Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Personas for Artificial Intelligence (AI) An Open Source Toolbox

Personas have successfully supported the development of classical user interfaces for more than two decades by mapping users’ mental models to specific contexts. The rapid proliferation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications makes it necessary to create new approaches for future human-AI interfaces. Human-AI interfaces differ from classical human-computer interfaces in many ways, such as gaining some degree of human-like cognitive, self-executing, and self-adaptive capabilities and autonomy, and generating unexpected outputs that require non-deterministic interactions. Moreover, the most successful AI approaches are so-called "black box" systems, where the technology and the machine learning process are opaque to the user and the AI output is far not intuitive. This work shows how the personas method can be adapted to support the development of human-centered AI applications, and we demonstrate this on the example of a medical context. This work is - to our knowledge - the first to provide personas for AI using an openly available Personas for AI toolbox. The toolbox contains guidelines and material supporting persona development for AI as well as templates and pictures for persona visualisation. It is ready to use and freely available to the international research and development community. Additionally, an example from medical AI is provided as a best practice use case. This work is intended to help foster the development of novel human-AI interfaces that will be urgently needed in the near future.
AUTOMATIC POINT CLOUD NOISE MASKING IN CLOSE RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY FOR BUILDINGS USING AI-BASED SEMANTIC LABELLING

Abstract. The use of AI in semantic segmentation has grown significantly in recent years, aided by developments in computing power and the availability of annotated images for training data. However, in the context of close-range photogrammetry, although working with 2D images, AI is still used mostly for 3D point cloud segmentation purposes. In this paper, we propose a simple method to apply such methods in close range photogrammetry by benefitting from deep learning-based semantic segmentation. Specifically, AI was used to detect unwanted objects in a scene involving the 3D reconstruction of a historical building façade. For these purposes, classes e.g., sky, trees, and electricity poles were considered as noise. Masks were then created from the results which would then constraint the dense image matching process to only the wanted classes. In this regard, the resulting dense point cloud essentially projected the 2D semantic labels into the 3D space, thus excluding noise and unwanted object classes from the 3D scene. Our results were compared to manual image masking and managed to achieve comparable results while requiring only a fraction of the processing time when using a pre-trained DL network to do the task.
Perspectives and Prospective on Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems

Combating multiple drug resistance necessitates the delivery of drug molecules at the cellular level. Novel drug delivery formulations have made it possible to improve the therapeutic effects of drugs and have opened up new possibilities for research. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), a class of colloidal drug carriers made of lipids, have emerged as potentially effective drug delivery systems. The use of SLNs is associated with numerous advantages such as low toxicity, high bioavailability of drugs, versatility in the incorporation of hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, and the potential for production of large quantities of the carrier systems. The SLNs and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are the two most frequently used types of nanoparticles. These types of nanoparticles can be adjusted to deliver medications in specific dosages to specific tissues, while minimizing leakage and binding to non-target tissues.
Anatomical Characterization, HPLC Analysis, and Biological Activities of Ilex dipyrena

Ilex dipyrena Wall (Aquifoliaceae), is a traditional medicinal plant abundantly found in India and Pakistan. In the current research work, initially, the anatomical characteristics were recorded through microscopic examination of selected plant parts, such as leaf, petiole, and midrib. Then, the quantitative phytochemical screening was performed using standard tests reported in literature. The whole-plant powdered sample was then soaked in methanol to obtain crude extract, which was then fractionated into solvents of different polarities to obtain ethyl acetate, chloroform, butanol, hexane, and aqueous extracts. The phytochemical composition of the crude ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts (being the most active fractions) was then confirmed through HPLC analyses, where the possible phytochemical present were predicted through comparison of retention time of a given compound peak with the available standards. The extracts were also evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant and ani-lipoxygenase potentials using standard methods. The microscopic examination revealed the presence of anomocytic type stomata on the abaxial side of the leaf as well as unicellular trichrome and calcium oxalate druses crystals in the midrib and petiole, with a single, centered U-shaped collateral arterial bundle, which was directed toward the adaxial and the phloem toward the abaxial sides of the selected plant parts, respectively. Almost all tested representative groups of phytochemicals and essential minerals were detected in the selected plant, whereas five possible phytochemicals were confirmed in crude and chloroform extract and seven in ethyl acetate fraction. As antioxidant, chloroform fraction was more potent, which exhibited an IC50 value of 64.99, 69.15, and 268.52 µg/mL, determined through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. Ethyl acetate extract was also equally potent against the tested free radicals. Chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts were also potent against lipoxygenase, with IC50 value of 75.99 and 106.11 µg/mL, respectively. Based on the results of biological studies, Ilex dipyrena was found to good inhibitor of free radicals and lipoxygenase that could be further investigated to isolate compounds of medicinal importance.
Pain Neuroscience Education and Motor Control Exercises versus Core Stability Exercises on Pain, Disability, and Balance in Women with Chronic Low Back Pain

Background: Several interventions have been used to relieve chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study aimed to compare the effects of pain neuroscience education (PNE) followed by motor control exercises (MCEs) with core stability training (CST) on pain, disability, and balance in women with CLBP. Methods: Thirty-seven women with CLBP were randomly divided into two groups of PNE/MCE (n = 18, 55.2 ± 2.6 years) or CST (n = 19, 54.6 ± 2.4 years). Eight weeks of PNE/MCE or CST were prescribed for each group, independently. Pain intensity (VAS scale), disability (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire), unipodal static balance, and dynamic balance (time up and go test) were measured at the beginning and 8 weeks after the intervention. Two-way mixed ANOVA was used to analyze the results with alpha of 5%. Results: After 8 weeks, there was a significant difference in VAS scale between groups (p = 0.024), with both PNE/MCE and CST showing 58% and 42% reductions, respectively. There were no differences for all other variables between groups. Regarding pre- to post-comparisons, both groups showed improvements in all dependent variables (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The treatment with PNE/MCE was more effective in improving pain disability and unipodal static and dynamic balance than treatment with CST. Even so, both treatments were shown to be valid and safe in improving all dependent variables analyzed in women with CLBP.
Use of Fungal Mycelium as Biosupport in the Formation of Lichen-like Structure: Recovery of Algal Grown in Sugarcane Molasses for Lipid Accumulation and Balanced Fatty Acid Profile

In this study, a lichen-like structure was obtained through the production of a unique biomass, formed by algae cells of Scenedesmus obliquus adhering to the mycelium of filamentous fungal Mucor circinelloides. This structure was composed in two steps; in the first one, microalgal cells and spores were incubated separately, and in the second one, after 72 h of growth, isolated, mature mycelium was harvested and added to cell culture. For spores’ incubation, a culture medium containing only 2 g·L−1 of glucose and minerals was used. This culture medium, with low sugar content, provided a fungal biomass to the anchorage of microalgae cells. WC medium was used without and with sugarcane molasses supplementation for microalgae cells’ incubation. The lichen-type structure that was formed resulted in 99.7% efficiency in the recovery of microalgae cells and in up to 80% efficiency in the recovery of algae biomass in the lichen biomass composition. In addition, the resulting consortium attained a satisfactory lipid accumulation value (38.2 wt%) with a balanced fatty acid composition of 52.7% saturated plus monounsaturated fatty acids and 47.4% polyunsaturated fatty acids. Since fungal species are easy to recover, unlike microalgae, the lichen-like structure produced indicates an efficient low-cost bioremediation and harvesting alternative; in addition, it provides an oleaginous biomass for various industrial applications.
Games and Assessment: Measuring How Course Content Impacts Race-Talk

Background: Race-talk reduces racial prejudice, presents correct information regarding race, improves racial literacy, and encourages positive race relations. Purpose: This research demonstrates how experiential learning in the form of a game measures Race and Ethnicity course curriculum effectiveness. Methodology/Approach: We used a live version of the game Guess Who (Hasbro) at the beginning and end of the semester and assessed students’ reflections of the game to measure changes in race-talk. Findings/Conclusions: The results indicate courses focusing on institutional racism for 16 weeks may produce a change in race-talk. Implications: Students benefit from this activity by growing in their racial literacy, and instructors benefit by using the game to assess their curriculum's effectiveness.
Amplicon sequencing reveals the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal community composition in Cryptomeria japonica at one local site

ABSTRACT Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonize the plant root endosphere and extend the host’s resource network. However, little is known about the method to characterize the intraradical AMF communities of a specific tree species in forests. Therefore, we aimed at testing a method for characterizing and comparing the extra- and intraradical AMF communities of Cryptomeria japonica (Cupressaceae). In February 2020, we tracked and sampled roots from 5 target trees and the surrounding soil and confirmed their identity using plan DNA barcoding methods. After a microscopic analysis of mycorrhizal root colonization, we used Illumina amplicon sequencing to characterize the corresponding AMF communities. The C. japonica roots were colonized by AMF, displaying the Paris- and Arum-types of mycorrhizae. At 100% sequence identity, amplicon sequences of the small-subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene clustered into 155 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), 33 and 139 in the intra- and extraradical AMF communities, respectively, corresponding to three families and five genera. Nevertheless, only Acaulospora, Glomus, and Rhizophagus were detected in the root samples. The AMF communities did not significantly differ between the root and the surrounding soil, but we observed a significant nestedness pattern in the community. To avoid erroneous conclusions, combining plant DNA barcoding with amplicon sequencing is a reliable approach, which we recommend for future studies to describe the intraradical AMF community of a specific tree species in forests.
Melatonin in Brassicaceae: Role in Postharvest and Interesting Phytochemicals

Brassicaceae plants are of great interest for human consumption due to their wide variety and nutritional qualities. Of the more than 4000 species that make up this family, about a hundred varieties of 6–8 genera are extensively cultivated. One of the most interesting aspects is its high content of glucosinolates, which are plant secondary metabolites with widely demonstrated anti-oncogenic properties that make them healthy. The most relevant Brassicaceae studies related to food and melatonin are examined in this paper. The role of melatonin as a beneficial agent in seedling grown mainly in cabbage and rapeseed and in the postharvest preservation of broccoli is especially analyzed. The beneficial effect of melatonin treatments on the organoleptic properties of these commonly consumed vegetables can be of great interest in the agri-food industry. Melatonin application extends the shelf life of fresh-cut broccoli while maintaining optimal visual and nutritional parameters. In addition, an integrated model indicating the role of melatonin on the organoleptic properties, the biosynthesis of glucosinolates and the regulatory action of these health-relevant compounds with anti-oncogenic activity is presented.
Acute and Long-Term Effects of Concurrent Resistance and Swimming Training on Swimming Performance

Dry-land resistance exercise (RT) is routinely applied concurrent to swimming (SWIM) training sessions in a year-round training plan. To date, the impact of the acute effect of RT on SWIM or SWIM on RT performance and the long-term RT-SWIM or SWIM-RT training outcome has received limited attention. The existing studies indicate that acute RT or SWIM training may temporarily decrease subsequent muscle function. Concurrent application of RT-SWIM or SWIM-RT may induce similar physiological alterations. Such alterations are dependent on the recovery duration between sessions. Considering the long-term effects of RT-SWIM, the limited existing data present improvements in front crawl swimming performance, dry-land upper and lower body maximum strength, and peak power in swim turn. Accordingly, SWIM-RT training order induces swimming performance improvements in front crawl and increments in maximum dry-land upper and lower body strength. Concurrent application of RT-SWIM or SWIM-RT training applied within a training day leads in similar performance gains after six to twelve weeks of training. The current review suggests that recovery duration between RT and SWIM is a predisposing factor that may determine the training outcome. Competitive swimmers may benefit after concurrent application with both training order scenarios during a training cycle.
Dielectric constants of bulk ferroelectric PZT measured by terahertz time-domain spectroscopy

The complex permittivity of bulk ceramic ferroelectric of nominal composition PbZr0.4Ti0. 6O3 was measured in the range 0.2–2 THz using transmission time-domain spectroscopy. The results indicate strong absorption and dispersion in this frequency range as often seen in highly disordered and polar materials. The results are compared to equivalent thin film data in the literature, and significant differences in the real and imaginary permittivity suggest that substrate clamping and degree of polarisation of the ferroelectric thin film materials affect dielectric properties even at these high frequencies.
Channel protection - gabion mattresses and concrete blocks

Tests were carried out with loose solid concrete blocks, scale models of 300mm thick Reno mattresses (1:5 scale), and cabled and interlocking blocks both at a scale of 1:8. The materials were placed on a flat bed and tested for a wide range of flow conditions, from normal river flow to very high levels of turbulence.
Analysis on autonomous vehicle detection performance according to various road geometry settings

Abstract This study investigates the probability of visibility limitation of autonomous driving system sensors under various road geometry conditions. This limited visibility can be a concern for the safety of the transportation system, while it is believed that the reliable autonomous driving system will improve traffic safety based on the enhanced detection and recognition capability of autonomous vehicle sensors. So, this study is conducted with the assumption that inadequate road geometry specifications can negatively affect the reliability of the sensor performance and ultimately increase autonomous vehicle crash risks. First, the study analyzes the forward detection range of an autonomous vehicle’s light detection system and radar sensors, which are affected by road curvature and slope. Second, the forward detection range of an AV is analyzed according to the actual road geometry data of expressways, national highways, and urban roads. The findings of this study emphasizes that even though autonomous vehicle manufacturers claim that their vehicles are equipped with specific automation levels allowing these vehicles to be safely driven on a particular road category, there are certain road sections that will be difficult for autonomous vehicles to traverse because of poor road geometry. Furthermore, by estimating forward detection range relative to actual road geometry data, it is demonstrated that the performance requirement level of autonomous driving systems increases when road geometries are less complex.
Analysis and design of cable-driven parallel kinematic mechanisms.

This thesis concerns the analysis and design of cable-driven parallel mechanisms (CDPM). Structurally, a CDPM is formed by replacing the supporting legs of a parallel mechanism with active cables. It has the advantages of simple mechanical structure, low moment of inertia, and high speed motion. One distinctive characteristic of CDPMs is the unilateral property of the cables, i.e. cables can only pull but not push. At present, the design and application of CDPMs are limited and there is a lack of systematic analysis methods for CDPMs. This work aims to lay down a framework for the analysis, design and application of fully restrained CDPMs. The forward kinematics of a CDPM is difficult because of its closed-loop structures. Numerical Newton-Raphson method is employed to obtain the forward displacement solutions. This method is modified to improve its computational aspect by establishing the mapping between the Newton-Raphson matrix and the Jacobian matrix. It is important to ensure suitable tension conditions in CDPMs such that the pose of the moving platform can be fully restrained by at least one appropriate set of positive cable tensions. Three tension conditions for CDPMs are identified and formulated. They are the force-closure condition, the feasible wrench condition and the wrench set condition. A recursive dimension reduction method is proposed to decompose an n-dimensional system into a number of 1-dimensional subsystems. To facilitate the checking of tension conditions, three algorithms FCC, FWC and WSC are developed and computational examples show that they are effective in checking the conditions. Generic strategies of numerically generating and quantifying the workspace are investigated by identifying the geometrical constraints. A tension factor is proposed to be used as a performance index to evaluate the quality of force closure for CDPMs at a specific configuration. Subsequently, a global tension index is defined to evaluate the tension quality over the entire workspace. The results provide valuable insight into the design optimization problems of CDPMs. A novel cable winding mechanism to provide a stationary contacting point and a constant relation between the cable length and actuator rotation is presented. The features are useful in simplifying the system dynamic model as well as in improving the dynamic performance of the system. The formulation of the system dynamic model of CDPMs is derived. The existence of torque solutions can be systematically checked by the feasible wrench condition, enabling the optimal torque values to be obtained using optimization algorithms. The validity of the theoretical analysis such as kinematics, cable tension and workspace is verified by experimental results obtained using a prototype cable-driven planar mechanism. i ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
Peer feedback decreases impulsive choice in adolescents with and without attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Abstract Background Impulsivity is a core feature of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Previous work using the delay discounting task to assess impulsivity reveals that adolescents with ADHD tend to prefer a smaller‐immediate reward over a larger‐delayed reward, and this relates to problematic choices in daily life. To gain a better understanding of daily decision‐making in adolescence, it is important to examine the social context, as peers have a major influence on decisions. Peer influence often has a negative connotation, but also provides an opportunity to promote positive outcomes. To date, it is unclear if peers affect impulsive decision‐making in adolescents with ADHD, for better or for worse. Methods The aim of this preregistered study was to examine the effect of peer feedback on impulsive choice in male adolescents with and without ADHD (ages 13–23; N = 113). We utilized an adapted delay discounting task that was administered alone, in a social condition, and alone again. In the social condition, adolescents received either (between‐subjects) manipulated impulsive or non‐impulsive peer feedback. Impulsive peer feedback consisted of likes for choosing the smaller immediate reward, whereas non‐impulsive peers endorsed choosing the larger delayed reward. Results Preregistered analyses showed that non‐impulsive peer feedback resulted in decreased impulsive choice, whereas impulsive peer feedback did not alter decision‐making in adolescents with and without ADHD. Explorative analyses of inattention and hyperactivity‐impulsivity symptoms in the total sample, irrespective of diagnosis, showed that lower hyperactivity–impulsivity and more inattention symptoms were associated with increased susceptibility to non‐impulsive peer feedback. Conclusions Together, these findings indicate that peers may provide an opportunity to decrease impulsivity and emphasize individual differences in susceptibility to non‐impulsive peer feedback related to inattention and hyperactivity–impulsivity. Therefore, peer feedback may be a promising component in behavioral peer‐supported interventions in adolescents with ADHD.
Human activities modulate greening patterns: a case study for southern Xinjiang in China based on long time series analysis

Greening of the Earth is observed during the past several decades and both climatic and non-climatic factors drive this process. However, the greening spatio-temporal patterns and the role of human activities such as agricultural intensification in hyper-arid regions remain unclear. This study aimed to (a) reveal the greening pattern in China’s southern Xinjiang using satellite estimations of normalized difference vegetation index and leaf area index data during 1982–2019, and (b) examine the impacts of human activities in terms of land use land cover (LULC) data. Our multi-decadal analysis is ideal to reveal long-term trends and support a better understanding of the anthropogenic effects in this hyper-arid and endorheic region. The results showed that vegetation as a whole increased significantly in southern Xinjiang and the greening rate of cropland was much higher than the other LULC types. Significant greening was found over >90% of cropland, while insignificant changes and browning trends were found over nearly half the area of the other LULCs. The proportion of greening areas was more than 80% within 1 km from human-dominated areas while the proportion decreased to 40% with distances >15 km. The spatial heterogeneity of the greening indicated that, despite widely reported beneficial effects of warmer and wetter climate for a general greening trend, human activities could be the dominant factor modulating the greening rates disproportionately over different LULCs in arid and hyper-arid areas.