Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Ankle-Foot Orthosis Stiffness on Muscle Force During Gait Through Mechanical Testing and Gait Simulation

Mechanical testing and gait measurement for ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) are crucial for determining the AFO stiffness magnitude in an individual. However, information on the effect of the stiffness magnitude on the muscle force during gait is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the AFO stiffness and ankle muscle force during gait. The AFO stiffness was mechanically tested using a six-axis robot arm. The stiffness magnitude was adjusted using different spring constants. Five stiffness conditions were set for each plantarflexion resistive (PFR) and dorsiflexion resistive (DFR) function. The effect of the PFR and DFR on the ankle muscle force during gait were determined using musculoskeletal and AFO models. Tibialis anterior (TA) and triceps surae (TS) muscle forces were calculated through gait simulation. The angle-moment relationships display hysteresis loops for each condition. One of the PFR and DFR conditions differed significantly from the others (for all, p < 0.05). In order of lower stiffness, the each PFR contribution ratio to the peak TA muscle force normalized in the no-stiffness condition was 8.4%, 10.8%, 11.3%, 13.5%, and 15.3%; while the each DFR contribution ratio to the peak TS muscle force was 16.2%, 20.9%, 25.3%, 29.8%, and 30.5%, respectively. Through mechanical testing as well as gait simulation, it was demonstrated that the magnitude of the AFO stiffness decreased the required ankle muscle force during gait. This study can contribute to more effective gait rehabilitation using AFO as well as AFO fabrication with customized stiffness for individual gait function.
Empirical Evidence for MPSoCs in Critical Systems: The Case of NXP's T2080 Cache Coherence

The adoption of complex MPSoCs in critical realtime embedded systems mandates a detailed analysis of their architecture to facilitate certification. This analysis is hindered by the lack of a thorough understanding of the MPSoC system due to the unobvious and/or insufficiently documented behavior of some key hardware features. Confidence in those features can only be regained by building specific tests to both, assess whether their behavior matches specifications and unveil their behavior when it is not fully known a priori. In this line, in this work we develop a thorough understanding of the cache coherence protocol in the avionics-relevant NXP T2080 architecture.
Point Annotation Probability Map: Towards Dense Object Counting by Tolerating Annotation Noise

Counting objects in crowded scenes remains a challenge to computer vision. The current deep learning based approach often formulate it as a Gaussian density regression problem. Such a brute-force regression, though effective, may not consider the annotation noise properly which arises from the human annotation process and may lead to different distributions. We conjecture that it would be beneficial to consider the annotation noise in the dense object counting task. To obtain strong robustness against annotation noise, generalized Gaussian distribution (GGD) function with a tunable bandwidth and shape parameter is exploited to form the learning target point annotation probability map, PAPM. Specifically, we first present a hand-designed PAPM method (HD-PAPM), in which we design a function based on GGD to tolerate the annotation noise. For end-to-end training, the hand-designed PAPM may not be optimal for the particular network and dataset. An adaptively learned PAPM method (AL-PAPM) is proposed. To improve the robustness to annotation noise, we design an effective transport cost function based on GGD. With such transport cost constraints, a better PAPM presentation could be adaptively learned with an optimal transport framework from point annotation in an end-to-end manner. Extensive experiments show the superiority of our proposed methods.
Battery Management System For Mobile Robots based on an Extended Kalman Filter Approch

Robots are rapidly developing, due to the technology advances and the increased need for their mobility. Mobile Robots can move freely in unconstrained environments, without any external help. They are supplied by batteries as the only source of energy that they could access. Thus, the management of the energy offered by these batteries is so crucial and has to be done properly. Most advanced Battery Management System (BMS) algorithms reported in literature are developed and verified with laboratory-based experiments. The acquired data is then processed either online or offline, using PC-based software. This work consists of developing an on-Chip Extended Kalman Filter based BMS, which can be directly linked in a robot without having to be connected with an external device to process the data. The proposed system is implemented in a low-cost 8 bit microcontroller and results allow to validate the proposed approach.
Biosignals in Human Factors Research for Heavy Equipment Operators: A Review of Available Methods and Their Feasibility in Laboratory and Ambulatory Studies

Heavy equipment operation is a responsible and difficult task causing mental workload on a human operator and exposing the operator to a range of harmful factors. Human factors and ergonomics in heavy equipment design have traditionally been focused on anthropometry and questionnaires. More advanced techniques involving biosignal measurements were not applied to heavy equipment, mainly due to the diversity of real working conditions that were hard to reproduce in a laboratory environment and that prevented ambulatory studies. Recent advances in wearable biosensors and real-time simulators produce the capability of using biosignals for improving the ergonomics of heavy equipment operation. The present paper reviews the use of biosignals in human factors and the ergonomics of heavy machines by focusing on stress detection for the last ten years. The aim of the paper is analyzing the previous implemented algorithms to find a set of biosignals and methods of stress identification that could be suitable for identifying stress in heavy equipment operators both in laboratory and ambulatory studies. The conclusion emphasizes successful stress identification methods and a combination of the algorithms from different studies that facilitate the use of heavy equipment operator’s applications. Also, feasible methods and directions for future research are considered.
Discrete-time closed-loop inverse kinematics: A comparison between Euler and RK4 methods

This paper investigates the effects of the numerical method employed to solve the system of differential equations that characterise a closed-loop inverse kinematics (CLIK) algorithm in the discrete-time domain. The paper presents a detailed comparison between a 4th order method, namely the Runge-Kutta 4 (RK4) and the explicit Euler 1-st order method, that is the one most often used in applications. In spite of a lower complexity of the mathematical model, simulations on a 7-Degree-Of-Freedom (DOF) show that using explicit Euler produces better performance in some conditions, such as when considering a constant Cartesian reference. On the other hand, significantly lower tracking error is observed for time-varying Cartesian reference when using RK4. This method also generates smoother joint trajectories when moving through a kinematic singularity. Finally, the results suggest that the stability of the closed-loop algorithm is retained for larger gain values when using RK4.
MINERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR MESOPHILIC AND THERMOPHILIC ANAEROBIC DIGESTION OF ORGANIC SOLID WASTE

Anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste (OSW) from kitchen was conducted in completely stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) under both mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The lab-scale reactors were fed with the OSW containing 10% of total solids (TS) at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 30 days(3.0-3.5g-TS/L/d of volumetric loading rate). Both mesophilic and thermophilic reactors exhibited process failure due to severe acidification. A restoration of methane yield based on the volatile solids (VS) of the OSW added was observed after the addition of minerals (Ni, Co, and Fe) in the mesophilic reactor but not in the thermophilic reactor, suggesting that the requirement for minerals is higher in thermophilic anaerobic digestion than in mesophilic digestion. It is suggested that, among those minerals, Ni is the most important for anaerobic digestion of the OSW.
The Impact of Health Information Technology on Hospital Demand

Acknowledgements: Portions of this paper were developed in Eric Barrette’s dissertation and funded by AHRQ R36 dissertation grant #HS18272-01. We are grateful for insightful and constructive comments from Roger Feldman, Stephen Parente, Alok Gupta, Shane Greenstein, Ira Moscovice and participants at the 22 nd Annual Health Economics Conference and 2 nd Annual Workshop on Health IT and Economics. Additionally, Hawre Jalal provided exemplary research assistance and we greatly appreciate Ann Marie MacKinnon’s editorial assistance.
MINIMAL ACCESS PROCEDURES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF TUBAL INFERTILITY

Infertility has always been defined with respect to a number of parameters prominent amongst which are time, causes, treatment cost and socio-cultural implications. The most widely accepted practical classifications distinguishes between primary and secondary infertilities with a further sub classification into 3 clearly defined groups that include ovulatory dysfunction, fallopian tube compromise , male factor ( sperm function and delivery disorder) alongside an ambiguous and controversial group labeled as “unexplained infertility”. Recent technological developments in the fields of optics, video-imaging and miniaturized surgical instruments, have lead to the emergence of minimal access procedures, with wide and varied applications in the field of gynaecology. The skill in its different forms and various combination modalities is widely applied in the management of the infertile couple especially those with tubal infertility. The economic and safety records of endoscopic procedures are well documented in other surgical acts. Gynaecology in general and tubal infertility in particular, does not seem to constitute an exception, more so when their cost-effective ratio is considered alongside results. The different forms of endoscopic procedures have been shown to de-mystify and redefine the bounds of “unexplained infertility” by producing new diagnostic evidence. Novel minimal access surgical procedures have been shown to play not only a preventive but also a curative role in tubo-peritoneal infertility as well as other forms of infertility. In skilled hands, the various forms of endoscopic procedures can be combined in different ways to improve on the diagnosis and treatment afflicted patients. This management style referred to by some authors as “fertiloscopy” judiciously blends the use of laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, salpingoscopy, fimbroscopy and chromotubation with other conventional infertility work-up procedures to resolve infertility problems with very promising results. Infertility, its work-up and treatment are quite often time consuming with all the consequences, economic, social and particularly psychological attached to it. The ergonomics’ of infertility management has developed over time and has come up with the one-stop shop model for infertile couples. Minimal access procedures are apparently set to play a central and determinant role. With this in mind, the need to overview the path covered this far and also ponder on future orientations in view of improving on results can not be over emphasized.
Sound velocities of wadsleyite b-(Mg0.88Fe0.12)2SiO4 to 10 GPa

Abstract We measured the sound velocity of wadsleyite b-(Mg0.88Fe0.12)2SiO4 to 9.6 GPa at room temperature using ultrasonic techniques in a uniaxial split-cylinder apparatus using a polycrystalline specimen hot-pressed at 14 GPa and 1200°C. Bench-top velocity measurements yielded VP = 9.33(3) km/s and VS = 5.43(2) km/s; the calculated bulk modulus (K) and shear modulus (G) are 172(2) GPa and 106(1) GPa, respectively. These K and G values are indistinguishable from those for single crystal and polycrystalline specimens of Mg2SiO4-wadsleyite. Pressure derivatives of the bulk and shear moduli have been obtained by fitting the current experimental data to 9.6 GPa using third-order, finite strains equations, yielding K'S0 = 4.6(1) and G'0 = 1.5(1). From comparison with previous data for similar specimens and techniques, we observe no effect of iron content on the pressure derivatives of either the bulk or shear moduli, within the limited compositional range investigated
Boosting Fennel Plant yield and Components using Combination of Manure, Compost and Biofertilizers

Field experiments were conducted during the two successive seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 to investigate the response of Fennel plants to manure, compost and biofertilizers. Thus, natural possible alternatives to highly soluble fertilizers had been used as manure and compost mixture with and without biofertilizers (two bacterial strains) inoculation on fennel plants yield, essential oil production and constituents in comparison with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers (NPK) as control. The results revealed that manure and compost mixture with biofertilizers gave significant increases over control plants in all growth and chemical parameters. Where, the maximum value of fruit yield was recorded for plants received manure+compost +biofertilizers treatment in both seasons. The combined treatment of manure + compost + biofertilizers significantly increased the essential oil percentage as compared with the other treatments . The highest content of anethole as well as fenchone was obtained from NPK treatment. On the other hand, limonene resulted from the manure+ compost +biofertilizers treatment was higher than control. Myrcene compound was increased with manure + compost treatment in comparison with control. The highest value of estragole resulted from control plants, while the lowest amount of this compound was recorded from the treatment with manure+ compost +biofertilizers.
Moral Injury : An Emerging Concept in Combat Trauma

s: Articles should not include an abstract. Please note that we will consider articles outside of the theme. The Residents’ Journal accepts manuscripts authored by medical students, resident physicians, and fellows; manuscripts authored by members of faculty cannot be accepted. To submit a manuscript, please visit http://mc.manuscriptcentral. com/appi-ajp, and select “Residents” in the manuscript type field. Upcoming Issue Themes
N I

A high performance VLBI recorder project using advanced digital technology started in 1995. TOSHIBA GBR1000 and VLBI interface define 32 parallel, 32 MHz clock standard digital interface and support transparent recording/play-back to extremely high-speed digital bit stream. This is the formatter independent scientific recording bind the UTC to observed data. This highly reliable, low-bit-error-rate (10 -16 ) recording system is also expected to be used in other scientific field. For the first example to examine the recorder performance in VLBI, we had been prepared 1024 Mbps sampler (256/512/1024 MSps, 2 bit, 4/2/1 ch). And here, an experimental giga-bit correlator specification for these VLBI acquisition system is introduced.
Wage Effects of Employer-Mediated Transfers

We explore whether the way in which tax credits are disbursed affects the gross wage of workers. We exploit an unusual reform in Argentina that shifted the disbursement responsibility of child benefits from employers to a government agency in a staggered fashion, from 2003 to 2010. Using population-wide administrative data and an event-study approach based on firms’ switching dates set by the government, we show that the way tax credits are disbursed matters for the final economic incidence. Our evidence suggests that employers capture about 6-14 percent of the transfers through lower wages when they mediate the payments. We argue that in the firm-based system, transfers were likely understood as part of the starting compensation package and employers exploited this confusion to extract rents. Our findings therefore accord with the hypothesis that transfers are not entirely captured dollar for dollar by workers. More generally, this paper suggests that relying on firms as mediators in the tax-benefit system could have unintended consequences; as less salient schemes may lead to rent capture.
An adaptation of reference class forecasting for the assessment of large-scale urban planning vision, a SEM-ANN approach to the case of Hong Kong Lantau tomorrow

Abstract An outline strategic urban planning vision is a front-end government strategic plan with sparsely defined goals. Methods for an ex-ante appraisal of such sparsely defined vision are limited in the literature. By adapting a reference class forecasting (RCF) methodology, we propose an innovative two-stage combination of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) as an explainable ANN strategy to the appraisal of urban planning vision outline. The SEM-ANN operationalizes interaction between job, resident, and multi-modal accessibility in a public transport-dominated city. This strategy is applied to Lantau Tomorrow Vision in Hong Kong, as an extreme case study of a large, reclaimed island. The vision is broadly outlined as a New Town with a third CBD, residential and job targets, road and urban rail transport infrastructure routing, and an overall cost. The results show that the New Town scenario job/population goal should be plausibly attainable by increasing the transport infrastructure accessibility supply. Yet, the simulation indicates that the CBD3 employment goal based on CBD1 is out of range. Overall, our SEM-ANN method, as an adaptation of RCF, is of particular interest in front-end large-scale outline urban planning vision appraisal.
The Efficacy of Tournaments for Non-Routine Team Tasks

Tournaments are often used to improve performance in innovation contexts. Tournaments provide monetary incentives but also render teams’ identity and social-image concerns salient. We study the effects of tournaments on team performance in a non-routine task and identify the importance of these behavioral aspects. In a natural field experiment (n>1,700 participants), we vary the salience of team identity, social-image concerns, and whether teams face monetary incentives. Increased salience of team identity does not improve performance. Social-image motivates mainly the top-performing teams. Additional monetary incentives improve all teams’ outcomes without crowding out teams’ willingness to explore or perform similar tasks again.
Economic Studies on the Opioid Crisis: A Review

The United States has experienced an unprecedented crisis related to the misuse of and addiction to opioids. As of 2018, 128 Americans die each day of an opioid overdose, and total economic costs associated with opioid misuse are estimated to be more than $500 billion annually. The crisis has evolved in three phases, starting in the 1990s and continuing through 2010 with a massive increase in use of prescribed opioids associated with lax prescribing regulations and aggressive marketing eﬀorts by the pharmaceutical industry. A second phase included tightening restrictions on prescribed opioids, reformulation of some commonly misused prescription medications, and a shift to heroin consumption over the period 2010 to 2013. Since 2013, the third phase of the crisis has included a movement towards synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl, and a continued tightening of opioid prescribing regulations, along with the growth of both harm reduction and addiction treatment access policies. Economic research, using innovative frameworks, causal methods, and rich data, has added to our understanding of the causes and consequences of the crisis. This body of research also identiﬁes intended and unintended impacts of policies designed to address the crisis. Although there is general agreement that the causes of the crisis include a combination of supply- and demand-side factors, and interactions between them, there is less consensus regarding the relative importance of each. Studies show that regulations can reduce opioid prescribing but may have less impact on root causes of the crisis and, in some cases, have spillover eﬀects resulting in greater use of more harmful substances obtained in illicit markets, where regulation is less possible. There are eﬀective opioid use disorder treatments available, but access, stigma, and cost hurdles have stiﬂed utilization, resulting in a large degree of under-treatment in the U.S. How challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic may intersect with the opioid crisis is unclear. Emerging areas for future research include understanding how societal and healthcare systems disruptions aﬀect opioid use, as well as which regulations and policies most eﬀectively reduce potentially inappropriate prescription opioid use and illicit opioid sources without unintended negative consequences.
High plasticity in germination and establishment success in the dominant forest tree
 Fagus sylvatica
 across Europe

Aim: Distribution ranges of temperate tree species are shifting poleward and upslope into cooler environments due to global warming. Successful regeneration is crucial for population persistence and range expansion. Thus, we aimed to identify environmental variables that affect germination and seedling establishment of Europe's dominant forest tree, to compare the importance of plasticity and genetic variation for regeneration, and to evaluate the regeneration potential at and beyond the southern and northern distribution margins. Europe. Time period: 2016– 2018. Major taxa studied: European beech ( Fagus sylvatica (L.)). Methods: We investigated how germination, establishment and juvenile survival change across a reciprocal transplantation experiment using over 9,000 seeds of beech from 7 populations from its southern to its northern distribution range margins. Results: Germination and establishment at the seedling stage were highly plastic in response to environmental conditions. Germination success increased with warmer
WebTune: A Distributed Platform for Web Performance Measurements

—Web performance researchers have to regularly choose between synthetic and in-the-wild experiments. In the one hand, synthetic tests are useful to isolate what needs to be measured, but lack the realism of real networks, websites, and server-speciﬁc conﬁgurations. Even enumerating all these conditions can be challenging, and no existing tool or testbed currently allows for this. In this paper, as in life, we argue that unity makes strength : by sharing part of their experimenting resources, researchers can naturally build their desired realistic conditions without compromising on the ﬂexibility of synthetic tests. We take a step toward realizing this vision with WebTune, a distributed platform for web measurements. At a high level, WebTune seamlessly integrates with popular web measurements tool like Lighthouse and Puppeteer exposing to an experimenter ﬁne grained control on real networks and servers, as one would expect in synthetic tests. Under the hood, WebTune serves “Web-tuned” versions of websites which are cloned and distributed to a testing network built on resources donated by the community. We evaluate WebTune with respect to its cloning accuracy and the complexity of network conditions to be reproduced. Further, we demonstrate its functioning via a 5-nodes deployment.