Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling of Spot Weld with Failure for Crash Simulations

With increasing number of vehicles around the globe, one of the current focus of automotive industry has been vehicle safety. Modern technical advancements in computation field has led to extensive improvements in crash simulation. Spot welds, despite being relatively small in size, contributes hugely to vehicle safety as they hold vehicle body together. The behaviour of spot welds during crash play a vital role and thus, appropriate modelling of spot weld and prediction of failure is essential. Alongside accurate prediction of failure, an added necessity is to save computational time. The project is carried out in partnership with CEVT AB, where MF GenYld + CrachFEM material model (reference model) is utilised to predict failure of spot weld. The scope of the project is development of a model that reduces computational time, yet achieving results of reference model. In this project, two approaches are dealt with for achieving the aforementioned objective. Three coupon tests (peel, lap shear and u-tension) are taken as standard test to validate the developed models. One of the approaches is developing a model that represents spot weld as beams. The results for the 5-beam, 8-beam, 9-beam method were varying. The stiffness curve (force-displacement curve) of the model matched reference stiffness curve either for shear or the other two tests. There were no results obtained where the stiffness curve would match for all three coupon tests. No advantageous change in computation time was observed, but carrying an advantage of no added mass to the model. Another approach is modification of the material card to suit the reference model. The material model considered is General Incremental Stress-State dependent Damage Model (GISSMO). The GISSMO material card was developed by another master thesis project and suitability of the model to spot welds is investigated in this project. The approach provided promising results, where the resulting stiffness curve closely represented reference model and also, significant decrease in computational time. The reference model reproduces damage model on the heat affected zone (HAZ) but not on the actual spot weld. Modelling with beams are valid only when beams represent the reference mesh pattern. The GISSMO model represents reference model closely and it can be used in early modelling stages to save computational time.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome in a Hunger Striker Despite Oral Thiamine Supplementation

Case We present the case of a 49-year-old woman who underwent a 237-day hunger strike on the streets of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Despite medical supervision and appropriate micronutrient supplementation, including higher-than-recommended dosing of oral thiamine, the patient developed Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and subsequent Korsakoff Syndrome. She is now permanently impaired. Introduction Hunger strikers are subject to numerous sequelae of micronutrient deficiency. Among these are the paired conditions of Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff Syndrome, conditions secondary to prolonged thiamine deficiency. Unfortunately, few published guidelines exist regarding the medical management of hunger strikers. Preventative dosing guidance is borrowed from what is recommended for prolonged malnourishment from eating disorders or chronic alcohol use. Available guidelines are rarely academic. Rather, they were created by governmental agencies for the management of hunger strikers in prison or similar states of detention or incarceration. There is an indirect body of evidence that oral thiamine supplementation is rarely protective against the sequelae of thiamine deficiency in hunger strikers. We discuss supplementation recommendations and the evidence for their failure in practice. We briefly explore the historical evidence for the anatomic and physiologic changes of prolonged starvation that potentially explain this treatment failure, and offer alternatives to standard supplementation. Conclusion The current recommendations of the management of hunger strikers regarding the prevention of thiamine deficiency are inadequate, and rarely prevent the clinical sequelae. Alternate management strategies need to be both researched and empirically used, while that research is being carried out. Novel lipid-soluble thiamine derivatives have promise, but prophylactic intravenous/intramuscular thiamine should be explored as the current standard of care.
Antibiofilm activity of berberine and capsaicin in combination with quinolones against Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis

Antimicrobial resistance which causes failure of antibiotic therapy has become a serious global issue nowadays. Bacteria develop resistance towards an antibacterial agent via many mechanisms. Biofilm formation by bacteria poses severe threat to the treatment of infections. The combination of plant molecules with antibiotics can combat antimicrobial resistance. In the present study, antibiofilm activity of two plant molecules berberine and capsaicin was investigated against Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine mastitis cases. Antibiotic sensitivity testing revealed that berberine and capsaicin when combined with quinolones increased the diameter of zone of inhibition in a dose dependent manner. In vitro biofilm assay using congo red agar plate method revealed the antibiofilm activity of berberine and capsaicin in combination with quinolone antibiotics. The study concludes that the combination of phytoconstituents with antibiotics can alleviate resistance mechanisms in bacteria.
The Evaluation of Bone Regeneration Following Socket Preservation with Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) and Poly Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid (PLGA) Scaffold in Rabbits

Various grafting materials are utilised to facilitate regeneration. There is currently a paradigm shift towards applying poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), which is regarded as an excellent scaffold for tissue engineering. Concentrated growth factor (CGF) has also been reported to promote wound healing. Nevertheless, the role of PLGA microspheres as a substitute for bone graft material with CGF in bone regeneration remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of CGF with PLGA on bone formation and the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) following socket preservation. PLGA microspheres were prepared using double solvent evaporation method and observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A 6 mL of rabbit’s blood was collected from the marginal ear vein and centrifuged to obtain CGF. Blood was also collected for ALP assessment from 24 New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits subjected to the first upper left premolar extraction. Sockets were filled with CGF, PLGA, CGF+PLGA or left empty and observed with microscopic computed tomography (micro-CT) at four weeks and eight weeks. The SEM image revealed a spherical shape with interconnected pores on the surface of the PLGA particles. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to evaluate the effect of time and treatment (p < 0.05) with significant differences in bone width, height, volume, volume fraction and expression of ALP was observed with CGF+PLGA. Both CGF and PLGA have the potential as the alternative grafting materials and this study could serve as an ideal benchmark for future investigations on the role of CGF+PLGA in bone regeneration enhancement.
Effects of Drying on Cut Douglas-fir

Cut coastal Douglas-fir trees (1.0 to 1.5 m) were allowed to dry to various water potentials in a greenhouse. About one-half of the tree population, dried to a water potential (ψ) of −3.5 MPa, lost significant quantities of needles but were otherwise comparable to undried trees. Drying to −4.0 MPa or below resulted in significantly reduced water uptake after rehydration and irreversible damage. Changes in percentage of moisture content and stomatal conductance generally paralleled ψ but were less useful indices of the damage threshold. Bark wrinkling and percentage of broken needles were useful morphological indices of the damage threshold. Subjective ratings of quality were less reliable indices of the damage threshold. Water potential was an appropriate single measurement of Christmas tree water status and a suitable index of the damage threshold.
Towards BIM-based robot localization: a real-world case study

- Conventional mobile robots rely on pre-built point cloud maps for online localization. These map points are generally built using specialized mapping techniques, which involve high labor and computational costs. While in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, as-planned building information modelings (BIM) are available for management and operation. In this paper, we consider the use of the digital representations of BIM for robot localization in built environments. First, we convert BIM data intolocalization-orientedpointclouds, whichiseasytoimple-ment and operate compared to relatively complex SLAM systems. Then, we perform iterative closest point (ICP)-based localization on the metric map using a laser scanner. The experiments are tested using collected laser data and BIM in the real world. The results show that ICP-based localization can track the robot pose with low errors ( < [0.20m, 2.50 ◦ ]), thus demonstrating the feasibility of BIM-based robot localization. In addition, we also discuss the reasons for errors, including the deviations between as-planned BIM and as-built status.
The Effectiveness Of Virtual Laboratory Assisted Online Science Learning On The Scientific Character Of Elementary School Teachers Candidate

This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of online science learning assisted by a virtual laboratory on the scientific character of prospective elementary school teacher students. This scientific character is very much needed by prospective elementary school teachers to produce the next generation of the nation who master natural science and have good scientific character. This research method is an experiment with a quasi-experimental design type. The subjects of this study were students of classes A7 and A8, totaling 80 people. Data collection techniques using observation, questionnaires and tests. The data analysis technique used percentage, t-test, and N-gain. The results showed that there was an increase in the average appearance of scientific characters from each meeting from the medium level (54.55) at the first meeting to high (74.96) at the sixth meeting. The results of the t-test on the post-test score obtained that the t value = 2.798 > t table = 1.998 means that there is a significant difference in learning achievement between students who take online science learning assisted by virtual laboratories and students who take regular online science lessons. Based on the N-Gain test, it is known that the experimental group has an improvement with moderate criteria (0.62) which is better than the control group with low improvement criteria (0.26).
FoxR is an AraC‐like transcriptional regulator of ferrioxamine uptake in Salmonella enterica

Salmonella enterica spp. produce siderophores to bind iron with high affinity and can also use three xenosiderophores secreted by other microorganisms, ferrichrome, coprogen, and ferrioxamine. Here we focused on FoxA, a TonB‐dependent transporter of ferrioxamines. Adjacent to foxA is a gene annotated as a helix‐turn‐helix (HTH) domain‐containing protein, SL0358 (foxR), in the Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344 genome. FoxR shares homology with transcriptional regulators belonging to the AraC/XylS family. foxR is syntenic with foxA in the Enterobacteriaceae family, suggesting their functional relatedness. Both foxA and foxR are repressed by the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) under iron‐rich growth conditions. When iron is scarce, FoxR acts as a transcriptional activator of foxA by directly binding to its upstream regulatory region. A point mutation in the HTH domain of FoxR abolished this binding, as did mutation of a direct repeat motif in the foxA upstream regulatory region. Desferrioxamine (DFOE) enhanced FoxR protein stability and foxA transcription but did not affect the affinity of FoxR binding to the foxA regulatory region. In summary, we have identified FoxR as a new member of the AraC/XylS family that regulates xenosiderophore‐mediated iron uptake by S. Typhimurium and likely other Enterobacteriaceae members.
Resistance to frost in Arabica coffee lines introgressed with Coffea racemosa Lour. genes

The aim of this study was to assess resistance to frost in Arabica coffees with introgression of Coffea racemosa. The field experiment (Londrina, Paraná, Brazil) was assessed after two consecutive frosts in June 2011. Eleven F2BC5 Arabica coffee lines with introgression of C. racemosa were assessed 52 months after planting. C. arabica cultivars IAPAR 59, Tupi IAC 1669-33, Catuaí Vermelho IAC 99 and Mundo Novo IAC 376-4 were used as sensitive controls. Foliar damages assessments were carried out 20 days after exposure to freezing temperatures. Foliar damages were scored using grades ranging from 1 to 5, where: grade 1 = no damage; and 5 grade = from 75.01 to 100.00% damaged leaf area. Levels of foliar damage (e.g. no damage – very severe damages) were classified according to the mean grades of the assessments. Severe leaf damage was observed in the controls, while nine lines showed moderate damage. H0107-32 line is the most resistant to frost, and is the only one which presented slight leaf damage
Assessing the capacity gaps of decentralized rural water management: qualitative evidence from Ghana

ABSTRACT This paper examines the capacity gaps in decentralized rural water management in Ghana across five dimensions: institutional, financial, human resource, technical and social. Using household and informant interviews and focus group discussions, qualitative data from the selected rural communities and water management agencies show that while institutional capacity forms the backbone of effective rural water supply and management, financial capacity is required to implement and sustain the other forms of local capacity. To achieve sustainable rural water services, the study recommends a shift in management approaches that ensures a progressive transfer of water management responsibilities to beneficiary rural communities.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy: A Continental Review

Introduction: It’s been over 2 years since the pandemic started as a result of the coronavirus. There are striking data showing the incidence, mortality, and recoveries as a result of the viral infection. With several preventive measures established by public health policy, the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines has been one of the best measures to curtail the menace of the COVID-19. However, there are certain impediments enhancing the hesitancy in the uptake of the vaccine in Africa. Methods: A literature search was made using PubMed and Google Scholar using the following keywords “COVID 19 vaccine”, “knowledge,” “perception,” “vaccine uptake,” “vaccine acceptance,” “vaccine hesitancy”. Upon using the inclusion and exclusion criteria, relevant studies were selected to access the acceptance and hesitancy to the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: There are various contributory factors that decide acceptance or ensure hesitancy among the populace which includes: Age, education, gender, residence, household income, marital status, religion, information source, access to vaccine and vaccine equity, etc. Major concerns, barriers, and motivators about vaccination were highlighted. Existing data was used to show how each factor played role in the acceptance and hesitancy in the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusions: This present study identified key factors that influence vaccine confidence, hesitancy, and acceptance in Africa and in turn proffer sustainable solutions that can be used to address these factors. Through a cumulative review of existing data about COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, confidence, acceptance, and hesitancy, we hope to make contributions that would highlight major influencers of vaccine knowledge and percentage in Africa.
Changes in the Kinematics of Midfoot and Rearfoot Joints with the Use of Lateral Wedge Insoles

The lateral wedge insole (LWI) is a typical orthopedic treatment for medial knee osteoarthritis pain, chronic ankle instability, and peroneal tendon disorders. It is still unknown what the effects are in the most important joints of the foot when using LWIs as a treatment for knee and ankle pathologies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of LWIs on the position of the midfoot and rearfoot joints by measuring the changes using a tracking device. Methods: The study was carried out with a total of 69 subjects. Movement measurements for the midfoot were made on the navicular bone, and for the rearfoot on the calcaneus bone. The Polhemus system was used, with two motion sensors fixed to each bone. Subjects were compared by having them use LWIs versus being barefoot. Results: There were statistically significant differences in the varus movement when wearing a 4 mm LWI (1.23 ± 2.08°, p < 0.001) versus the barefoot condition (0.35 ± 0.95°), and in the plantarflexion movement when wearing a 4 mm LWI (3.02 ± 4.58°, p < 0.001) versus the barefoot condition (0.68 ± 1.34°), in the midfoot. There were also statistically significant differences in the valgus movement when wearing a 7 mm LWI (1.74 ± 2.61°, p < 0.001) versus the barefoot condition (0.40 ± 0.90°), and in the plantar flexion movement when wearing a 4 mm LWI (2.88 ± 4.31°, p < 0.001) versus the barefoot condition (0.35 ± 0.90°), in the rearfoot. Conclusions: In the navicular bone, a varus, an abduction, and plantar flexion movements were generated. In the calcaneus, a valgus, an adduction, and plantar flexion movements were generated with the use of LWIs.
Therapeutic potential of Ipomoea asarifolia on infected Swiss albino rats with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Introduction: Curative misuse of medicinal plants are worrisome with the paucity of histological information. This led to the investigation of Ipomoea asarifolia in Swiss albino rats infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: Extraction was done using the cold maceration method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were determined using the micro-dilution method. Swiss albino rats of 6 sub-groups with 6 animals each (36 animals/organism) were administered with 0.3 ml single oral dose of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus respectively. The animals received treatment for 5 days as follows: 0.5 ml of 5% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (negative control), 250 mg/kg of amoxicillin (positive control), 2 mg/kg of whole plant extract, 4 mg/kg of whole plant extract, 2 mg/kg of leaf extract, and 4 mg/kg of leaf extract, respectively. The packed cell volume (PCV) and white blood count (WBC) of the animals were determined before and after treatment with histology examination of vital organs. Results: MIC for S. aureus was 2 mg/mL; the mortality in S. aureus group at 2 mg/kg was 66.7%. The PCV values (50.5±0.5, 45.0±1.0, and 50.5±1.5) decreased after infection, and a corresponding increase in the PCV was observed after treatment with the extracts. Also, a significant increase in the WBC values (3.40±0.35, 4.10±0.15, and 3.30±0.40) following infection and a corresponding decrease after treatment were observed. Congestion of vessels in the kidney was also observed. Conclusion: I. asarifolia has a dose-dependent antibacterial and curative activity, and could enhance innate immunity.
Trade-off decisions in a novel deep reinforcement learning for energy savings in HVAC systems

This paper presents Model-based Reinforcement Learning (MB-RL) techniques to control the indoor air temperature, and CO2 concentration level, and minimize the energy consumption of the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, simultaneously. For this purpose, a trade-off is made between maintaining indoor comfort levels and minimizing energy consumption. The control of the HVAC system is performed using the Deterministic Policy RL (DP-RL) method. Moreover, the nonlinear autoregressive exogenous neural network (NARX-NN) is employed as an approximation function with DP-RL method to provide a hybrid DP-NARX-RL controller. By applying the DP-RL and DP-NARX-RL controllers to the HVAC system of a typical building, parameters such as the indoor comfort levels, the electrical power, and energy consumed, and the energy costs at various pricing schemes are evaluated for two case studies. In both cases, the results show the better performance of DP-NARX-RL compared to DP-RL, RL, and PID controllers.
Study on the Influence Mechanism of Intangible Cultural Heritage Distribution from Man–Land Relationship Perspective: A Case Study in Shandong Province

Spatial autocorrelation, cold and hot spot analysis, and standard deviation ellipse analysis were used to analyze the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage (ICH). Geodetectors were used to reveal the factors that influenced the distribution in Shandong Province. The results showed that: (1) The ICH in Shandong Province covered most ICH types with the difference in the number of expressions of ICH of a different type. Traditional artistry, traditional art, traditional sports, recreation and acrobatics, and folk literature are the main types of ICH. (2) The spatial distribution of ICH showed a great difference. Multiple concentration areas and deficient areas were presented that followed the direction from southwest to northeast. (3) Man–land relationship-related factors such as population, waters, urban–rural size, and air temperature showed important influence on ICH distribution. The influence of interaction among influence factors is higher than a single factor. In summary, man–land relationships are the key factors that influenced ICH distribution.
Kernel Maturity, Seed Size, and Seed Hydration Effects on the Seed Quality of a Sweet Corn Inbred

To understand early development of seed quality, seed lots of sweet corn (Zea mays L.) inbred PGG-27B were harvested from an increase field at 10 stages of maturity, beginning when kernel moisture was at 59% and continuing to 19% kernel moisture content (42 to 103 days after pollination, respectively). Seed lots were dried, hand-shelled, sized, and tested for standard germination and subjected to the seedling growth cold test (SGCT). Endosperm, embryo, and kernel dry weights, and endosperm : embryo (END:EMB) ratios were monitored as the seed matured. Field tests were planted to determine the influence of kernel maturity, grade, and hydration on stand establishment and early seedling growth. Seeds were partially hydrated by mixing with moist vermiculite and screening from the substrate when seeds had reached 30% moisture content. Results from hydrated seeds were compared to those from seeds at ≈10% seed moisture to determine the effect of presowing seed hydration on seedling establishment. The seed hydration effect depended on the environment, but seed size was shown consistently to influence emergence and early seedling dry weight. Seed harvested at 45% to 54% moisture had better stand establishment than seed harvested at the more typical moisture of near 35%. The stage of maturity, determined by kernel moisture, at which PGG-27B was harvested had little effect on standard germination. Hydrating the seed prior to the SGCT improved seedling growth for all early kernel maturities and all seed grades. Embryo dry weight of composite samples increased steadily up to the fifth harvest period (38% seed moisture), then leveled off. Kernel and endosperm dry weights were more variable at the fifth harvest than at others, but followed the same general pattern. The ratio of END:EMB dry weight decreased from the first to the fifth harvest, where it continued at a value near 4.9 through harvest 10. Seed moisture at harvest, seed size, and presowing seed hydration were shown to influence the seed quality of PGG-27B.