Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Clear Floor Area Requirements for Wheeled Mobility Device Users in Public Transportation

Current accessibility standards in the U.S. prescribe minimum dimensions for “clear floor area” to accommodate wheeled mobility device (WhMD) users on transportation vehicles. Prior research on the anthropometry of WhMD users (n = 500) indicates that these dimensions are too small to accommodate the size of many occupied WhMDs, especially power chairs and scooters. This paper describes a development project designed to update the evidence for these technical criteria and communicate them to the vehicle designers and accessibility standards developers in a manner that would facilitate making good decisions. An interactive web-based design tool was developed for determining the dimensions of clear floor area to achieve a user-specified level of physical accommodation based on occupied device length and width measurements taken on 500 WhMD users. The web-based design tool is now available to practitioners who seek to accommodate a wider range of WhMD users than the minimum standards required by regulations. The design tool is also intended as a visual evidence base for regulatory activity and universal design practice with higher ambitions. The advent of driverless automated vehicles will increase the importance of accessibility and usability to accommodate the diversity of riders with disabilities. Clear floor space to enable independent ingress, interior circulation, and egress among WhMD users will be a foremost concern. The transportation industry, standards developers, disability advocates, mobility device manufacturers and prescribers, need to understand the limitations of current accessibility standards and work to address these limitations through updated vehicle design standards and policies.
Effect of physico-chemical parameters on distribution of macrobenthic invertebrates at Rosetta branch the heaviest polluted area of Nile River

Rosetta branch considered the most polluted area of Nile River especially the region from Kanater city to kafr Elzayat city. Six stations selected longitudinally at this region for collection of water and macrobenthic invertebrates. Samples were collected during the period from August, 2019 to April, 2020. Some heavy metals were measured to evaluate the degree of pollution in the studied sites. Macrobenthic invertebrates (MBI) comprised 18 species belong to three phyla; phylum Annelida (5 species), phylum Mollusca (10 species), phylum Arthropoda (2 species). Annelida was the abundant group, where it represented 98 % of the total MBI with an annual average of 28887 Org. /m 2 . The highest number of MBI was observed at site 4 (Tamalay) with a value of (8514 Org./m 2 ), while the lowest one (45 Org./m 2 ) was recorded at site 2 due to the effect of El-Rahawy drain. The correlation depending on Principlal Component Analysis and biological indices showed that, water temperature, nitrie, nitrate, pH, transparency and DO had a significant positive correlation with MBI. Cadmium showed a significant positive correlation with the most dominant macrobenthic invertebrates groups and species. The study recommended that, the water discharged from El-Hahawy drain should treated.
Adaptive Long-Short Pattern Transformer for Stock Investment Selection

Stock investment selection is a hard issue in the Fintech field due to non-stationary dynamics and complex market interdependencies. Existing studies are mostly based on RNNs, which struggle to capture interactive information among fine granular volatility patterns. Besides, they either treat stocks as isolated, or presuppose a fixed graph structure heavily relying on prior domain knowledge. In this paper, we propose a novel Adaptive Long-Short Pattern Transformer (ALSP-TF) for stock ranking in terms of expected returns. Specifically, we overcome the limitations of canonical self-attention including context and position agnostic, with two additional capacities: (i) fine-grained pattern distiller to contextualize queries and keys based on localized feature scales, and (ii) time-adaptive modulator to let the dependency modeling among pattern pairs sensitive to different time intervals. Attention heads in stacked layers gradually harvest short- and long-term transition traits, spontaneously boosting the diversity of representations. Moreover, we devise a graph self-supervised regularization, which helps automatically assimilate the collective synergy of stocks and improve the generalization ability of overall model. Experiments on three exchange market datasets show ALSP-TF’s superiority over state-of-the-art stock forecast methods.
Dynamic analysis of umbilical cable under interference with riser

ABSTRACT In consideration of the bend moment and torque, the lumped mass method was derived. Based on the lumped mass method, the umbilical cable was discretised into a lumped mass model and the interference between the umbilical cable and the riser was taken into account in the dynamic analysis. According to the specific parameters of the umbilical cable in real work, an umbilical cable dynamic model was established to study the dynamic process of the umbilical cable under certain interference. The simulation results show that the depth of the sea, the wave directions and the length of the pipelines have different effects on the occurrence of interference: the increase in depth and length of the umbilical cable and riser changes the flexibility of the pipeline, the change of the wave direction changes the system’s motion boundary and the form of collision. The conclusions have a certain guiding significance for the study of the umbilical cable during operation.
Forecasting replenishment orders in retail: value of modelling low and intermittent consumer demand with distributions

In retail, distribution centres can forecast the stores’ future replenishment orders by computing planned orders for each stock-keeping-unit. Planned orders are obtained by simulating the future replenishment ordering of each stock-keeping-unit based on information about the delivery schedules, the inventory levels, the order policies and the point-estimate forecasts of consumer demand. Point-estimate forecasts are commonly used because automated store ordering systems do not provide information on the demand distribution. However, it is not clear how accurate the resulting planned orders are in the case of products with low and intermittent demand, which make up large parts of the assortment in retail. This paper examines the added value of modelling consumer demand with distributions, when computing the planned orders of products with low and intermittent demand. We use real sales data to estimate two versions of a planned order model: One that uses point-estimates and another that uses distributions to model the consumer demand. We compare the forecasting accuracies of the two models and apply them to two example applications. Our results show that using distributions instead of point-estimates results in a significant improvement in the accuracy of replenishment order forecasts and offers potential for substantial cost savings.
Determinants of later-life transnational migration: will Chinese parents join their adult children in Australia?

ABSTRACT With the number of working-age migrants to Australia, their ageing parents may intend to move to Australia to join their adult children. The paper examines the determinants of later-life transnational migration for Chinese parents to live with their adult children who have already migrated to Australia. The later-life transnational migration decision is an interplay between the characteristics of Chinese parents and their adult children, and the nature of Australia’s migration system. This paper is the first to investigate the transnational migration decisions of Chinese parents by examining how their adult children in Australia perceived a family reunion and intergenerational trade-off in Australia as a collective family decision. This exploratory study used a multinominal logit model to identify the factors of later-life transnational migration decisions with a sample of adult children living in Sydney, Australia. The results show that the adult children’s perception of living with their parents in Australia and the mediating role of the mother, not the father, significantly affects the Chinese parents’ transnational migration. The intergenerational transfer of wealth and household support is also crucial.
The Effect of the Relationship Between Accounting Conservatism and Cost of Debts on Cash Holding: Evidence from Egyptian Listed Companies

: The purpose of this study is to see how the relationship between accounting conservatism and cost of debts affects cash holding. The paper also looks at the moderating impacts of firm size and leverage on this connection. It is based on a sample of data from the index (EGX100) for the 44 most active non-financial companies in the Egyptian stock market from 2018 to 2020. To put hypotheses to the test for data analysis, Fixed Effect Regression Models were utilized. The ratio of total interest paid on long-term loans is used to evaluate the cost of debts, whereas the cash holding is calculated as a ratio of cash and cash equivalent divided by total assets, for measuring accounting conservatism (Givoly &Hayn,2000) indicator is adopted. Many Egyptian listed firms are not conservative, according to the findings, and there is a statistically significant positive association between accounting conservatism and cash holding. Furthermore, the association between accounting conservatism and cost of debts has a statistically significant negative influence 2222 on cash holding, and leverage as a control variable has a significant effect in this relationship, although firm size has no effect. Accounting conservatism standard setters should concentrate on implementing accounting conservatism procedures in all Egyptian listed companies should report their financial accounts conservatively to benefit from low financial responsibilities or any burdens, such as the cost of debts, that have arisen as a result of investors and creditors' trust in conservative financial statements and firm management. This study adds to the body of knowledge about the relationship between accounting conservatism and cash holding, which has an impact on corporate performance in Egyptian listed companies. investigate the impact of corporate governance on accounting conservatism adoption. The research was carried out on a sample of companies, and the findings revealed that the relationship between accounting conservatism and corporate governance indicates a significant impact of corporate governance variables such as board of directors and audit committee characteristics on accounting conservatism.
Electrochemical Energy Storage Potentials of Waste Biomass: Oil Palm Leaf- and Palm Kernel Shell-Derived Activated Carbons

In this study, activated carbons (ACs) were produced from oil palm leaves (OPL) and palm kernel shells (PKS) using different concentrations (0%, 11%, and 33%) of H3PO4 as the activating agent. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) results indicated that surface area decreases with the decreasing of the concentration of the H3PO4 in the following order: AC from oil palm leaves was (OPLAC-0% H3PO4) < (OPLAC-11% H3PO4) < (OPLAC-33% H3PO4), with the BET surface area values of 37, 760, and 780 m2/g, respectively. Similarly, the PKS-derived AC followed the same trend of (PKSAC-0% H3PO4) < (PKSAC-11% H3PO4) < (PKSAC-33% H3PO4), with the BET surface area values of 3, 52, and 1324 m2/g, respectively. Based on this finding, it was observed that H3PO4 had exhibited an influential role on enhancing the surface properties of the AC. On the contrary, it slightly decreased the graphitic trait of the AC by considering their IG/ID trends, which were generated from the Raman spectral analysis. The energy storage capacity of the AC was further tested using cyclic voltammetry. Three of the samples were found to have high capacitance values of 434 F g−1, 162 F g−1, and 147 F g−1 at 5 mVs−1. The first (434 F g−1) is much higher than the specific capacitance value (343 F g−1) of the only oil palm leaf-derived porous carbon nanoparticles ever reported in the literature.
Clinical and Epidemiological Profile of Elderly Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in India

Background Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is a curable malignancy that commonly involves the younger population. However, HL can rarely occur in the elderly population (≥60 years) and probably has different biology as compared to the younger counterparts. There was a paucity of data on the clinical and epidemiological profile of the elderly subset with HL in Indian patients who are misdiagnosed and empirically treated as tuberculosis. We have done an analysis of this subset of elderly patients who were registered at our institute. Methods A retrospective chart analysis of HL patients who presented to our center from 2008 to 2016 was conducted. Twenty-eight patients with HL of age ≥60 years were included in this study. Results Elderly HL comprised 18.67% of the total HL patients registered during this period. The majority were male patients, and the mean age of presentation was 65.9±5.6 years. A Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) of ≥2 was seen in 30.77% of the patients. Among these, 84.62% of the patients presented with advanced-stage disease, and 57.69% of the patients presented with B symptoms, which was significantly associated with a high-risk international prognostic score (IPS). Histology-wise, mixed cellularity classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (MCCHL) and nodular sclerosis classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NSCHL) were equally represented (30.76%). Of the patients, 50% had extranodal disease, with the liver being the most frequent site involved. One patient each had bone marrow involvement and bulky disease. CD30, CD15, and CD20 positivity was seen in 84.61%, 50%, and 26.92% of cases, respectively. Conclusion Among elderly HL patients, males were more commonly represented than females, and patients more often presented with advanced disease and B symptoms and less often with bulky disease and mediastinal mass. Mixed cellularity classical HL is more common in the elderly subset, and significant comorbidities are present in a higher number of elderly HL patients.
The Impacts of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) on Cardiovascular Health

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a prominent global health challenge in the last decade, and many risk factors and outcomes of CVD have been studied in that timeframe. Recent research has explored the association between sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and CVD; however, there is a lack of updated reviews regarding SSB consumption impacts on CVD outcomes and the possible mechanisms affecting the disease state. In turn, this review aims to summarize the relevant published research from the last decade regarding linkages between SSB consumption and CVD outcomes and the potential underlying mechanisms, as well as to highlight opportunities for future exploration with respect to those outcomes and mechanisms. In this review, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for peer-reviewed articles published from January 2012 to March 2022 regarding SSB consumption and its association with CVD. The results of our search reveal strong evidence that the consumption of SSB is positively associated with increased risks of CVD and that the magnitude of that risk is increased in a dose-dependent manner. These increased risks range from elevated triglyceride levels to inclined risk of CVD-related mortality. Although the depth of the mechanisms responsible for these increased risks have been less explored thus far, there is some evidence supporting SSB implications in cardiovascular factors, including vascular function, coronary artery calcification, triglyceride levels, inflammatory processes, arterial stiffness, and genetic polymorphisms.
Partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with maize straw: Seeking long‐term improvement of rice yield by raising quality indicators of a red paddy soil

Straw application increases crop yield, but the underlying mechanisms of straw‐substitution for chemical fertilizer on yield is not completely understood. We hypothesized that straw application improves crop yield by improving soil quality. In order to clarify how partial substitution of chemical fertilizers with maize straw affects soil properties and the specific contribution of soil properties to double‐cropping rice yield, we selected a long‐term positioning test station operated since 1982 and designed three fertilization treatments: (1) single chemical fertilizers (CF); (2) medium replacement by maize straw under which 1/3 of nitrogen (N) fertilizer was replaced (MS); and (3) high replacement by maize straw under which 2/3 of N fertilizer was replaced (HS). The yield under HS of late and early rice increased by 42.66% and 25.04% in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Long‐term straw application significantly decreased soil bulk density, increased total porosity, and improved the stable aggregates content (>0.25 mm). Straw application increased soil urease, protease, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (ACP) and catalase activities, microbial biomass carbon (C), microbial biomass N, and nutrients compared with CF. The structural equation model indicated that the tested soil properties explained 77% of the variations in observed rice yield. The rice yield was mainly indirectly affected by soil organic matter (SOM), microbial biomass, and enzyme activities. The results showed that straw substituted for chemical fertilizers increased rice yield. The key factors affecting yield under long‐term fertilization were SOM, microbial biomass, and enzyme activity, rather than soil N, phosphorus (P) nutrient contents, and bulk density.
Supersensitive and Tunable Nano-Biosensor for Cancer Detection

In the present paper, we aim to report a simple, highly sensitive, and compact footprint biosensor for cancer detection based on metamaterial containing structure utilizing theoretical model. This model includes of array of split ring resonators on a dielectric substrate. The proposed structure is simulated using three-dimensional finite-element method. To achieve the appropriate operation, the effects of the physical properties including dielectric material, and different cells on the performance of the proposed sensor are considered. For this purpose, three types of dielectrics, including silicon dioxide (SiO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) substrates have been used to evaluate the biosensor. Calculated sensitivity values for SiO2, TiO2, and the PMMA are 658, 653, and 633, respectively, while the figure of merit for these three sub-layers are 258, 2431, and 225. According to the simulation results, when the refractive index of a sub-layer is closer to the refractive index of the samples, the sensor is more sensitive. Also, due to the nanometer size of SSRs, it is easy to detect nanometer-sized specimens. The biosensor has a very high resolution so that the capability of measurement and the detection of cancer cells are enhanced.
A diverse group of underappreciated zygnematophytes deserves in-depth exploration

ABSTRACT The conjugating green algae (Zygnematophyceae) are the closest relatives of land plants and hence are of great evolutionary interest. Besides the popular placoderm desmids and the filamentous species, there is an underappreciated diversity of unicellular zygnematophytes with a much “simpler” morphology and smooth cell walls – traditionally referred to as “saccoderm desmids”. These saccoderm desmids have a broad geographic distribution and are ecologically diverse. Many species inhabit terrestrial habitats such as dead wood, rock surfaces and glacial ice. Furthermore, several of the saccoderm genera have turned out to be highly polyphyletic and are typically poorly captured by environmental sequencing approaches. One of these genera is Mesotaenium Nägeli, with ~70 described species and infraspecific taxa united only by a relatively simple (plate- or ribbon-like) chloroplast structure. Here, we shed some light on these inconspicuous yet important members of the algal flora and present an updated rbcL gene phylogeny of the conjugating green algae, including several new lineages of Mesotaenium-like zygnematophytes. We depict the subtle morphological differences among these lineages and discuss our updated phylogeny in the light of ecology and cell biology. In addition, we review published knowledge on photoprotective strategies of zygnematophytes, the latest insights into their evolutionary innovations, and address some technical challenges in exploring this elusive group of microalgae. Some new observations of saccoderm desmids in undersampled habitats and of their microbial associates (e.g., parasites) point to interesting avenues for future research.
Invited comment on the paper "Slice Sampling" by Radford Neal

Markov chain sampling methods that adapt to characteristics of the distribution being sampled can be constructed using the principle that one can ample from a distribution by sampling uniformly from the region under the plot of its density function. A Markov chain that converges to this uniform distribution can be constructed by alternating uniform sampling in the vertical direction with uniform sampling from the horizontal "slice" defined by the current vertical position, or more generally, with some update that leaves the uniform distribution over this slice invariant. Such "slice sampling" methods are easily implemented for univariate distributions, and can be used to sample from a multivariate distribution by updating each variable in turn. This approach is often easier to implement than Gibbs sampling and more efficient than simple Metropolis updates, due to the ability of slice sampling to adaptively choose the magnitude of changes made. It is therefore attractive for routine and automated use. Slice sampling methods that update all variables simultaneously are also possible. These methods can adaptively choose the magnitudes of changes made to each variable, based on the local properties of the density function. More ambitiously, such methods could potentially adapt to the dependencies between variables by constructing local quadratic approximations. Another approach is to improve sampling efficiency by suppressing random walks. This can be done for univariate slice sampling by "overrelaxation," and for multivariate slice sampling by "reflection" from the edges of the slice.
Resilient Control of Interconnected Microgrids Under Attack by Robust Nonlinear MPC

: With the growing share of renewable energy sources, the uncertainty in power supply is increasing, on the one hand because of ﬂuctuations in the renewables, but on the other hand also due to the threat of deliberate malicious attacks, which may become more prevalent due to the growing number of distributed generation units. It is thus essential that local microgrids are controlled in a robust manner in order to ensure stability and supply security even in the event of disturbances. To this end, we introduce a mathematical model for interconnected, physically coupled microgrids with renewable generation that are exposed to the risk of attacks. For optimal energy management and control, we present a resilient framework that combines a model-based method to identify occurring attacks and a model predictive control scheme to compute robust control inputs. We demonstrate the efﬁciency of the method for microgrid control in numerical experiments.