Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study for Compressible Turbulence Models

The incompressible models for the pressure-strain correlation are unable to correctly predict the turbulence flows evolving with significant compressibility. Huang and Fu use a damping function of the turbulent Mach number to modify two numerical coefficients of the incompressible model for the pressure strain developed by Launder, Reece and Rodi. This model predicts the spreading rate and the shear stress behavior in compressible turbulent mixing well. However, the model does not show the well-known compressibility effects on the compressible homogenous shear flow. In the present work, the model of Huang-Fu is revised, all resulting model coefficients become dependent on the turbulent Mach number, the gradient Mach number and the convective Mach number. The proposed model is tested in different compressible turbulent homogeneous shear flow and mixing layers cases. In general, the predicted results from the proposed model are in an acceptable agreement with DNS and experiment data.
Assessment of Multiple Ingest Strategies for Accumulo Key-Value Store

In recent years, the emergence of heterogeneous data, especially of the unstructured type, has been extremely rapid. The data growth happens concurrently in 3 dimensions: volume (size), velocity (growth rate) and variety (many types). This emerging trend has opened a new broad area of research, widely accepted as Big Data, which focuses on how to acquire, organize and manage huge amount of data effectively and efficiently. When coping with such Big Data, the traditional approach using RDBMS has been inefficient; because of this problem, a more efficient system named noSQL had to be created. This thesis will give an overview knowledge on the aforementioned noSQL systems and will then delve into a more specific instance of them which is Accumulo key-value store. Furthermore, since Accumulo is not designed with an ingest interface for users, this thesis focuses on investigating various methods for ingesting data, improving the performance and dealing with numerous parameters affecting this process.
Factors Influencing Change in Brain-Predicted Age Difference in a Cohort of Healthy Older Individuals

Background: There is considerable variability in the rate at which we age biologically, and the brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of aging. Objective: We examined the test-retest reliability of brain age at one- and three-year intervals and identified characteristics that predict the longitudinal change in brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD, defined by deviations of brain age from chronological age). Methods: T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired at three timepoints from 497 community-dwelling adults (73.8±3.5 years at baseline, 48% were female). Brain age was estimated from whole brain volume, using a publicly available algorithm trained on an independent dataset. Linear mixed models were used, adjusting for sex, age, and age2. Results: Excellent retest reliability of brain age was observed over one and three years. We identified a significant sex difference in brain-PAD, where a faster rate of brain aging (worsening in brain age relative to chronological age) was observed in men, and this finding replicated in secondary analyses. The effect size, however, was relatively weak, equivalent to 0.16 years difference per year. A higher score in physical health related quality of life and verbal fluency were associated with a faster rate of brain aging, while depression was linked to a slower rate of brain aging, but these findings were not robust. Conclusion: Our study provides consistent evidence that older men have slightly faster brain atrophy than women. Given the sparsity of longitudinal research on brain age in older populations, future prospective studies are needed to confirm our findings.
The Impact of Glaucoma on the Mental Health of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients Attending a Teaching Hospital in South East Nigeria

Objective: To evaluate the effect of glaucoma on the mental health of primary open-angle glaucoma patients using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based comparative study in which 180 glaucoma patients and controls 18 years and above who met the inclusion criteria were selected consecutively in the Eye Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, in 2017. Data were collected using a questionnaire and the HADS protocol. All the participants underwent comprehensive ocular examination, and glaucoma was graded using visual field perimetric indices and mean deviation. Results: The mean age for cases was 58.14 ± 13.88 years, whereas that of the control group was 57.19 ± 13.76 years. The majority of glaucoma respondents had the moderate form of the disease followed by the severe form. The glaucoma patients showed evidence of poor mental health with 59 (32.8%) of them anxious and 39 (21.7%) depressed compared to controls (P < 0.001). The mean scores for anxiety and depression were 6.02 ± 4.8 and 5.20 ± 4.5, respectively, for glaucoma patients, whereas those for the control group were 0.63 ± 1.8 and 0.64 ± 2.1, respectively (P < 0.001). There was no uniform correlation between the mental health of patients and the variables under study. Conclusion: Primary open-angle glaucoma affects the mental health of patients. This effect is worsened by the severity of the disease and influenced by the occupation and educational level of the patients. Multidisciplinary management of primary open-angle glaucoma patients is recommended.
On local conservation of information content in Schwarzschild black holes

The central equations in classical general relativity are the Einstein Field equations, which accurately describe not only the generation of pseudo-Riemannian curvature by matter and radiation manifesting as gravitational effects, but more importantly mass-energy dynamics, evolution and distribution on the space-time manifold. Herein, we introduce a geometric phase in general relativity corresponding to Schwarzschild black hole information content. This quantity appropriately satisfies a local conservation law subject to minimal coupling, with other desirable properties such as the quantization of the black hole horizon in units of Planck area. The local conservation law is imposed by field equations, which not only contain the trace of Einstein Field equations, but also a complex-valued function with properties analogous to the quantum-mechanical wave function. Such success attests to the utility of the proposed field equations in capturing key aspects of quantum gravity theories.
A Literature Review of Modelling and Experimental Studies of Water Treatment by Adsorption Processes on Nanomaterials

A significant growth in the future demand for water resources is expected. Hence researchers have focused on finding new technologies to develop water filtration systems by using experimental and simulation methods. These developments were mainly on membrane-based separation technology, and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants which play an important role in wastewater treatment by means of adsorption technology. In this work, we provide valuable critical review of the latest experimental and simulation methods on wastewater treatment by adsorption on nanomaterials for the removal of pollutants. First, we review the wastewater treatment processes that were carried out using membranes and nanoparticles. These processes are highlighted and discussed in detail according to the rate of pollutant expulsion, the adsorption capacity, and the effect of adsorption on nanoscale surfaces. Then we review the role of the adsorption process in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewater. We summarise the comparison based on decomposition ratios and degradation efficiency of pollutants. Therefore, the present article gives an evidence-based review of the rapid development of experimental and theoretical studies on wastewater treatment by adsorption processes. Lastly, the future direction of adsorption methods on water filtration processes is indicated.
Emulation of Wind Turbines

This chapter presents the modeling, simulation, and emulation for small wind turbine (WT) systems. The main objective of the emulation system is to reproduce the WT torque dynamic behavior in the generator shaft, which must be similar to one of real horizontal WTs used for distributed generation. The aerodynamic, mechanical, and electrical models for horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs) are presented in detail. The models are used for simulation analysis and emulation synthesis. The emulator consists a (i) computational platform, which is based on LabVIEW ® environment and runs the model of the WT and (ii) an induction motor (IM) with AC power drive with torque control. The IM shaft is directly coupled with the real small wind generator and corresponding load. Experimental waveforms are also presented to demonstrate the functionality of the system.
Board Characteristics and Financial Performance of Conglomerates in Nigeria

This study explores the influence of corporate board attributes on the financial performance of conglomerates in Nigeria. Board Size, Board Independence, Board Committees, Board Meetings, and Board Shareholdings served as indicators of board characteristics, while financial performance was measured by Return on Assets (ROA). As a consequence of the 10-year study period from 2011 to 2020, a sample of five quoted conglomerates was selected. Secondary data were obtained from the annual reports of the selected conglomerates using an ex-post facto research design. The regression method employed was panel data regression. The findings demonstrate that the size, independence, and stock holdings of the board and audit committee had a considerable effect on the financial performance of conglomerates in Nigeria. However, board meetings did not show any significant influence on the financial performance of Conglomerates in Nigeria. The study recommends reasonable synergy between board members and owners to maintain a reasonable board size, accountability, transparency, and teamwork in order to sustain board independence as an instrument or influence on the financial performance of conglomerates in Nigeria. At the same time and reduce the frequency of holding board meetings in order to minimize its adverse effects on the financial performance of conglomerates in Nigeria.
Automatic Classification Framework of Tongue Feature Based on Convolutional Neural Networks

Tongue diagnosis is an important part of the diagnostic process in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It primarily relies on the expertise and experience of TCM practitioners in identifying tongue features, which are subjective and unstable. We proposed a tongue feature classification framework based on convolutional neural networks to reduce the differences in diagnoses among TCM practitioners. Initially, we used our self-designed instrument to capture 482 tongue photos and created 11 data sets based on different features. Then, the tongue segmentation task was completed using an upgraded facial landmark detection method and UNET. Finally, we used ResNet34 as the backbone to extract features from the tongue photos and classify them. Experimental results show that our framework has excellent results with an overall accuracy of over 86 percent and is particularly sensitive to the corresponding feature regions, and thus it could assist TCM practitioners in making more accurate diagnoses.
Shear Bond Strength and Microleakage of Pit and Fissure Sealants Placed after Saliva-Contaminated Etched Enamel

Saliva contamination of etched enamel before sealant application is the most common reason for failure of fissure sealants, thus affecting the effect of caries prevention. This study aimed to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) and microleakage of resin-based fissure sealant on saliva-contaminated etched enamel after rinsing, re-etching, and applying universal adhesive. Fifty human third molars were sectioned into 2 parts and embedded in acrylic resin to obtained 100 samples. The samples were randomly assigned to 5 groups: 1, etching; 2, etching + contamination; 3, etching + contamination + rinsing; 4, etching + contamination+ re-etching; 5, etching + contamination + universal adhesive. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups: 24 h storage and 5000× thermocycling. After measuring SBS, failure mode was analyzed. In an additional 15 teeth, microleakage was tested using dye penetration method. Three more teeth were used for scanning electron microscope (SEM) observation of the enamel surface morphology in each group. The adhesive group had significantly higher mean SBS after 24 h storage, while the re-etching group were better after 5000× thermocycling. The etching, etching+ contamination+ re-etching, and etching+ contamination+ universal adhesive groups showed the least microleakage. The SEM reveals considerable variations in the enamel surface appearance within groups. Re-etching or applying universal adhesive in saliva-contaminated etched enamel before sealant can achieve satisfactory results. Considering the less operative steps and the shorter chair time, applying universal adhesive is more recommended for a pediatric patient if saliva-contamination happened before sealant application.
Novel Smart Sensor Technology Platform for Border Crossing Surveillance within FOLDOUT

In this paper we introduce AIT’s Smart Sensor Technology platform, developed within the FOLDOUT project (Through-foliage detection, including in the outermost regions of the EU). The novel platform is part of FOLDOUT’s solution for ground based border surveillance, and in particular detection of foliage penetration. The platform combines a high resolution (4K) RGB camera, a thermal camera, as well as a 30x zoom (2K) NIR low-light camera. It is designed to work day and night under strongly varying weather conditions, it is transportable and can be deployed in remote areas, as well as being self-sufficient if operated by battery. The typical sensor range is about 100-200m which can be adapted per specific usage. The platforming thobe used for surveillance of dedicated areas or by providing an open interface to be integrated into whole surveillance systems in which ground-based sensors are combined with high altitude sensors to provide both close and wide area coverages. The platform provides state-of-the-art AI-based detection algorithms for object detection and classification, for both RGB and thermal images. The individual detections are further fused by establishing coincidence in time and space between the individual detectors, where sensor is geo-localized for accurate target localization and visualization on a map of the area to be monitored.
BDP1 Alterations Correlate with Clinical Outcomes in Breast Cancer

Simple Summary Breast cancer accounts for 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States. The most common type of breast cancer is invasive breast cancer. A hallmark trait of breast cancer is uncontrolled cell growth due to genetic alterations. TFIIIB-mediated RNA polymerase III transcription is specifically deregulated in human cancers. The TFIIIB BDP1 subunit is not well characterized in human cancer. The objective of this study was to analyze publicly available clinical cancer datasets to determine if BDP1 alterations correlate with clinical outcomes in available breast cancer datasets. BDP1 copy number and expression negatively correlate with breast cancer outcomes, including stage, grade, and mortality. Abstract TFIIIB is deregulated in a variety of cancers. However, few studies investigate the TFIIIB subunit BDP1 in cancer. BDP1 has not been studied in breast cancer patients. Herein, we analyzed clinical breast cancer datasets to determine if BDP1 alterations correlate with clinical outcomes. BDP1 copy number (n = 1602; p = 8.03 × 10−9) and mRNA expression (n = 130; p = 0.002) are specifically decreased in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). In IDC, BDP1 copy number negatively correlates with high grade (n = 1992; p = 2.62 × 10−19) and advanced stage (n = 1992; p = 0.005). BDP1 mRNA expression also negatively correlated with high grade (n = 55; p = 6.81 × 10−4) and advanced stage (n = 593; p = 4.66 × 10−4) IDC. Decreased BDP1 expression correlated with poor clinical outcomes (n = 295 samples): a metastatic event at three years (p = 7.79 × 10−7) and cancer reoccurrence at three years (p = 4.81 × 10−7) in IDC. Decreased BDP1 mRNA correlates with patient death at three (p = 9.90 × 10−6) and five (p = 1.02 × 10−6) years. Both BDP1 copy number (n = 3785; p = 1.0 × 10−14) and mRNA expression (n = 2434; p = 5.23 × 10−6) are altered in triple-negative invasive breast cancer (TNBC). Together, these data suggest a role for BDP1 as potential biomarker in breast cancer and additional studies are warranted.
Influence of Abiotic Factors on Classroom Environment and Students Learning

ABSTRACT: Classroom is a place where student learn numerous skills, knowledge, generate new thoughts and ideas as well as increase their abilities towards affective learning. However, it is noticed school systems are running with dark, congested classrooms that affects student’s learning. The present cross sectional study was designed to assess effect of abiotic component of classroom environment on the students learning. 175 students of Lahore school of nursing at The University of Lahore were considered. Convenience representative method was used. Sample size was 122 according to Slovins’ formula. 41% of the respondents were agreed that proper lightning and temperature of class room plays an essential role in the learning of students and they learned in more suitable way and can enhance their comprehension field. It was noticed that student’s performance and learning enhanced by properly arranging class room environment especially abiotic factors such as light, temperature and air conditions. It was concluded that students are worth of any organization and for proper utilization of their skills it is very important to focus on class room environment
Surface Rupture on a Secondary Fault Associated with the 8 August 2020 Mw 5.1 Sparta North Carolina Earthquake

On 8 August 2020, northwest North Carolina experienced an Mw 5.1 earthquake that caused damage to buildings and roads in the city of Sparta. A regional centroid moment tensor solution shows that the earthquake was the result of slip on a reverse fault with a minor strike-slip component. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data, from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Advanced Land Observing Satellite #2 (ALOS2) satellite, reveal a deformation field that is more complex than expected from a single reverse fault earthquake. The data also reveal an apparent fault rupture at the Earth’s surface that caused damage to local roads. Modeling of the InSAR deformation field indicates the fault rupture is associated with a very shallow normal faulting event with an equivalent Mw of about 5.1 that overprinted the reverse fault deformation field and possibly occurred aseismically.
Fish Community Structure in River Ossiomo, Niger Delta, Nigeria in Relation to Some Selected Environmental Variables

In the past decade, it has been reported that water quality of rivers are deteriorating increasingly. In this study we examined the state of River Ossiomo to assess the current health of the river for a period of 24 months from April 2019 to March 2020, then July 2020 to May 2021 in three well marked out stations. The study was to determine the relationship between environmental variables and fish species assemblage in the river. From the results of the physico-chemical variables, the mean values of pollution indicating physico-chemical variables such as sulphate (1.26+0.32mg/l) and total suspended solids (TSS) (5.53+1.89mg/l) were higher in station 2. On the other hand, pH (5.94+0.48), DO (8.64+1.57mg/l), turbidity (7.48+7.63NTU), TDS (29.64+14.65mg/l) and phosphate (0.43+0.31mg/l) mean values were highest in station 1. Conductivity (70.87+26.42µS/cm) and nitrate (0.49+0.34mg/l) mean values were highest in station 3. Further, dissolved oxygen (DO) was higher in station 1, the reference station. The analysis of variance (ANOVA), we performed for the physico-chemical variables revealed that temperature, conductivity, DO, total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity, TSS, sulphate, phosphate and nitrate were significantly different among the three stations sampled (P<0.05), while pH, BOD and turbidity were not significant among the three stations sampled (P>0.05). The result of the principal component analysis showed that conductivity was positively associated with station 3, and temperature, TDS and alkalinity were negatively associated with stations 1 and 2. A total of 2,324 fish individuals belonging to 29 taxa were recorded in the entire study period. Station 1 harbours more fish species (1018), followed by station 2 (809), and we recorded the lowest number of fish individuals in station 3 (497). Auchenoglanis occidentalis was the most preponderant fish species probably occasioned by its level of adaptation to prevailing environmental conditions in the study river. The least abundant fish species was Synodontis eupterus.The canonical correspondence analysis we used in visualizing the relationship between fish species and physico-chemical variables showed that fish taxa such as Distichodus brevipinni, Cteropoma kinsleyae, Tilapia zillii, Malapterarus electricus, Mormyrus engystoma, and Synodontis nigita that were positively associated with pollution indicating physico-chemical variables were suggested as indicators for monitoring riverine health in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. We recommend that more detailed studies should be carried out in River Ossiomo to confirm this result. However, this study serves as a baseline study in the present study area.
Understanding the Interactive Digital Media Marketplace: Frameworks, Platforms, Communities and Issues

Ravi S. Sharma is an Associate Professor at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at the Nanyang Technological University since 2004. He is the Principal Investigator of an NRF-funded project on Interactive Digital Enterprises. He spent the previous 10 years in industry as Asean Communications Industry Principal at IBM Global Services and Director of the Multimedia Competency Centre of Deutsche Telekom Asia. He has (co-) authored over 100 technical papers in various journals, conferences, trade publications, and the broadcast media. Ravi S. Sharma (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), Margaret Tan (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and Francis Pereira (University of Southern California, USA)