Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DefED-Net: Deformable Encoder-Decoder Network for Liver and Liver Tumor Segmentation

Deep convolutional neural networks have been widely used for medical image segmentation due to their superiority in feature learning. Although these networks are successful for simple object segmentation tasks, they suffer from two problems for liver and liver tumor segmentation in CT images. One is that convolutional kernels of fixed geometrical structure are unmatched with livers and liver tumors of irregular shapes. The other is that pooling and strided convolutional operations easily lead to the loss of spatial contextual information of images. To address these issues, we propose a deformable encoder-decoder network (DefED-Net) for liver and liver tumor segmentation. The proposed network makes two contributions: 1) the deformable convolution is used to enhance the feature representation capability of DefED-Net, which can help the network to learn convolution kernels with adaptive spatial structuring information and 2) we design a ladder-atrous-spatial-pyramid-pooling (Ladder-ASPP) module using multiscale dilation rate (Ladder-ASPP) and apply the module to learn better context information than the atrous spatial pyramid pooling for CT image segmentation. The proposed DefED-Net is evaluated on two public benchmark datasets, the LiTS, and the 3DIRCADb. Experiments demonstrate that the DefED-Net has better capability of feature representation as well as provides higher accuracy on liver and liver tumor segmentation than state-of-the-art networks. The available code of DefED-Net we propose can be found from https://github.com/SUST-reynole/DefED-Net.
Ontogenetic Habitat Use and Density of the Green Lizard (Lacerta bilineata) in Contrasted Landscapes in France and Italy

Habitat modification is a major factor in the decline of reptile populations. The degree of the decline has been shown to be directly related to the intensity of habitat modification. Farming practices and urbanization are just two of the factors involved indicating that the development of practices that minimize or cancel anthropogenic impacts is urgently needed to prevent further declines. This requires knowledge of population ecology of reptiles in both disturbed and pristine habitats. In this paper, we describe aspects of green lizard (Lacerta bilineata) population ecology in a forest–pasture relatively pristine mosaic habitat in central Italy and a fragmented habitat in western France. In Italy, habitat niche overlap was very high between males and females but very low between males and juveniles. For male and female abundances, general linear models showed that the adult abundances increased with the increase of Rubus bushes, whereas juvenile abundance increased with the increase of Spartium bushes. Contingency table analysis showed that juveniles were also much more frequently observed in grasslands than adults of either sexes. The observed ontogenetic structural niche pattern was likely due to intraspecific competition avoidance, competition interference, and cannibalism. The persistence of the same patterns across years demonstrates a temporal stability of the ontogenetic structural niche pattern. Over the length of the study period, population densities were stable in the Italian population, but densities were much higher by around five times in the hedgerow in the fragmented habitat in France. In the hedgerow, monthly lizard presence was uneven, with the greatest number of sightings in June and July. Overall, our study provided no support for the notion that lizard abundance/density should be lower in modified compared to unmodified habitats, and clearly revealed that a careful management of the hedgerows is crucial for the conservation of this lizard species in agro-forest ecosystems.
False resultatives: The interaction of agreement and creation in Northern Galilee Levantine Arabic

Arabic dialects in general do not allow resultatives. We present here novel data from a dialect of Levantine Arabic, Northern Galilee Arabic, which show that Arabic does have a subtype of resultatives: false resultatives (Rapoport 1999; Mateu 2000; Zarka 2019). The false resultative predicates in this dialect of Arabic exhibit two different agreement patterns. We claim that the difference in agreement derives from the element modified, as dictated by the distinct structures projected by two different verb types that are distinguished here: explicit creation and implicit creation (Geuder 2000; Levinson 2010). The agreement patterns in Northern Galilee Arabic thus demonstrate a grammatical parallel to the conceptual distinction between two creation verb types.
Quantifying the Training and Match-Play External and Internal Load of Elite Gaelic Football Players

The current investigation quantified the training and match-play load of elite Gaelic football players across a two-season period using global positioning system technology (GPS), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and sessional rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). Total weekly workload variables were collected across GPS, RPE, and sRPE across thirty-six elite Gaelic footballers (mean ± SD, age: 26 ± 5 years; height: 177 ± 8 cm; mass: 81 ± 7 kg) from one elite squad during a two-season observational period. External training load variables included: Total distance (m), High speed running (m; ≥ 17.1 km·h−1), Sprint distance (m; 22 km·h−1), Accelerations (n), Average metabolic power (W·kg−1), High-power distance (m; ≥ 25 W·kg−1). Internal load variables included: sRPE and RPE. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to understand the differences in loading patterns across phases, position, and week types when significant main effects were observed a Tukey’s post hoc test was applied and standardized effect sizes were calculated to understand the practical meaning of these differences. When total weekly loading across phases was considered total load was significantly greater in club 1 and provincial 1 with these phases showing the highest loading for players when compared to all other phases (p ≤ 0.001; ES: 2.95–7.22; very large). Furthermore, in-season 1 was greater for total loading when compared to in-season 2 and both championship phases (p ≤ 0.05; ES: 0.47–0.54; small). Total distance in training was greater during preseason 1 when compared to all other phases of the season (p ≤ 0.001; ES: 2.95–7.22; very large). During the in-season period, training based total distance was higher during provincial 1 when compared to other phases with similar trends across all measures (p ≤ 0.005). Finally, a positional profile for load measures was observed, with weekly context (match or non-match) having an impact on the internal and external loading players experienced across phases. The current data provide useful information for practitioners on the training periodization currently present within the elite Gaelic football training process. Specifically, the data provide positional profiles of loading across weekly and segmented phased of an elite Gaelic football season. These data can increase understanding as to the periods of increased and decreased loading across different phases of an elite Gaelic football season, while providing a framework for future analysis concerning Gaelic football periodization.
Population health surveillance using mobile telephone surveys in low- and middle-income countries: methodology and sample representativeness of a behavioural risk factor survey of live poultry exposure in Bangladesh

BackgroundIn low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), population-based health surveys are typically conducted using face-to-face household interviews. However, telephone-based surveys are cheaper, faster, and can provide greater access to hard to reach or remote populations. The rapid growth in mobile telephone ownership in LMICs provides a unique opportunity to implement novel data collection methods for population health surveys. This study describes the methodology, development, and population representativeness of a mobile telephone survey measuring live poultry exposure in urban Bangladesh.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional mobile telephone survey was conducted between September and November 2019 in North and South Dhaka City Corporations (DCC), Bangladesh to measure live poultry exposure using a stratified probability sampling design. Data were collected using a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) platform. Call operational data were summarized, and participant data were weighted by age, sex, and education to the 2011 census. Demographic distributions of the weighted sample were compared with external sources to assess population representativeness.ResultsA total of 5486 unique mobile telephone numbers were dialled, with 1047 respondents completing the survey. The survey had an overall response rate of 52.4% and a cooperation rate of 89.0%. Initial results comparing the socio-demographic profile of the survey sample to the census population showed that mobile telephone sampling slightly underrepresented older individuals and overrepresented those with higher secondary education. After weighting, the demographic profile of the sample population was well matched to the latest DCC census population profile. ConclusionsProbability-based mobile telephone survey sampling and data collection methods produced a population-representative sample with minimal adjustment in DCC, Bangladesh. Mobile telephone-based surveys can offer an efficient, economic, and robust way to conduct surveillance for population health outcomes, which has important implications for improving population health surveillance in LMICs.
Developments in Laboratory Evaluation of Sewage Sludges Dewaterability

Literature review shows that particle size distribution, water distribution and rbeological properties can play an important role in the evaluation of dewatering performance. Following a previous study on relationships between Theological parameters and filterability parameters, work has been addressed to the understanding of the influence of particle size and water distribution on specific resistance to filtration. Tests were carried out on different types of sludge (raw, digested, conditioned). Two substantially different techniques for measuring the particle size distribution were used, showing that the mechanical technique (sieving) resulted in larger particle sizes than the optical (laser diffraction). Results showed that particle size distributions play a role in describing sludge filterability.
Preliminary Analysis of the Use of Construction Waste to Replace Conventional Aggregates in Concrete

This work aims to study the influence of using construction and demolition waste in the replacement of coarse and fine aggregate to produce recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). A moderate compressive strength concrete made with usual fine and coarse aggregate was used as a benchmark material. Compressive and split tensile tests were performed using 120 cylindrical concrete specimens with 150 mm diameter and 300 mm length. Four-point flexural tests in reinforced beams made with conventional concrete and RAC were performed. The results obtained showed that the use of recycled fine aggregates, in both percentages of substitution investigated—50% and 100%—did not generate any deleterious influence on the values of compressive strength and split tensile strength of the RACs produced. Tin fact, the mechanical strengths of RACs produced with recycled fine aggregate were equal or higher than those from the reference concrete. The same behavior was not observed, however, when the recycled coarse aggregate was used. For this case, decreases in concrete mechanical strengths were observed, especially in compressive strength, with values around 35% lower when compared to the reference concrete. Tensile mechanical tests results confirmed the excellent behavior of all RACs made with replacement of usual fine aggregates by recycled. Bending tests performed in reinforced RAC beams had as objective to evaluate the deformation profile of the beams. The obtained results showed that RAC beams with full replacement of usual fine aggregate by the recycled aggregates have presented little changes in the global behavior, an aspect that encourages its use.
An Experimental Study on Prototype Lithium–Sulfur Cells for Aging Analysis and State-of-Health Estimation

Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries offer potential for higher gravimetric energy density in comparison to lithium–ion batteries. Since they behave quite different from lithium–ion batteries, distinctive approaches to state estimation and battery management are required to be developed specifically for them. This article describes an experimental work to model and perform real-time estimation of the progression of use-induced aging in prototype Li–S cells. To do that, state-of-the-art 19-Ah Li–S pouch cells were subject to cycling tests in order to determine progressive changes in parameters of a nonlinear equivalent-circuit-network (ECN) model due to aging. A state-of-health (SoH) estimation algorithm was then designed to work based on identifying ECN parameters using forgetting-factor recursive least squares (FFRLS). Two techniques, nonlinear curve fitting and support vector machine (SVM) classification, were used to generate SoH values according to the identified parameters. The results demonstrate that Li–S cell’s SoH can be estimated with an acceptable level of accuracy of 96.7% using the proposed method under realistic driving conditions. Another important outcome was that the “power fade” in Li–S cells happens at a much slower rate than the “capacity fade” which is a useful feature for applications where consistency of power delivery is important.
Awareness and Intention to Use Massive Open Online Courses by Law Students in Osun State, Nigeria

A survey was carried out among undergraduate law students in universities in Osun State, Nigeria to determine the predictive influence of awareness on intention to use Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). Proportionate stratified sampling was used to select 356 out of a population of 3269 students. A validated questionnaire with Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of 0.92 was used for data collection. A return rate of 100% was achieved. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and binary logistic regression. Findings revealed that awareness of MOOCs significantly predicted intention to use MOOCs by the students (Odds Ratio=1.894; Wald Statistics=12.413, p=0.000). Findings further revealed that a good number of the respondents intend to use MOOCs (n=264, 78.3%). The Internet (n=92) was the main source of awareness of MOOCs, but slow internet connectivity (n=254) topped the list of constraints to the use of MOOCs by the students. The study concluded that awareness of MOOCs is critical to its use by undergraduate students in universities in Osun State. It was recommended that law librarians should create awareness of MOOCs among students. Also, law administrators, council of legal education and legal educators should work with the government to improve Internet facilities in the universities to enable law students take full advantage of MOOCs platforms.
Leaf Bidirectional Transmittance Distribution Function Estimates and Models for Select Deciduous Tree Species

Remote sensing increasingly has become an important tool for forest management. In the development of forest metrics from remote-sensing data, currently many models omit the individual leaf bidirectional scattering distribution function (BSDF). Past studies, and the currently available data, often do not adequately incorporate transmission, cover the broader reflective domain, and/or incorporate models to extend to any illumination and view angle combination. We estimated broadleaf bidirectional transmittance distribution functions (BTDFs) in this study using the goniometer of the Rochester Institute of Technology-Two (GRIT-T), which records spectral data in the UV-A through shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral regions (350–2500 nm). We measured three species of large tree leaves, Norway maple (Acer platanoides), American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and northern red oak (Quercus rubra). We accurately modeled leaf BTDF with extension to any illumination angle, viewing zenith, and azimuthal angle through nonlinear regression to a physically-based microfacet BTDF. The model fit showed a mean of less than 7% normalized root-mean-squared error (NRMSE) spectrally from 450 to 2300 nm (lower and upper wavelength range omitted due to detector noise). The microfacet models provide highly useful physical quantities such as a relative roughness, index of refraction, and absorption, which are all directly related to leaf optical properties. These physical quantities have implications for plant physiology, vegetation remote sensing, and physics-based image generation. Specifically, the accuracy of radiative transfer modeling in forest canopies depends on rigorous representations of leaves, and this increase in accuracy can lead to the development of higher fidelity data processing algorithms for remote sensing. Data and programing scripts are available at- http://dx.doi. org/10.21227/yjek-2059
A Unified, Clustering-Based Framework for Detection of Spatial and Energy Anomalies in Trajectories Utilizing ADS-B Data

As air traffic demand grows, robust, data-driven anomaly detection methods are required to ensure that aviation systems become safer and more efficient. The terminal airspace is identified as the most critical airspace for both individual flight-level and system-level safety and efficiency. As such, developing data-driven anomaly detection methods to analyze terminal airspace operations is paramount. With the expansion of ADS-B technology, open-source flight tracking data has become more readily available to enable larger-scale analyses of aircraft operations. This paper makes a distinction between spatial metrics in ADS-B trajectory data and energy metrics derived from ADS-B trajectory data. Motivated by the limited number of approaches that simultaneously consider both spatial and energy metrics, this paper introduces the concepts of spatial anomalies and energy anomalies. In particular, it proposes a novel, unified framework for detection of spatial and energy anomalies in ADS-B trajectory data (and associated derived metrics). The framework consists of three main parts - a data processing procedure, a spatial anomaly detection method, and an energy anomaly detection method. The framework is demonstrated utilizing four months of ADS-B trajectory data associated with arrivals at San Francisco International Airport, and the relationship between the spatial and energy anomalies in this terminal airspace is explored. The results that stem from the implementation of this framework indicate that if an aircraft is spatially not conforming to an identified set of air traffic flows representing standard spatial operations, then this aircraft is more likely to experience non-conformance to standard operations in its energy metrics. Aviation operators, such as air traffic controllers, may benefit from this observation, as it may factor into decision-making in instances where there is the potential to instruct an aircraft to spatially deviate from standard operations. Additionally, this research revealed underlying differences between trajectories that are spatially nominal yet energy-anomalous and those trajectories that are spatially anomalous and energy-anomalous. Focusing solely on energy anomaly detection does not provide insight into potential spatial-related decisions that may have been made to result in off-nominal energy behavior.
Evaluation of Protein Sources in Different Base Formulations Based on Total and Digestible Amino Acids for Japanese Quails

The Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) rearing activity has grown considerably over the past few years. The purpose of this study was to compare diet formulations based on total (TAA) and digestible amino acids (DAA) and the use of different protein sources such as meat cum bone meal and feather meal in Japanese quails. The first three treatments were based on TAA, formulated based on corn and soybean meal (CST); meat and bone meal (CSMT); feather meal (CSMFT). The three other treatments received the same sequence of ingredients as the previous treatments; however, the diets were formulated based on digestible amino acids (DAA) (CSD, CSMD, and CSMFD). The results show that the base of diet formulation improves the performance of quails from 1-21d and the quails show that is possible to replacement of soybean meal with animal-origin by-products such as meat bone meal and feather meal, buts is needed to evaluate more aspects. In conclusion, diets formulated base on DAA for Japanese quails can be utilized with the same efficiency as diets based on TAA.
The information-gathering practice of liberal professionals in a workplace setting: More than just seeking information

Existing models of the information behaviour of various liberal professionals, especially lawyers, lack currentness. They do not adequately represent the full scope of how these professionals de facto attain information in their occupation. Without clarity about the contemporary information-gathering practice of liberal professionals in a workplace setting, scholars, technology entrepreneurs and policy makers might be relying on partial or outdated grounds, and the ability of the information specialists to provide an effective service for their patrons might also be hindered. With a focus on legal professionals, as they have experienced noteworthy changes in their occupation, purposive sampling was applied, and 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted with practising lawyers in Israel. Participants were nationwide and ranged over 30 different areas of legal practice, with a fair diversity of other professionals and personal traits achieved. The content analysis revealed four distinctive forms in which lawyers in Israel gather information within the contemporary legal practice: (a) self-executed information-seeking, (b) mediated acquisition of information, (c) information discovery and (d) combined information-gathering – which in all compile 10 different habitual strategies of gathering information in their professional work. Finally, the study suggests a revised, integrative and inclusive model that provides a more accurate and profound understanding of legal professionals’ information-gathering practice. This comprehensive and current framework may serve as an insightful guide for understanding other information-rich liberal professions.
“Evaluation of a COVID-19 IgM and IgG Rapid Test and Assessment of Specific Antibody Response in COVID-19 patients, Tunisia 2020”

Background COVID-19 pandemic is a massive global health emergency. Although RT-PCR is the gold standard for diagnosing suspected cases, there is a need of serological tests to investigate antibody responses. Many serologic immunoassays have been developed to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV2, including rapid tests. This study assessed the clinical performance of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test (colloidal gold immunochromatography, LEPU TECHNOLOGY) and evaluated the kinetic antibody response in COVID-19 patients.Methods: Samples collected by finger stick; obtained from RT-PCR confirmed cases and samples of negative controls were tested with the IgM/IgG Detection Kit . Results: The kit shows a clinical sensitivity of 65.7 % [59.7%-71.3%] and a specificity of 96.3% [93.0%-98.3%]. The predictive positive value and negative predictive value were respectively 95.2% [91.0%-97.8%] and 71.4% [66.1%-76.2%]. The seroconversion of specific IgM and IgG antibodies were observed as early as the 2nd day after symptom onset.Conclusions: This test is quite useful for assessing previous virus exposure, although negative results may be unreliable during the first weeks after infection. Longitudinal studies on antibody responses during and post infection are needed.