs, which will positively affect liquidity and pricing efficiency in the future. ,This paper is the first to perform empirical tests on Saudi ETFs. Saudi Arabia deserves further attention because it is the most significant stock market in the Gulf Cooperation Council and only recently allowed foreigners to participate.
Immunohistopathologic Study On The Ameliorative Effect Of Propolis Against Fluoride Cytotoxicity On Rabbit Buck Fertility

Sodium Fluoride, propolis; reproductive toxicity, immunohistopathology. Fluoride is a highly electronegative anion with cumulative toxic effects causing reproductive dysfunction and increase in reactive oxygen species production in different organs including testis. Propolis is a honeybee product that has an antioxidant property. The aim of this study was to elucidate the protective effects of propolis against reproductive toxicity induced by sodium fluoride (NaF) in male rabbits (buck). Four experimental groups receiving a combination of sodium fluoride (10 mg/ kg body weight/day) and/or propolis (25 mg/ kg body weight/day) for 70-day was divided as follows: non treated (control), sodium fluoride alone, propolis alone and sod fluoride + propolis. Sodium fluoride caused a decrease in testes and epididymis weights as well as serum testosterone and accompanied with disturbances in semen quality and quantity, compared to control group. Similarly, histopathological results revealed that NaF caused alterations in the testes, epididymis and prostate gland. There was intensive positive immunoreactivity for caspase3 (dark brown granules) was observed in the cytoplasm of germinal cells, Sertoli cells and Leydig cells of NaF treated group compared with the control that indicating the severity of its toxicity in testes. On the other hand, testicular cells of NaF in combination with propolis treated group showed apparent reduction of caspase-3 immunoreactivity to be more or less similar to the control group. Administration of propolis either alone or combined with NaF ameliorated these toxic effects. Testis of control group and propolis only revealed negative or low caspase3 immunohistochemical reactivity. In conclusion, propolis reduced the oxidative stress toxicity induced by fluoride in the reproductive system of male albino rabbits Correspondence to: drabeerwama@yahoo.com
Impact of Diabetes on Complications, Long Term Mortality and Recurrence in 608,890 Hospitalised Patients with Stroke

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have been found to be at an increased risk of suffering a stroke. However, research on the impact of DM on stroke outcomes is limited. Objectives: We aimed to examine the influence of DM on outcomes in ischaemic (IS) and haemorrhagic stroke (HS) patients. Methods: We included 608,890 consecutive stroke patients from the Thailand national insurance registry. In-hospital mortality, sepsis, pneumonia, acute kidney injury (AKI), urinary tract infection (UTI) and cardiovascular events were evaluated using logistic regressions. Long-term analysis was performed on first-stroke patients with a determined pathology (n = 398,663) using Royston-Parmar models. Median follow-ups were 4.21 and 4.78 years for IS and HS, respectively. All analyses were stratified by stroke sub-type. Results: Mean age (SD) was 64.3 (13.7) years, 44.9% were female with 61% IS, 28% HS and 11% undetermined strokes. DM was associated with in-hospital death, pneumonia, sepsis, AKI and cardiovascular events (odds ratios ranging from 1.13–1.78, p < 0.01) in both stroke types. In IS, DM was associated with long-term mortality and recurrence throughout the follow-up: HRmax (99% CI) at t = 4108 days: 1.54 (1.27, 1.86) and HR (99% CI) = 1.27(1.23,1.32), respectively. In HS, HRmax (t = 4108 days) for long-term mortality was 2.10 (1.87, 2.37), significant after day 14 post-discharge. HRmax (t = 455) for long-term recurrence of HS was 1.29 (1.09, 1.53), significant after day 116 post-discharge. Conclusions: Regardless of stroke type, DM was associated with in-hospital death and complications, long-term mortality and stroke recurrence.
A potential link between early language developmental milestones and personality traits in adulthood

Background: Although plausible links between language development and personality have been suggested, longitudinal studies of these associations into adulthood have not been conducted. Aim: To investigate whether children’s age at attaining language milestones is associated with later adult personality. Methods: Mothers’ of 8,400 children from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort recorded six language milestones during the child’s first 3 years of life. Information on at least one language milestone was available for two subsamples with adult follow-up information on personality: The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire was available for 691 individuals with a mean age of 27.5 years and The NEO Five-Factor Inventory was available for 902 individuals with a mean age of 50.0 years. Results: Faster attainment of language milestones was associated with lower neuroticism in young adulthood and with higher extraversion and openness to experience in midlife. A total of 1.9% of the variance in neuroticism, 2.5% of the variance in extraversion, and 1.6% of the variance in openness to experience was explained by language milestones. Conclusion: Only a modest part of variance in personality traits was explained by language milestones. However, the study adds to the literature on potential consequences of the timing of language development and suggests a link between language milestones and personality in adulthood.
Stopping powers and inelastic mean free path from quantitative analysis of experimental REELS spectra for electrons in Ti, Fe, Ni, and Pd

Stopping power (SP) and inelastic mean free path (IMFP) of electrons in Ti, Fe, Ni, and Pd have been determined by using dielectric models. We have used energy loss function (ELF) determined from quantitative analysis of experimental reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) spectra as the input parameter for this model. ELF in this study was determined from the previously published quantitative analysis of REELS spectra. The SP of Fe, Ni, Pd, and Ti was compared with several calculation methods for energies from 100 eV to 10 keV and shows SP in this study, which are in best agreement for medium to high energies (greater than or equal to 300 eV). The IMFP obtained in this study shows the best agreement with online database TPP2M and NIST and also calculation by Tanuma with a root mean square (rms) less than 12%. The present approach shows ELF from quantitative analysis of REELS spectra has a high potential for the experimental determination of SP and IMFP of metals.
Does increased neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio predict autism spectrum disorder?

Objective: Although autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most studied neurodevelopmental disorders, its etiology has not been fully elucidated. A growing body of evidence suggest the role of neuroinflammation in the etiology of ASD. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers of systemic inflammation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate NLR and PLR in children with ASD comparison to healthy controls. Methods: We reviewed the medical files of children with ASD in the ages of 2 to 5. The ASD group were consisted of drug-naive 64 children who had complete blood count within a month of assessment. Age and sex matched 64 healthy children without any psychiatric disorders were recruited from the healthy child outpatient unit of the hospital. Results: NLRs were significantly higher in ASD. Children with ASD had significantly higher neutrophil counts but lower platelet and lymphocyte counts compared to those of healthy controls. NLR was found to be a predictor of ASD. Conclusions: Increased NLRs support the hypothesis of the involvement of neuroinflammation in the under-lying physiopathology of ASD. Even though recent evidence is not enough to suggest that in young children increased NLR levels may be used as screening and early intervention predictor, it should be kept in mind and may inspire new studies. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample size and homogeneous groups regarding the age and subtypes may clarify the inflammatory involvement in ASD.