Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning-based catheter and guidewire-driven autonomous vascular intervention robotic system for reduced repulsive force

Manual vascular intervention radiology (VIR) procedures have been performed under radiation exposure conditions, and many commercial master-slave VIR robot systems have recently been developed to overcome this issue. However, master-slave VIR robot systems still have limitations. The operator must reside near the master device and control the slave robot using only the master device. In addition, the operator must simultaneously process the recognition of the surgical tool from the X-ray image while operating the master device. To overcome the limitations of master-slave VIR robot systems, we propose an autonomous VIR robot system with a deep learning algorithm that excludes the master device. The proposed autonomous VIR robot with a deep learning algorithm drives surgical tools to the target blood vessel location while simultaneously performing surgical tool recognition. The proposed autonomous VIR robot system detects the location of the surgical tool based on a supervised learning algorithm, and controls the surgical tools based on a reinforcement-learning algorithm. Experiments are conducted using two types of vascular phantoms to verify the effectiveness of the proposed autonomous VIR robot system. The experimental results of the vascular phantom show a comparison between the master-slave VIR robot system and the proposed autonomous VIR robot system in terms of the repulsive force, task completion time, and success rate during the operation. The proposed autonomous VIR robot system is shown to exhibit a significant reduction in repulsive force and a 96% success ratio based on a vascular phantom.
Modelling the Adsorption of Arsenic from Water and Wastewater using Microsoft Excel Solver and SPSS

Arsenic (As) poisoning is toxic to human organs and tissues (the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems). This paper focused on the modelling fittings of removal of As from water and typical industrial wastewaters through adsorption. Equilibrium isotherm parameters were determined using Microsoft Excel Solver (MES) and SPSS methods. The study revealed that equilibrium isotherms for As adsorption from aqueous solutions can be grouped into two based on the values of correlation coefficient (R2) as follows: adsorption equilibrium isotherms with R2 greater than 0.95 and R2 less than 0.95. Microsoft Excel Solver method was found to be as accurate as SPSS method based MSC, CD, R and AIC. The study concluded that MES can be used for model fitting based on accuracy and cost (at no additional cost of purchase and installation unlike SPSS).
Antiviral and Antibacterial Effect of Honey Enriched with Rubus spp. as a Functional Food with Enhanced Antioxidant Properties

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of blackberry and raspberry fruits (1 and 4%) and leaves (0.5 and 1%) on the biological activities of rape honey. Honey and plant material extracts were analyzed regarding total phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents, HPTLC and HPLC polyphenol profiles, as well as antioxidant activity. The antiviral potential was analyzed against bacteriophage phi 6—a coronavirus surrogate—whereas antimicrobial was tested against S. aureus and E. coli. Blackberry extracts were more abundant in antioxidants than raspberry extracts, with better properties found for leaves than fruits and for cultivated rather than commercial plants. The addition of both Rubus plant additives significantly increased the antioxidant potential of honey by four-fold (for 4% fruits additive) to five-fold (for 1% of leaves). Honey with the addition of fruits possessed higher antiviral potential compared with raw rape honey (the highest for 4% of raspberry fruit and 1% of blackberry leaf additive). Honey enriched with Rubus materials showed higher antibacterial potential against S. aureus than rape honey and effectively inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation. To summarize, honey enriched with Rubus fruit or leaves are characterized by increased pro-health value and can be recommended as a novel functional food.
Modellierung des Ensembleverhaltens von sedimentierenden Hydrometeoren mittels Momentenverfahren

For the treament of clouds and precipitation in weatherforecast or climate models, a direct spectral representation of the microphysical processes is computationally infeasible. Therefore, their effects have to be considered in an approximative, parameterised way. It is then possible that the model results are not sensible in a cloud microphysics context. In order to avoid this, in this dissertation a new parameterisation of sedimentation (two moment method) is developed and tested in a 1D model. The parameterisation is based on a hydrometeor distribution with bounded domain and is implemented in two ways: 1) truncated Gamma-distribution: compared to already existing parameterisations, the model results are considerably improved (for drops as well as for ice crystals). Investigations include the computation time, the sensitivity of the results on the upper hydrometeor size limit and an optimisation concerning this limit. The development of a rain cloud is simulated by adding drop collisions to the test case. 2) Beta-distribution: It contains an additional free parameter. Its diagnostic relationship has a strong impact on the results.
Endothelial Dysfunction, Erectile Deficit and Cardiovascular Disease: An Overview of the Pathogenetic Links

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition with multifactorial pathogenesis, quite common among men, especially those above 60 years old. A vascular etiology is the most common cause. The interaction between chronic inflammation, androgens, and cardiovascular risk factors determines macroscopically invisible alterations such as endothelial dysfunction and subsequent atherosclerosis and flow-limiting stenosis that affects both penile and coronary arteries. Thus, ED and cardiovascular disease (CVD) should be considered two different manifestations of the same systemic disorder, with a shared aetiological factor being endothelial dysfunction. Moreover, the penile arteries have a smaller size compared with coronary arteries; thus, for the same level of arteriopathy, a more significant blood flow reduction will occur in erectile tissue compared with coronary circulation. As a result, ED often precedes CVD by 2–5 years, and its diagnosis offers a time window for cardiovascular risk mitigation. Growing evidence suggests, in fact, that patients presenting with ED should be investigated for CVD even if they have no symptoms. Early detection could facilitate prompt intervention and a reduction in long-term complications. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathogenetic mechanisms behind arteriogenic ED and CVD, focusing on the role of endothelial dysfunction as the common denominator of the two disorders. Developed algorithms that may help identify those patients complaining of ED who should undergo detailed cardiologic assessment and receive intensive treatment for risk factors are also analyzed.
Fe2O3-GaSb Synthesis as coaxial Nanowires for Optical Applications

: A theoretical study shows the effect of the Gallium antimonide (GaSb) shell on several visual properties of the Iron (III) oxide (ferric oxide) Fe 2 O 3 core as a nanowire using the Mie-Lorentz Scattering theory. The thickness of GaSb shell was fixed at around 20 nm with Fe 2 O 3 core diameter of 20 nm. The study indicated that the nanowires of the Iron (III) oxide core have transmittance approximately 95% in the visible spectrum. Absorbance and low absorption coefficient in the Infrared (IR) are observed. Electronic transitions of the allowed direct type by the coaxial nanowire and reducing in the energy gap after adding the shell around the Fe 2 O 3 to energy gap about 1.7 eV are also seen.
Unravelling the Adaptation Mechanisms to High Pressure in Proteins

Life is thought to have appeared in the depth of the sea under high hydrostatic pressure. Nowadays, it is known that the deep biosphere hosts a myriad of life forms thriving under high-pressure conditions. However, the evolutionary mechanisms leading to their adaptation are still not known. Here, we show the molecular bases of these mechanisms through a joint structural and dynamical study of two orthologous proteins. We observed that pressure adaptation involves the decoupling of protein–water dynamics and the elimination of cavities in the protein core. This is achieved by rearranging the charged residues on the protein surface and using bulkier hydrophobic residues in the core. These findings will be the starting point in the search for a complete genomic model explaining high-pressure adaptation.
The impact of cash holding on stock returns in small and medium enterprises on the Egyptian Nile Stock Exchange

This paper explores the impact of cash holdings on stock returns in small and medium enterprises. The sample includes 24 SMEs listed on the Egyptian Nile Exchange, excluding service firms, with a total of 96 observations from 2016 to 2019. Data was collected from financial statements and reports obtained through an information dissemination company in Egypt. This study uses a panel data analysis with comparing all results via ordinary least squares and the generalized method of moments. The findings show a statistically significant negative effect of cash holding on stock returns in small and medium enterprises on the Egyptian Nile Exchange. Further, the evidence shows that firms with higher levels of cash holding have higher investment alternatives and then lower stock returns. This result supports the agency theory that an increase in cash holding leads to managers exploiting cash resources to achieve personal benefits, thus increasing agency costs, lowering investment efficiency, and therefore lowering stock returns. The results support the trade-off between risk and return by using cash holding to finance operational activities and investing in higher investment alternatives and then lower stock returns.
Cryopreservation of Pig Semen Using a Quercetin-Supplemented Freezing Extender

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during freeze–thaw procedures cause oxidative damage to the sperm, reducing fertility. We aimed to improve the post-thaw quality of pig sperm by quercetin (QRN) supplementation to reduce the cryodamage associated with the freeze–thaw procedure. Four equal aliquots of pooled boar semen were diluted with a freezing extender supplemented with different concentrations of QRN (0, 25, 50, and 100 µM) and then were subjected to cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen. Semen analysis was performed following 7 days of cryopreservation. Results demonstrated that the semen samples supplemented with 50 µM QRN significantly improved the post-thaw sperm quality than those subjected to other supplementations (p < 0.05). Semen samples supplemented with 50 µM QRN showed significantly improved plasma membrane functional integrity (47.5 ± 1.4 vs. 43.1 ± 4.1, 45.3 ± 1.7, and 44.1 ± 1.4) and acrosome integrity (73.6 ± 3.4 vs. 66.3 ± 2.4, 66.7 ± 3.6, and 68.3 ± 32.9) as compared to the control, 25 µM, and 100 µM QRN groups, respectively. The mitochondrial activity of the 50 µM QRN group was greater than control and 25 µM QRN groups (43.0 ± 1.0 vs. 39.1 ± 0.9 and 41.9 ± 1.0) but showed no difference with the 100 µM QRN group. Moreover, the 50 µM QRN group showed a higher sperm number displaced to 1 cm and 3 cm points in the artificial mucus than other groups. Therefore, supplementing the freezing extender with QRN can serve as an effective tool to reduce the magnitude of oxidative damage associated with sperm freezing.
The impact of housing design and quality on wellbeing: lived experiences of the home during COVID-19 in London

ABSTRACT COVID-19 has heightened awareness of how housing design and quality can dramatically impact the mental and physical wellbeing of an individual. Adding to existing housing problems, long-term demographic changes, and failures in building maintenance as well as safety and housing design standards, the pandemic has exacerbated existing housing inequalities. Through 50 in-depth interviews with London residents conducted in early 2021, the paper studies how experiences of changing home uses and perception of the quality and design of domestic space affected the wellbeing of participants during the pandemic. The paper focuses on design-related housing aspects such as environmental comfort, the agency to make changes to a home, notions of privacy and security, and a lack of space. This reveals how changes in domestic use and future housing preferences might have a long-term impact on dwelling design. The wide-ranging lived experiences and subjective perceptions of the home call for a more inclusive approach to housing and social policies that consider the value of architectural design. Based on the findings and discussion, the paper concludes with housing design policy recommendations that should be taken into account to improve future housing quality and design.
Proximate Drivers of Population-Level Lizard Gut Microbial Diversity: Impacts of Diet, Insularity, and Local Environment

Diet has been suggested to be an important driver of variation in microbiota composition in mammals. However, whether this is a more general phenomenon and how fast changes in gut microbiota occur with changes in diet remains poorly understood. Forty-nine years ago, ten lizards of the species Podarcis siculus were taken from the island of Pod Kopište and introduced onto the island of Pod Mrčaru (Croatia). The introduced population underwent a significant dietary shift, and their descendants became omnivorous (consuming up to 80% plant material during summer). Variation in their gut microbiota has never been investigated. To elucidate the possible impact on the gut microbiota of this rapid change in diet, we compared the microbiota (V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene) of P. siculus from Pod Mrčaru, Pod Kopište, and the mainland. In addition, we explored other drivers of variation in gut microbiota including insularity, the population of origin, and the year of sampling. Alpha-diversity analyses showed that the microbial diversity of omnivorous lizards was higher than the microbial diversity of insectivorous lizards. Moreover, omnivorous individuals harbored significantly more Methanobrevibacter. The gut microbial diversity of insectivorous lizards was nonetheless more heterogeneous. Insectivorous lizards on the mainland had different gut microbial communities than their counterparts on the island of Pod Kopište. Bacillus and Desulfovibrio were more abundant in the gut microbiota from insular lizards compared to mainland lizards. Finally, we showed that the population of origin was also an important driver of the composition of the gut microbiota. The dietary shift that occurred in the introduced population of P. siculus has had a detectable impact on the gut microbiota, but other factors such as insularity and the population of origin also contributed to differences in the gut microbial composition of these lizards, illustrating the multifactorial nature of the drivers of variation in gut microbiota. Overall, our data show that changes in gut microbiota may take place on ecological timescales. Yet, diet is only one of many factors driving variation in gut microbiota across populations.
Inflow Layer Energetics of Hurricane Bonnie (1998) near Landfall

Abstract On 26 August 1998, a NOAA WP-3D aircraft executed a curved track that mimics an inflow trajectory to the eyewall of Hurricane Bonnie. Global positioning system (GPS) sondes and airborne expendable bathythermographs jettisoned along the trajectory provide the observations to conduct an energy budget for the 1600-m-deep inflow to the eyewall. Surface fluxes are estimated via the bulk aerodynamic equations and the flux at the top of the inflow is solved as a residual. From 170- to 125-km radial distance from the circulation center the mean θe of the inflow remains constant despite combined sensible and latent surface fluxes in excess of 500 W m−2. Convective cells remove energy from the inflow boundary layer at a rate similar to the inputs from the sea. From 125 to 100 km, in the annulus adjacent to the eyewall, mean θe increases 4.5 K in response to higher surface fluxes and little loss through the inflow top. Energy balance may be achieved by either entrainment of higher θe through the top of the .
Contraceptive awareness and practices in reproductive age couples: A study from urban slums of Punjab

Introduction: Developing countries are characterised by high birth rates and explosive population growth. With a lower contraceptive usage rate among eligible couples and resistance towards family planning methods, the goal of population stabilisation looks distant. The present study was conceived to assess knowledge, attitude and practices regarding contraceptive usage and to identify the barriers in reproductive-age couples in an urban slum area. Methods: The present study was cross-sectional in nature and was conducted in an urban slum. Three hundred married subjects were enrolled through a convenient sampling technique. One member of the married couple was interviewed for the present study. Data were collected through a semi-structured proforma. Results: 67% of the participants were using one or another contraceptive. Higher contraceptive usage was seen in more educated participants. Awareness was higher in males regarding contraception. Condom was the most known method for contraception. Three fourth of the participants agreed with two-child norm. Preference for a male child was less than 50% in both genders. Current users of condoms and oral contraceptive pills were 71.8% and 7.1%, respectively. Wanting children, fear of side effects and lack of knowledge were cited as reasons for not choosing family planning methods. Conclusion: With a suboptimal level of awareness and attitude among respondents regarding contraceptive methods, there exists a gap between awareness and practice. Misconceptions regarding contraceptive methods can be allayed through health education, involvement of the community and religious leaders and peer counselling.
DEVELOPING VIDEO OF SET MATERIALS USING BANDICAM AS LEARNING MEDIA AMID PANDEMIC

Students have difficulty in understanding Mathematical concepts because the instructional media are difficult to understand. It is necessary to have instructional media that is attractive, comprehensive and supports online learning. Bandicam software offers a chance for teachers to create an interesting instructional video that supports online learning. Based on the aim, Research and Development (R&D) with a 4-D development is used. The sample was the seventh grade of SMP Muhammadiyah Ambarawa that learned about Set Material. The results showed that instructional video using Bandicam software was identified as feasible as an online instructional media. The results of the expert's assessment found that the average score from the set material expert was 82.33%, and from the media, the expert was 85.09%. The results of the trial stated that the students’ average using the instructional video was 82.61%. Based on the expert and student's assessment, it can be concluded that instructional video using Bandicam software is suitable as an online instructional media.
Female Preference for Males Varies with Resource Availability for Reproduction in the Freshwater Goby Tridentiger brevispinis

Animals with resource-based breeding systems show varying sexual selection modes driven by resource availability. Males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis (Pisces: Gobiidae), which are larger, with a longer dorsal-fin, than females, make nests under stones, and provide exclusive parental care of eggs in the nests. For this goby, the nest sites are crucial resources for reproduction. Laboratory experiments that controlled for nest-site abundance were conducted to investigate the effects of nest-site availability on male-male competition and female mate choice. Nest-holding males were on average larger than the average size of all males combined under conditions of low nest-site availability. This result indicates a greater advantage for large males in intrasexual competition for nest sites under conditions of low nest-site availability. Furthermore, egg-guarding males under conditions of low nest-site availability were larger than nest-holding males without eggs. Under conditions of high nest-site availability, the dorsal-fin length of nest-holding males with eggs were longer than those without eggs. These findings suggest that female preference for mates varies qualitatively with nest-site availability. This variation in female preference might result from mate availability that depends upon nest-site availability. The current study concludes that in nest-spawning fishes, nest-site availability can affect the intensity of male-male competition and cause variations of female preference for mates.
Dynamics and metallicity of far-infrared selected galaxies

We present near-infrared integral field spectroscopy of ten Herschel selected galaxies at z~1.5. From detailed mapping of the H$\alpha$ and [NII] emission lines we trace the dynamics, star formation rates, metallicities and also investigate gas fractions for these galaxies. For a few galaxies the distribution of star formation as traced by H$\alpha$ only traces a small fraction of the stellar disc, which could be tracing recent minor merging events. The rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) continuum emission often has a distribution completely different from H$\alpha$, which warns about the use of UV-SED based star formation tracers in these systems. Our analysis of galaxy dynamics shows that minor dynamical disruptions (e.g. minor merging) are generally not enough to cause a deviation from the established 'Main Sequence' relation. Most galaxies are found to follow the fundamental metallicity relation (FMR), although with large scatter. One galaxy, (a small satellite galaxy of a massive companion) is found to deviate strongly from the FMR. This deviation is in nice agreement with the correlation recently discovered in local galaxies between gas metallicity and environment, which has been ascribed to enriched inter-galactic medium (IGM) in dense environments, and therefore suggests that here the IGM was already significantly enriched by z~1.5.