Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nano-Zero-Valent Zinc-Modified Municipal Sludge Biochar for Phosphorus Removal

Municipal sludge biochar (MSBC) can be used to absorb phosphorus in water for waste treatment. Nano-zero-valent zinc (nZVZ) was uniformly attached to MSBC to obtain a highly efficient phosphorus-absorbing composite material, nZVZ–MSBC. Characterization by FTIR, XPS, XRD, and BET showed that nZVZ was uniformly dispersed on the surface of the MSBC. Zinc loading was able to greatly improve the adsorption performance of MSBC for phosphorus. Adsorption experiments illustrated that the adsorption process conformed to the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption amount was 186.5 mg/g, which is much higher than that for other municipal sludge biochars. The adsorption process reached 80% of the maximum adsorption capacity at 90 min, and this gradually stabilized after 240 min; adsorption equilibrium was reached within 24 h. The optimum pH for adsorption was 5. The main adsorption mechanism was chemical adsorption, but physical adsorption, external diffusion, internal diffusion, and surface adsorption also played roles. The potential for application as an efficient adsorbent of phosphorus from water was confirmed. In addition, a novel strategy for municipal sludge disposal and resource utilization is provided.
Distributional Prototypical Methods for Reliable Explanation Space Construction

As deep learning has been successfully deployed in diverse applications, there is an ever increasing need to explain its decision. To explain decisions, case-based reasoning has proved to be effective in many areas. The prototype-based explanation is a method that provides an explanation of the model’s prediction using the distance between an input and learned prototypes to effectively perform case-based reasoning. However, existing methods are less reliable because distance is not always consistent with human perception. In this study, we construct a latent space which we call an $explanation space$ with distributional embedding and latent space regularization. This explanation space ensures that similar (in terms of human-interpretable features) images share similar latent representations, and therefore provides a reliable explanation for the consistency between distance-based explanation and human perception. The explanation space also provides additional explanation by transition, allowing the user to understand the factors that affect the distance. Throughout extensive experiments including human evaluation, we have shown that the explanation space provides a more human-understandable explanation.
THE SYMMETRIC GROUP OF DEGREE SIX CAN BE COVERED BY 13 AND NO FEWER PROPER SUBGROUPS

In this note, we prove that the symmetric group of degree six can be covered by 13 and no fewer proper subgroups. This partially answers a question of M. J. Tomkinson (Groups as the union of proper subgroups, Math. Scand. 81(1997), 189-198) and gives a negative answer to a part of a conjecture of L. Serena (On finite covers of groups by subgroups, Advances in group theory 2002, 173-190, Aracne, Rome, 2003).
Meta-Learning Based Tasks Similarity Representation for Cross Domain Lifelong Learning

Deep neural networks perform better in most specific single tasks than humans, but it is hard to handle a sequence of new tasks from different domains. The deep learning-based models always need to remember the parameters of the learned tasks to perform well in the new tasks and forfeit the ability to generalize from previous data, which is inconsistent with human learning. We propose a novel lifelong learning framework that can guide the model to learn new knowledge without forgetting the old knowledge through learning the similarity representation based on meta-learning. Specifically, we employ a cross-domain triplets network (CDTN) by minimizing the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) between the current task and the knowledge base to learn the domain invariant similarity representation among tasks in different domains. Furthermore, we add a self-attention module to enhance the extraction of similarity features. Secondly, a soft attention network (SAN) which can assign different weights according to the learned similarity representation of tasks is proposed. In addition, a low-level feature enhancement module (LLEM) based on self-attention mechanisms is developed to capture domain-invariant similarity information. The experimental results show that our method effectively reduces catastrophic forgetting compared with the state-of-the-art methods when learning many tasks. Moreover, we show that the proposed method can hardly forget the old knowledge while continuously enhancing the performance of the old tasks, which is more in line with the human way of learning.
Psoriasis Patients Treated With Methotrexate Have an Increased Risk of Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Both psoriasis and methotrexate are associated with an increased risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer. The effect of methotrexate on the development of nonmelanoma skin cancer in patients with psoriasis is currently unknown. To evaluate this relationship, a systematic review of the literature was conducted using databases including Ovid Medline (from 1946), Scopus (from 1970), and Embase (from 1974) through June 2019. Observational comparative and case-control studies comparing psoriasis patients treated with methotrexate to those not treated with methotrexate with data on the subsequent development of nonmelanoma skin cancer in both cohorts were included based on prespecified criteria. Two reviewers analyzed all studies for relevant data, which were analyzed using OpenMeta-Analyst statistical software. Quality was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa method. Nine cohort and case-control comparative studies of 1,486 screened abstracts met the inclusion criteria. Of 11,875 reported patients with psoriasis, 2,192 were taking methotrexate. A meta-analysis demonstrated an odds ratio of 2.8 (95% confidence interval = 1.47-5.39; p = 0.002) for nonmelanoma skin cancer development in patients with psoriasis taking methotrexate compared with those not taking methotrexate. Based on these findings, psoriasis patients treated with methotrexate are at a significantly increased (2.8 times higher) risk of developing nonmelanoma skin cancer. Risk counseling can improve healthcare outcomes in patients with psoriasis.
Laplace ultradistributions supported by a cone

The space of Laplace ultradistributions supported by a convex proper cone is introduced. The Seeley type extension theorem for ultradifferentiable functions is proved. The Paley-Wiener-Schwartz type theorem for Laplace ultradistributions is shown. As an application, the structure theorem and the kernel theorem for this space of ultradistributions are given.
Diagnosis and treatment of crouch gait in children with cerebral palsy. Report from the 4th Edition of the Transatlantic Orthopedic Surgery Webinar 2022

Introduction. The fourth edition of the Transatlantic Orthopedic Surgery Webinar 2022 took place on December 12th, 2022. The main theme of the webinar was the treatment of crouch gait in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Speakers from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States participated. Results. The first general session presented the biomechanics of crouch gait, the function of the hip and knee muscles in children with CP, the principles of prevention and treatment of crouch gait in spastic diplegia, and the natural course and treatment outcomes of CP in adults. The surgical sessions comprehensively presented the surgical techniques for treating crouch gait: percutaneous myofasciotomy in the posterior knee joint, straightening osteotomy of the distal femur in hemiplegia, asymmetric and symmetric diplegia, techniques for shortening and plastically reconstructing the patellar ligament, anterior hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal femur, and transfer of the hamstring muscles to the rectus femoris muscle. The second general session presented postoperative standing and walking rehabilitation protocols and evaluation of treatment outcomes (pain, fatigue, ambulatory activity, motor function, and quality of life). Summary. The most important conclusions from the event were: do not lengthen the Achilles tendon in zone III in crouch gait; laboratory gait analysis is necessary before lengthening the hamstring muscles; hemiepiphysiodesis of the distal femur can be performed when the predicted growth period is less than two years; distal femur osteotomy should be considered during adolescence for knee flexion contracture of 10-40 degrees; treatment possibilities of tendon transfers and myofasciotomies should be remembered, especially in younger patients. The webinar attracted an audience of approximately 1,600 people from 672 centers located in 57 countries. Most participants came from Poland, the United Kingdom, the United States, Norway, Sweden, and India.
Improved RAPD Method for Candida parapsilosis Fingerprinting

Recently, methods based on the analysis of arbitrarily amplified target sites of genome microorganisms have been extensively applied in microbiological studies, and especially in epidemiological studies. The range of their application is limited by problems with discrimination and reproducibility resulting from a lack of standardized and reliable methods of optimization. The aim of this study was to obtain optimal parameters of the Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) reaction by using an orthogonal array as per the Taguchi and Wu protocol, modified by Cobb and Clark for Candida parapsilosis isolates. High Simpson’s index values and low Dice coefficients obtained in this study indicated a high level of interspecies DNA polymorphism between C. parapsilosis strains, and the optimized RAPD method proved useful in the microbiological and epidemiological study.
English-Learning 12-Month-Olds Do Not Map Function-Like Words to Objects

ABSTRACT By 12 months, English-learning infants have an awareness of the sound patterns of word forms that constitute acceptable labels for objects in their native language. In the following experiments, we replicated and extended previous findings that Canadian English-learning infants will not link function-like words with novel objects. Across three experiments using the Switch task, 101 infants living in Calgary, Canada, were habituated to two CV and VC word-object pairings. At test, infants did not look longer on the Switch trial and the Same trial, suggesting they did not form word-object associations between prototypical function words and a novel object in any of the experiments (ps>0.5). This set of null results extends prior research showing that Canadian English-learning infants will not link function-like words with novel objects and suggests that infants’ prior experience with their native language may constrain their learning of novel labels.
Experimental investigation of viscoplastic free-surface flows in a steady uniform regime

Abstract We present experimental results focused on the hydraulic properties of free-surface flows of viscoplastic fluids. The objective is to investigate the possibility of predicting macroscopic flow properties on the base of conventional rheometrical characterization of the fluids. The experiments are performed in an inclined conveyor-belt channel allowing us to generate gravity-driven surges which remain stationary in the laboratory frame. Two different types of materials are studied: Kaolin slurries and Carbopol microgels. Global height–velocity relationships and local velocity profiles are measured in the uniform zone for different experimental conditions (slope angle, rheological parameters). These data are then compared to theoretical predictions based on the Herschel–Bulkley constitutive law and independent measurements of the rheological parameters. Great care has been devoted to the determination of experimental uncertainties, including those associated with the rheometrical characterization. For Kaolin, the experimental results show excellent agreement with theoretical predictions. With Carbopol, on the contrary, a systematic discrepancy between measured and theoretical flow heights is observed. The velocity profiles do nevertheless remain consistent with a Herschel–Bulkley rheology, and we show that all experimental data can be explained by increasing the rheological parameters (yield stress and consistency) by 10–20 % compared to the values measured in the rheometer. Potential interpretations for this discrepancy are discussed.
A Narrative Review of Lifestyle Risk Factors and the Role of Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Hearing Loss

Age-related hearing loss affects a significant proportion of adults aged 60 years and above, with a prevalence of 65%. This condition has a negative impact on both physical and mental well-being, and while hearing interventions can help alleviate the effects of hearing loss, they cannot completely restore normal hearing or halt the progression of age-related hearing loss. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been identified as potential contributors to this condition. By addressing modifiable lifestyle risk factors that exacerbate oxidative stress, there may be an opportunity to prevent hearing loss. Therefore, this narrative review provides an overview of the major modifiable lifestyle risk factors associated with age-related hearing loss, that is, exposure to noise and ototoxic chemicals, smoking, diet, physical activity, and the presence of chronic lifestyle diseases, and offers an overview of the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of this condition.
On the scale-dependent turbulent convection velocity in a spatially developing flat plate turbulent boundary layer at Reynolds number $Re_{{\it\theta}}=13\,000$

The scale-dependent turbulent convection velocity of streamwise velocity fluctuations resolved by large eddy simulation is investigated for the first time across the whole profile of a zero-pressure-gradient spatially developing smooth flat plate boundary layer at $\mathit{Re}_{{\it\theta}}=13\,000$ . The high Reynolds number and streamwise heterogeneity constraints motivate the derivation of a dedicated new method to assess the frequency-dependent convection velocity from time signals and their local streamwise derivative, using estimates of power spectral densities (PSDs). This method is inspired by del Álamo & Jiménez (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 640, 2009, pp. 5–26), who treated a lower Reynolds number channel flow with a method suited to spectral direct numerical simulations of streamwise homogeneous flows. Reconstruction of the streamwise spectrum from the time spectrum using the scale-dependent convection velocity is illustrated and compared with classical strategies. The new method inherently includes not only the assessment of the validity of Taylor’s hypothesis, whose trend is remarkably consistent with theoretical predictions by Lin (Q. Appl. Maths, vol. X(4), 1953, 154–165), but also the definition of a global convection velocity accounting for any arbitrary frequency band. This global velocity is shown to coincide with a correlation-based method widely used in experiments. In addition to the mathematical least-squares definition of this velocity, new interpretations based on the flow physics and turbulent micro time scales are presented. Further, the group velocity is assessed and its relation to convection is discussed.
Structural and Optical Properties of Tungsten Disulfide Nanoscale Films Grown by Sulfurization from W and WO3

Tungsten disulfide (WS2) was prepared from W metal and WO3 by ion beam sputtering and sulfurization in a different number of layers, including monolayer, bilayer, six-layer, and nine-layer. To obtain better crystallinity, the nine-layer of WS2 was also prepared from W metal and sulfurized in a furnace at different temperatures (800, 850, 900, and 950 °C). X-ray diffraction revealed that WS2 has a 2-H crystal structure and the crystallinity improved with increasing sulfurization temperature, while the crystallinity of WS2 sulfurized from WO3 (WS2-WO3) is better than that sulfurized from W-metal (WS2-W). Raman spectra show that the full-width at half maximum (FWHM) of WS2-WO3 is narrower than that of WS2-W. We demonstrate that high-quality monocrystalline WS2 thin films can be prepared at wafer scale by sulfurization of WO3. The photoluminescence of the WS2 monolayer is strongly enhanced and centered at 1.98 eV. The transmittance of the WS2 monolayer exceeds 80%, and the measured band gap is 1.9 eV, as shown by ultraviolet-visible-infrared spectroscopy.
Early Baby Bathing Practice and its Associated Factors Among Mothers who Give Birth in the Past One Month in Gurage Zone, Ethiopia, 2022

Background Ethiopia has still suffered the highest burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The World Health Organization's practical guide for the thermal protection of newborns recommends delaying the bathing of newborns for at least 24 h following delivery, as it is crucial to prevent neonatal mortality and morbidity and to achieve 2030 sustainable development goals. However, little is known about delayed newborn bathing practices in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess early baby bathing practices and associated factors among postpartum women. Methods A mixed community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a total of 582 postnatal mothers. A multistage sampling technique was used to select study participants. A pre-tested and structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The data was entered into Epi-Data version 4.2. 0 and exported into SPSS version 23 for analysis. Three focus group discussions with postnatal mothers were used for qualitative data. A purposive sampling method was used. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used in the analysis. To declare statistically significant, p-values of . 05 were used. Result This study revealed that 250 (43%) mothers were practicing early newborn bathing. Early baby bathing was associated with antenatal care (ANC) follow-up (AOR = 5.1 = .95% CI = (2.6–9.9)), having no recent complications during birth (AOR = 1.9 = 95% CI = (1.02–3.6), having information about the time of baby bathing (AOR = 6.02, 95% CI = (3.9, 9.3)), knowledge of hypothermia (AOR = 3.3 = 95.6% CI (1.9–5.8), and poor knowledge about neonatal danger signs. Conclusion and Recommendation ANC follow-up, recent complications during birth, having information, knowledge about hypothermia, and neonatal danger signs were significantly associated with early baby bathing. Continuous health education on the appropriate time of baby bathing and neonatal danger signs and enhanced ANC service utilization are recommended.
The Coming of Age of Statistics Education in New Zealand, and its Influence Internationally

New Zealand has been leading the world in terms of the data handling, and in more recent years, data visualisation approach in its school statistics curriculum. In 2013, bootstrapping and randomisation were added to the senior secondary school (Ministry of Education 2012). This paper gives an historical perspective of the people and groups that have influenced this statistical literacy based curriculum, including the local professional statisticians' association, the New Zealand Statistical Association (NZSA). The paper includes a short analysis of factors contributing to the successful implementation of the curriculum and its possible long-term impact on tertiary statistics teaching. It also outlines the impact of some of these New Zealanders, such as Professors David Vere-Jones and Chris Wild, and also Maxine Pfannkuch and John Harraway, on statistics education internationally through their involvement in the International Association for Statistical Education (IASE) and their statistics education research activities.
Magnetic Resonance-Based Assessment of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study on Inter- and Intra-Rater Agreement

Background: The measurement of optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) as a non-invasive method of estimating intracranial pressure has been widely reported in the literature. However, few studies have evaluated the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing ONSD measurements, although it is considered a very reliable method, it is not easily repeatable, expensive and is not readily available bedside. Herein, an assessment of the intra- and inter-rater reliability of ONSD assessment using MRI was conducted. Methods: A consecutive, prospective cohort of patients with suspected idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus was analyzed. ONSD MRI measurements of the transverse and sagittal diameters at a distance of 3 mm behind the papilla were evaluated twice each by two expert neuroradiologists. The correlations between MRI examiners were calculated using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Results: Fifty patients were included in the study. ONSD MRI average measurements were substantially higher than clinically expected (>5 mm). Considering intra-rater concordance, only one of the two neuroradiologists achieved an excellent score at CCC. Only a moderate inter-observer CCC for MRI assessment was found at all diameters. Conclusions: The use of a widespread MRI sequence (3D T1) to measure ONSD is not an accurate method since it may overestimate measurements and is dependent upon an operator.
The Potential of Aerial Reconnaissance in the Detection, Mapping and 3D Reconstruction Modelling of Crop-Marked Military Components of Bohemia’s Postmedieval and Early Industrial Landscape

From the 17th to the 19th century, a score of military events, campaigns and battles took place in the Czech lands, leaving numerous traces and distinctly changing the appearance of the cultural landscape in some regions. The results of long-term aerial-archeological surveys in the Czech lands have demonstrated that this detection method is advantageous in identifying buried sites built in the past in the context of military conflicts. Experience hitherto has made it possible to label archeological remote sensing as a collection of the potentially most effective methods for uncovering sites of field fortifications dated to the modern period and the beginning of the industrial era. This includes finds of both solitary sites and segments of strategically built fortification lines. This paper is an attempt to critically evaluate these hitherto recorded landmarks which have been discovered and documented via aerial prospection from the 1990s to the present. At the same time, this study reflects on the possibilities offered by the modern methods of remote sensing which have played a significant role in the discovery, mapping, documentation, digital terrain modelling, and the 3D virtual reconstructions of these sites.
Solving a Component Assignment Problem for a Stochastic Flow Network under Lead-Time Constraint

Evaluation of system reliability in stochastic flow networks under time constraints depends on the transmission time of minimal paths. The lead-time of a minimal path plays an important role in calculating the transmission time. Component assignments not only affect on the lead-time of a path but also the reliability value. Components assignment problem subject to total lead-time is never discussed. Thus, this paper focuses on solving this problem under total-lead time constraint, in which each component has an assignment lead-time. Subsequently an optimization method based on genetic algorithm is proposed to search the optimal components for a minimum total lead-time that maximizes the system reliability. The mathematical programming formulation for the assignment problem with optimal network reliability subject to total lead-time is formulated and solved by the presented genetic algorithm. The presented algorithm is applied on two given examples with different number of available components to assert its efficiency in solving the given assignment problem.