Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Uncertainties and errors in predicting vehicle exhaust emissions using traffic flow models

Vehicle exhaust emissions predicted based on the outputs of traffic flow models are used directly to calculate traffic-related emissions, but also indirectly as input to 'air quality - human exposure' models. Both of which inform transport and environmental policies aimed at achieving sustainable mobility. To be effective, these must be based on robust modelling approaches that not only provide point-based emission predictions, but also inform these with an interval of confidence that properly accounts for the propagation of uncertainties and errors through the complex chain of models involved. This research develops a data-driven methodological framework to probabilistic average speed-based emission predictions using two widely deployed macroscopic traffic flow models. These are the Cell Transmission Model (CTM), a discretised first-order LWR-type model, and METANET, a discretised second-order Payne-type model. Studying both allows quantitative comparison in their application to predicting emissions. While this research discusses all potential sources of uncertainty in this modelling chain, it focusses on those arising from the traffic flow modelling output. The methodology starts with an ensemble-based optimisation approach to estimate both calibration and validation prediction errors in the traffic flow model, and then proposes a Monte Carlo sampling approach to propagate these to emission predictions. This allows predicting emissions alongside their upper and lower bounds for any time period and road network, at different levels of detail. To ensure transferability of findings, this methodology has been tested on three motorway road networks, one of which operates under Variable Speed Limits (VSL). This permits the quantitative assessment of VSL-modified traffic flow models. In the results of this research, emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and uncertainty associated with their prediction are specifically reported for each road network under study. Finally, this research argues that the methodological framework developed can (and should) be applied to any other (relatively) simple or complex integrated 'traffic flow - emission' modelling chain used as part of policy and decision making process.
Virtual Reality in Residential Aged Care: a study of adoption and system complexity

Virtual Reality (VR) has been increasingly adopted by residential aged care facilities (RACFs) for enriching residents’ experiences. RACFs are sensitive settings with complex sociocultural elements, thus aged care providers might experience challenges when introducing new technologies. This paper presents findings from a descriptive analysis of survey responses exploring the complexity brought about by adopting VR in RACFs. By understanding technology-in-use as socio-technical systems, this study draws on the work of Greenhalgh et al. to understand how the adoption of health-care technologies is influenced by complexity across seven domains: condition, technology, value proposition, adopter(s), organization(s), wider system, and adaptation over time. The paper details the design of a new survey instrument. Results indicate that it is challenging to sustain a VR program within RACFs due to the complexity arising from resi dents’ conditions and the technology itself, and the complicated challenges involving staff who facilitate VR activities and those who provide training.
Population dynamics and management of Pauropsylla tuberculata crawford on Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. BR

The studies on the “Population dynamics and management of Pauropsylla tuberculata Crawford on Alstonia scholaris (L.) R.Br. ” were conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during 2015 and 2016. Variation in population of psyllids during the year, morphological and anatomical changes brought about by the infestation of psyllids and the efficacy of different insecticides against the psyllids was studied at different locations. The pooled mean number of galls/leaf and galls/pod varied 10.17 to 47.37 and 3.04 to 44.48, respectively during the different months of the year. The mean psyllids emerged from galls on leaves and galls on pods ranged from 7.91 to 42.03 and 2.48 to 35.60, respectively. The population of psyllids with respect to galls per leaf and pods were positively correlated with the temperature (maximum and minimum), rainfall and negatively correlated with the relative humidity. P. tuberculata has five nymphal instars in its life cycle. The diameter of the gall chamber on Alstonia leaves of P. tuberculata ranged from 0.1 cm to 1 cm. The thickness of upper epidermis and lower epidermis was more in healthy leaves than infested leaves. In the mesophyll cells, the thickness of palisade tissues, spongy tissues and vascular bundles was more in the infested leaves as compared to healthy leaves. The total soluble sugar content, total soluble protein content and proline content was significantly higher in the infested leaves and pods as compared to healthy leaves and pods. Whereas, the chlorophyll content (both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) was significantly higher in healthy leaves and pods. Among the selected insecticides, Thiamethoxam 25 WG @ 0.3 g, 0.6 g and 0.9 g per litre of water resulted in 99.99 per cent nymphal mortality after 10 days of exposure during 2 nd spray under field conditions.
Clinical differences between delayed and acute onset postoperative spinal infection

Abstract Spine surgeons often encounter cases of delayed postoperative spinal infection (PSI). Delayed-onset PSI is a common clinical problem. However, since many studies have investigated acute PSIs, reports of delayed PSI are rare. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical features, treatment course, and prognosis of delayed PSI with acute PSI. Ninety-six patients diagnosed with postoperative spinal infection were enrolled in this study. Patients were classified into 2 groups: acute onset (AO) within 90 days (n = 73) and delayed onset (DO) after 90 days (n = 23). The baseline data, clinical manifestations, specific treatments, and treatment outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. The history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and metallic instrumentation at index surgery were more DO than the AO group. The causative organisms did not differ between the 2 groups. Redness or heat sensation around the surgical wound was more frequent in the AO group (47.9%) than in the DO group (21.7%) (P = .02). The mean C-reactive protein levels during infection diagnosis was 8.9 mg/dL in the AO and 4.0 mg/dL in the DO group (P = .02). All patients in the DO group had deep-layer infection. In the DO group, revision surgery and additional instrumentation were required, and the duration of parenteral antibiotic use and total antibiotic use was significantly longer than that in the AO group. Screw loosening, disc space collapse, and instability were higher in the DO group (65.2%) than in the AO group (41.1%) (P = .04). However, the length of hospital stay did not differ between the groups. Delayed-onset PSI requires more extensive and longer treatment than acute-onset surgical site infection. Clinicians should try to detect the surgical site infection as early as possible.
Dynamic distribution and correlation analysis of the angle kappa in myopia patients undergoing femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis

Abstract Purpose: To explore the offset distribution of pupillary centres, the offset between the pupil centre and the coaxially sighted corneal light reflex (P-Dist) and their correlation in femtosecond laser combined with excimer laser in situ keratomileusis. Methods: Randomly selected 194 patients (398 eyes) who underwent femtosecond-assisted laser in situ keratomileusis with preoperative use of WaveLight Allegro Topolyzer Corneal Topography (WaveLight Laser Technologies AG, Erlangen, Germany) to measure the pupil size and centre position. The P-Dist of the patients was recorded by the X and Y axis eyeball tracking adjustment program of the WaveLight Eagle Vision EX500 excimer laser system. Results: The P-Dist was 0.214 ± 0.092 mm in the right eyes and 0.228 ± 0.105 mm in the left eyes (P = .041). Under scotopic conditions, the pupil centre of left eye X-axis was −0.046 ± 0.091 mm, the right eye was −0.152 ± 0.084 mm, with significant differences (P = .015), and the Y-axis direction showed no significant changes (P = .062). The white to white was positively correlated with changes of pupil diameter (scotopic pupil diameter-photopic pupil diameter) (r = 0.270, P < .001). The equivalent spherical mirror and measured centroid shift were negatively correlated (r = −0.214, P = .002). Conclusion: The angle kappa of the right eye is smaller than that of the left eye and from scotopic to photopic condition, the pupil centroid shift of both eyes to the nasal inferior side. If the cornea is too large, the low illumination environment should be maintained during the operation to improve the efficiency of pupil matching.
On the use of the Pfizer and the Moderna COVID-19 mRNA vaccines in children and adolescents

This document provides a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis of the use of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines in children and adolescents, and it makes the case that the vaccines are neither needed nor safe and have not been proven to be efficacious, particularly when considering the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which currently dominates worldwide. In addition to the evidence of manifest harm from the US and EU adverse event reporting systems, it also addresses the risk of genotoxicity of the mRNA vaccines, which due to recent experimental evidence of their integration into host cell genomes must be considered urgent.
Micromechanics-based assessment of reliability and applicability of boundary measurements in symmetrical direct shear test

The development of discrete element method (DEM) provides an efficient tool to examine and appraise the performance of direct shear apparatus (DSA) to overcome the ambiguities arise from the complexity of stress and strain distributions involved. This paper presents DEM analyses of both macro and micromechanics responses of three-dimensional (3D) dense samples of 102248 glass spheres tested in virtual symmetrical DSA using the computer code SiGran. Particular emphasis is placed on the validation of the DEM model by comparing the results of DEM simulations with their physical counterparts at the macro-scale. The performance of the physical direct shear apparatus is optimized by exploring modifications to the symmetrical test configuration. The numerical results provide quantitative data on different forms of energy consumed during shearing confirming other published physical and numerical results found in the literature. The virtual DSA results are also discussed in terms of the coaxiality between the prin.
American films as an educational tool for character development of teenagers

American superhero-themed films can represent good characteristics and they could be a good way of developing one’s characteristics. By utilizing American animation, superhero and fantasy films as the main data such as Fantastic 4 (2005), Fantastic 4: Rise of Silver Surfer (2007), Frozen (2013), Black Panther (2018), Frozen II (2019), and Aladdin (2019), this qualitative research focuses on the significance of character development and the representations of good characteristics depicted in the films which can be used as a tool for character education. The process of analysis involved the use of Stuart Hall’s representation theory. The results of study suggested that character is something that is essential to develop, especially in teenagers and it is not only about having a good attitude, but it also involves living a good life. In addition, this study showed that at least five good characteristics such as caring, tolerance, politeness, solidarity and kindness frequently appeared in the observed films which can be used as media for teaching about characters at schools or informal educational institutions. Received : Dec. 14, 2021 Revised : April 11, 2022 Accepted : April 26, 2022
Molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 in Burkina Faso: successful challenge

COVID-19 has worsened the health situation in Burkina Faso. In fact, the country has known a peak of the second wave, which began in November, and ended around January 2021. Biological diagnosis has played a key role in the management of COVID-19. The aim of this review paper is to address the practical aspects that laboratories have faced in order to meet the challenge of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis in Burkina Faso. According to international requirements, Burkina Faso has used real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) as the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of COVID-19. From March 9, 2020 to July 31, 2021, in Burkina Faso, laboratories involved in COVID-19 diagnosis analyzed 226,189 samples by molecular tests and 2, 352 samples by rapid antigenic tests, whose peak was in January 2021 with 35,984 samples analyzed. The daily average rate of samples analysis was 456.02 tests. The majority of the individuals requesting COVID-19 tests were travelers (62.00%), followed by contact cases (18.42%), suspected cases (7.95%), voluntary screening (7.57%), and 4.06% of other applicants consisting of health care personnel and at-risk patients. In terms of prevention, vaccines are being administered to the general population. However, some efforts must be made to provide automated sample analysis equipment and complete sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 remains among the challenges.
Rational Inattention as an Empirical Framework for Discrete Choice and Consumer-Welfare Evaluation

The conventional discrete-choice model of demand assumes that consumers are fully informed about every available product alternative. This assumption is at odds with the large body of literature studying incomplete information and the role of the consumer's “evoked set” or “consideration set. ” The author develops a novel empirical discrete-choice demand model derived from an underlying theory of consumers' rational inattention. The model distinguishes between factors that shift demand through the utility function, such as prices and product attributes, and factors that shift demand through the consumer's information “evaluation costs. ” The author conducts an empirical case study of the laundry detergent category. Using a set of exclusion restrictions based on retail promotional instruments, specification tests select the rational inattention model over the conventional full-information discrete-choice model. Exploiting the launch of Tide Pods midway through the sample, the author demonstrates the role of evaluation costs for the measured value creation from a new product. A conventional discrete-choice model always assigns positive incremental consumer value from new products. However, the rational inattention model developed herein finds a decrease in overall consumer welfare from the new Tide Pods’ entry, with the increased friction in information associated with the larger choice set offsetting the potential gains from higher match value.
3D Printed Unidirectional Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers for aerospace applications

In order to save weight and reduce the impact on the environment, the aerospace industry keeps searching for strong and lightweight materials to reduce fuel consumption. A relatively new manufacturing technique made it possible to print nylon, reinforced with continuous unidirectional carbon fibres on a layer-by-layer basis and praised itself for making materials as strong as Aluminium 6061-T6. In this study, several coupons were 3D printed and tested in tensile, compression and three point bending mode to determine the material properties. When loaded in the direction of the fibres, the material did not live up to the upper limit of the rule of mixtures for fibre reinforced composites, which is mainly due to the amount of voids in the material. These voids were discovered when studying the micro-structure of the material and were both in between the layers, as well as in the layers themselves. The mechanical tests were performed to validate constructed finite element models, simulated in Abaqus/CAE. The simulation results showed some mismatches with the mechanical test results, which were caused by the assumptions made to simplify the models. Finally, an air plane chair bracket, which has as task to transfer loads from the back seat panel to the chair, was modelled, simulated and designed. Major issues in the designing process were the limitations of the printer, such as not being able to choose which exact areas to reinforce in a specific layer. The final design of the chair bracket was manufactured and was tested to see if it could withstand a load of 375 N. The part did not fracture under the load, but a high displacement of the back seat was observed, as well as damage occurring at other locations than the simulations indicated. The study showed that this 3D printing technique is able to print structural aerospace parts, given that the part is not too complex and that it is loaded in a static nature. More freedom in the design software of the 3D printer could allow the user to successfully design more complex structural aerospace parts. Since the constructed parts were only tested under static loading, further research has to be conduction into dynamic loading of these parts before it is possible to actually implement these in air planes.
A new tellurium‐based Ni3TeO6‐carbon nanotubes composite anode for Na‐ion battery

In this study, nickel tellurium oxide (Ni3TeO6) was composited with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through the high‐energy ball‐milling method and proposed as a high‐energy conversion‐type anode for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) for the first time. Upon mechanical milling, the Ni3TeO6 nanoparticles were uniformly encapsulated and wedged within the CNTs matrix, which produced a nano/micro hybrid structure. The interconnected CNT network in the composite provided conductive paths for rapid electron transport while effectively suppressing the local stress caused by large volume changes of Ni3TeO6 during the sodiation–desodiation process. The Ni3TeO6@CNTs exhibited a high Na+‐ion storage capacity of 495 mA h g−1, good cycling stability at 200 mA g−1, and high‐rate performance up to 2000 mA g−1.
Sociodemographic Factors and Comorbidities Including Hyperparathyroidism Are Associated With an Increased Risk of Band Keratopathy: A Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Purpose To investigate the association of comorbidities including hyperparathyroidism and sociodemographic factors with band keratopathy. Methods This retrospective, population-based, matched case-control study recruited 2,545 patients suffering from band keratopathy. They were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, based on the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code 371.43. The control group included 15,270 sex-, age-, and index date-matched non-band keratopathy patients collected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000. To compare band keratopathy patients with controls, McNemar’s test was used for nominal data and paired t- tests were used for continuous variables. Univariate conditional logistic regression analysis and multivariable conditional logistic regression were used to obtain the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted OR of developing band keratopathy. Results Patients with hyperparathyroidism were more likely to develop band keratopathy than controls (OR, 43.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23.789–79.544; P < 0.001) even after conditional logistic regression (adjusted OR, 11.28; 95% CI, 5.461–23.33; P < 0.001). Other conditions that increased the odds of scleritis development included systemic diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and ocular conditions such as iridocyclitis, phthisis bulbi, and ever silicone oil retention. Regarding sociodemographic factors, >40% of patients with band keratopathy were aged ≥65 years old. Moreover, patients living in Eastern Taiwan and fishermen had higher odds of developing band keratopathy. Conclusions Band keratopathy is significantly associated with hyperparathyroidism, CKD, DM, iridocyclitis, phthisis bulbi, and ever silicone oil retention.
The Association Between Emotion Recognition, Affective Empathy, and Structural Connectivity in Schizophrenia Patients

Introduction Emotion processing deficits often occur in patients with schizophrenia. We investigate whether patients and controls differ in the association between facial emotion recognition and experience of affective empathy and whether performance on these emotion processing domains differently relates to white matter connectivity. Materials and Methods Forty-seven patients with schizophrenia and 47 controls performed an emotion recognition and affective empathy task. T1-weighted and diffusion-tensor images (DTI) of the brain were acquired. Using Tracula 5.3, ten fibers were reconstructed and fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), and radial diffusivity (RD) were extracted. Groups were compared on task performance, white matter measures and their interactions using ANCOVAs. Correction for multiple comparisons was applied. Results Patients scored lower on emotion recognition (p = 0.037) and reported higher levels of affective empathy (p < 0.001) than controls. Patients with poor emotion recognition (PT-low) experienced stronger affective empathy than patients with similar emotion recognition performance as controls (PT-normal; p = 0.011), who in turn reported stronger affective empathy than controls (p = 0.043). We found a significant interaction between emotion recognition, affective empathy and anterior thalamic radiation AD (p = 0.017, d = 0.43). Post hoc analyses revealed that the correlation between AD and empathy differed significantly between all groups (empathy/AD in PT-low < empathy/AD in PT-normal < empathy/AD in controls). Discussion In patients with poor emotion recognition, the negative association between anterior thalamic radiation AD and affective empathy was stronger than in patients with normal emotion recognition capacity. Possibly, axonal damage in fronto-thalamic structural connections, as part of a larger frontotemporal network, underlies the association between poor emotion recognition and higher levels of affective empathy in schizophrenia patients.
Settlement and Load Sharing Behavior of Piled Raft Foundations Based on Long-Term Monitoring

This paper presents behavior of settlement and load sharing between piles and raft based on the long-term monitoring of eleven structures. For the three out of the eleven structures, foundation behavior during the 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake was successfully monitored. No significant changes in foundation settlement or load sharing were observed after the earthquake in these three buildings, and the foundation settlements were 18 to 27 mm and the ratio of the load carried by the piles to the effective load generally decreased as the pile spacing was increased while the ratio of the load carried by the piles varied from 0.4 to 0.9.