Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Local Acidification on Benthic Communities at Shallow Hydrothermal Vents of the Aeolian Islands (Southern Tyrrhenian, Mediterranean Sea)

Simple Summary Ocean acidification is causing major changes in marine ecosystems, with varying levels of impact depending on the region and habitat investigated. Here, we report noticeable changes in both meio- and macrobenthic assemblages at shallow hydrothermal vents located in the Mediterranean Sea. In general, the areas impacted by the vent fluids showed decrease in the abundance of several taxa and a shift in community composition, but with a clear biomass reduction evident only for macrofauna. CO2 emissions at shallow hydrothermal vents cause a progressive simplification of community structure and a general biodiversity decline due to the loss of the most sensitive meio- and macrofaunal taxa, which were replaced by the more tolerant groups, such as oligochaetes, or highly mobile species, able to escape from extreme conditions. Our results provide new insight on the tolerance of marine meio- and macrofaunal taxa to the extreme conditions generated by hydrothermal vent emissions in shallow-water ecosystems. Abstract The Aeolian Islands (Mediterranean Sea) host a unique hydrothermal system called the “Smoking Land” due to the presence of over 200 volcanic CO2-vents, resulting in water acidification phenomena and the creation of an acidified benthic environment. Here, we report the results of a study conducted at three sites located at ca. 16, 40, and 80 m of depth, and characterized by CO2 emissions to assess the effects of acidification on meio- and macrobenthic assemblages. Acidification caused significant changes in both meio- and macrofaunal assemblages, with a clear decrease in terms of abundance and a shift in community composition. A noticeable reduction in biomass was observed only for macrofauna. The most sensitive meiofaunal taxa were kinorhynchs and turbellarians that disappeared at the CO2 sites, while the abundance of halacarids and ostracods increased, possibly as a result of the larger food availability and the lower predatory pressures by the sensitive meiofaunal and macrofaunal taxa. Sediment acidification also causes the disappearance of more sensitive macrofaunal taxa, such as gastropods, and the increase in tolerant taxa such as oligochaetes. We conclude that the effects of shallow CO2-vents result in the progressive simplification of community structure and biodiversity loss due to the disappearance of the most sensitive meio- and macrofaunal taxa.
Emorec: a new approach for detecting and improving the emotional state of learners in an e-learning environment

ABSTRACT In e-learning environments, several activities are offered to learners, including learning and assessment activities. During these activities, the learner may encounter difficulties, such as blocking situations or lack of motivation. This paper presents a new approach to detect these difficulties based on the learner’s emotional states and recommends solutions to motivate him/her. Our first contribution is recognizing the learner’s emotional state using two modules: facial expression recognition using a Gabor filter bank and vocal emotion recognition using MFCC features. Concerning the recommendations in these cases of difficulties, a psychological and/or pedagogical recommendation generator is proposed in this study; it is our second contribution. Three experiments to validate our approach were conducted on two groups of students: test and control. The results indicate that the proposed method improves the learner’s emotional state, motivation, and engagement time in the system.
Modeling and Trajectory Tracking Control of Robot Manipulators for Laser Cutting Industrial Application.

Robot manipulators are electromechanical devices whose functionality is similar to that of the arms of human beings. The problem with robot manipulators is that they are open loop unstable systems so it is important to stabilize the response of the robot manipulator. In this research project the robot manipulator is used for an industrial application of Laser Cutting. For this purpose trajectory tracking is important. The user will define any desired trajectory and the robot manipulator’s end effector is supposed to track the desired generated trajectory. For this purpose a PID controller is used which is tuned using iterative method. In this research work, simulations are carried out on a 2R robot manipulator with end griper using Simulink / Matlab Software. The end gripper is supposed to hold the laser that is meant to cut an object in a shape defined by user. In this paper, kinematic & dynamic models of robot manipulator, with and without uncertainties, will be presented and a PID controller will be designed to track the desired trajectory of the end effectorfor laser cutting applications
Mutliresolutional ensemble PartialNet for Alzheimer detection using magnetic resonance imaging data

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible and progressive disorder where a large number of brain cells and their connections degenerate and die, eventually destroy the memory and other important mental functions that affect memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior. Not a single test can effectively determine AD; however, CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to observe the decrease in size of different areas (mainly temporal and parietal lobes). This paper proposes an integrative deep ensemble learning framework to obtain better predictive performance for AD diagnosis. Unlike DenseNet, we present a multiresolutional ensemble PartialNet tailored to Alzheimer detection using brain MRIs. PartialNet incorporates the properties of identity mappings, diversified depth as well as deep supervision, thus, considers feature reuse that in turn results in better learning. Additionally, the proposed ensemble PartialNet demonstrates better characteristics in terms of vanishing gradient, diminishing forward flow with better training time, and a low number of parameters compared with DenseNet. Experiments performed on benchmark AD neuroimaging initiative data set that showed considerable performance gain (2 + % ↑ $\uparrow $ ) and (1.2 + % ↑ $\uparrow $ ) for multiclass and binary class in AD detection in comparison to state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Barriers and strategies for building information modelling implementation: a comparative study between New Zealand and China

Abstract Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a sharing platform that can present a parametric 3 D model with various project information in the form of a digital display. In recent years, BIM adoption has become increasing globally as the Architectural, Engineering, Construction (AEC) industry has recognised its benefits. Meanwhile, many challenges of BIM adoption in different countries have been well documented. To address the gap in literature, this study examines the differences and similarities of BIM adoption between New Zealand and China. A questionnaire was conducted across the two countries to investigate the barriers and strategies for the implementation of BIM. Data from 146 respondents was collected in New Zealand and China. The result shows that there is a difference in the perception of Knowledge Barrier, Technology Barrier, Internal Strategy and External Strategy (Legal/Technology viewpoint) between New Zealand professionals and Chinese professionals. The differences identified offer important implications for government agencies to promote BIM implementation and for BIM service providers to better target the end-users.
Implementation of Breastfeeding Policies at Workplace in Mexico: Analysis of Context Using a Realist Approach

Return to work is one of the most significant barriers to breastfeeding (BF). Family-friendly policies are critical to ensure that BF and maternal work are not mutually exclusive. This study aims to determine contextual factors and underlying mechanisms influencing the implementation of workplace policies in Mexico. Following a qualitative approach, the study was conducted in the following four cities in Mexico: Mérida, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, and Monterrey. Interviews were conducted in 14 workplaces, and included 49 (potential) beneficiaries, 41 male employees, and 21 managers and human resources personnel. The information collected was analyzed through a deductive thematic analysis and mapped against the Context-Mechanism-Outcome framework of Breastfeeding Interventions at the Workplace. Contextual factors influencing a BF-friendly environment in the workplace were as follows: work-schedule flexibility, provision of lactation services (i.e., BF counseling) other than a lactation room, women’s previous experience with BF and family-friendly environments in the workplace. The underlying mechanisms enabling/impeding a BF-friendly environment at the workplace were as follows: awareness of Mexican maternity protection legislation, usage of BF interventions in the workplace, culture, supervisor/co-worker support and BF-friendly physical space. To achieve a BF-friendly environment in the workplace, actions at the level of public policy and workplaces must accompany adherence to Mexican legislation.
Counselling the “split subject”: a psychodynamic analysis of career dissatisfaction

ABSTRACT The objective of our research is to analyse career dissatisfaction through the psychoanalytical lens of Jacques Lacan. Taking a multiple-case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven male, senior managers working in the highly competitive technology industry. We found that respondents are defining satisfaction against a socially constructed career system that obliterates the concept of an agentic self. By grounding our qualitative investigation in the research fields of career and career dissatisfaction in the under-researched realm of Lacanian theory, we extend career theory to include a psychodynamic lens. We also contribute to practice by providing an alternative approach to career counselling that encourages the client to co-construct a sense of liberation and empowerment.
Bird ringing and nest recording in Britain and Ireland in 2019

ABSTRACT This is the 83rd annual report of the British Trust for Ornithology’s Ringing Scheme, incorporating the report of the Nest Record Scheme and covering work carried out and data processed in 2019. In 2019, 130 CE sites submitted data. Long-term (1984–2018) declines in abundance were observed for five migrant, one partial migrant and four resident species while long-term increases in abundance continue to be recorded for two short-distance migrants and four resident species. Seven species are exhibiting significant long-term declines in productivity while only Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs is exhibiting a significant long-term increase. Long-term trends in survival indicate increases for 14 species and declines for six. Compared to the five-year mean (2014–18), the abundance of eight species decreased significantly in 2019, with five species being recorded in lower numbers than in any previous year since CES monitoring began. Significant increases in abundance were recorded for six species. Productivity increased significantly for two migrant and six resident species in 2019 and decreased for only one species; Productivity rates were higher in 2019 than in any previous year for Chaffinch. Significant declines in survival rate were observed in one species in 2019 compared to the five-year mean; no species exhibited a significant increase. The number of Retrapping Adults for Survival submissions increased slightly in 2019 to 195. In total, 59 species were monitored, with Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (22 projects), Starling Sturnus vulgaris (17), House Sparrow Passer domesticus (16), Sand Martin Riparia riparia (11) and Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus (10) the species most studied. A total of 1 050 520 birds were ringed during the year, comprising 181 766 nestlings, 518 575 first-year birds, 318 390 adults (birds in their second calendar year or older) and 31 789 birds whose age could not be determined. In addition, there were 243 775 recaptures of ringed birds at or near the ringing site. In total, 45 610 recoveries (birds found dead, recaptured or resighted at least 5 km from the place of ringing) of BTO-ringed birds were reported in 2019. The Appendix highlights a selection of recoveries that have extended our knowledge of movements, as well as longevity records established during the year. A total of 41 367 NRS submissions were received in 2019, higher than the previous season but otherwise the lowest annual total since 2013. Mean laying dates for 2019 were significantly earlier than the five-year mean (2014–18) for 12 of 52 species analysed and five species displayed a significant increase in breeding success (fledglings per breeding attempt). Permits or licences to disturb breeding birds on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), were prepared and issued to 547 ringers and nest recorders in 2019. During 2019, the use of special methods was authorised for 613 marking projects and 158 trapping projects.
Associated Sectors of Magnetic Recording Systems Using Spatially Coupled LDPC Codes

In traditional magnetic recording systems, non-associated sectors are mainly adopted, whereby two consecutive sectors are decoded independently by the low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes. In this paper, we propose a magnetic recording system with associated sectors, constructed using spatially coupled low-density parity-check (SC-LDPC) codes. If the SC-LDPC decoder cannot correct the erroneous bits in the current sector, it can request information stored in previous sectors to improve decoding performance. Moreover, we modify protograph-based extrinsic information transfer (P-EXIT) charts to examine the theoretical performance of SC-LDPC codes applied to both non-associated and associated sectors. Our theoretical results show that the associated sectors achieve significant performance gains compared to the traditional non-associated sectors.
Time course experiment using Fenestra VC and Fenestra HDVC contrast agents in small rodents for in vivo imaging

In vivo imaging, particularly micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), uses contrast agents to visualize the subject's vasculature. Small rodents have small blood volumes which limit the injectable dosage of contrast agent into their blood. To increase the contrast enhancement of the reconstructed images, iodine concentration is increased, and the injectable volume is decreased from 0.01 mL/g of 50 mg/mL Fenestra VC to 0.005 mL/g of 100 mg/mL Fenestra HDVC. Fenestra VC and Fenestra HDVC were diluted into 9 iodine concentrations ranging between 0-50 mg/mL for Fenestra VC and 0- 100 mg/mL for Fenestra HDVC. The dilution vials were imaged using the in vivo micro-CT scanner and measured for the mean CT numbers and standard deviations. The results graphed on a dilution graph shows that Fenestra HDVC with half the dosage volume has the same contrast enhancement as Fenestra VC for the same iodine concentration. The micro- CT scans for ten C57BL/6 female mice were used to determine the mean CT numbers using MicroView for the right atrium, liver, air, bladder, leg muscle, kidney, spleen, and vena cava. These regions were measured using 1mm3 region of interest at 8 time points: pre-contrast, post-contrast at t = 0, 8, 24, 48, 72 hours, 1 and 2 weeks. These in vivo values were compared between mice injected with Fenestra VC and Fenestra HDVC to show that half the dosage volume using Fenestra HDVC enhances like the full dosage volume using Fenestra VC. Thus, Fenestra HDVC may be a safer choice for in vivo rodent imaging.
Recent Developments in Metallic Nanomaterials for Cancer Therapy, Diagnosing and Imaging Applications

Cancer continues to represent a global health concern, imposing an ongoing need to research for better treatment alternatives. In this context, nanomedicine seems to be the solution to existing problems, bringing unprecedented results in various biomedical applications, including cancer therapy, diagnosing, and imaging. As numerous studies have uncovered the advantageous properties of various nanoscale metals, this review aims to present metal-based nanoparticles that are most frequently employed for cancer applications. This paper follows the description of relevant nanoparticles made of metals, metal derivatives, hybrids, and alloys, further discussing in more detail their potential applications in cancer management, ranging from the delivery of chemotherapeutics, vaccines, and genes to ablative hyperthermia therapies and theranostic platforms.
Newly learned shape–color associations show signatures of reliability-weighted averaging without forced fusion or a memory color effect

Reliability-weighted averaging of multiple perceptual estimates (or cues) can improve precision. Research suggests that newly learned statistical associations can be rapidly integrated in this way for efficient decision-making. Yet, it remains unclear if the integration of newly learned statistics into decision-making can directly influence perception, rather than taking place only at the decision stage. In two experiments, we implicitly taught observers novel associations between shape and color. Observers made color matches by adjusting the color of an oval to match a simultaneously presented reference. As the color of the oval changed across trials, so did its shape according to a novel mapping of axis ratio to color. Observers showed signatures of reliability-weighted averaging—a precision improvement in both experiments and reweighting of the newly learned shape cue with changes in uncertainty in Experiment 2. To ask whether this was accompanied by perceptual effects, Experiment 1 tested for forced fusion by measuring color discrimination thresholds with and without incongruent novel cues. Experiment 2 tested for a memory color effect, observers adjusting the color of ovals with different axis ratios until they appeared gray. There was no evidence for forced fusion and the opposite of a memory color effect. Overall, our results suggest that the ability to quickly learn novel cues and integrate them with familiar cues is not immediately (within the short duration of our experiments and in the domain of color and shape) accompanied by common perceptual effects.
Profiles of circular RNAs in human blood and their potential roles in preeclampsia

To identify circular RNAs (circRNAs) expression profiles in the blood of preeclampsia (PE) and healthy pregnant women, further clarify the possible mechanisms of circRNAs involved in the pathogenesis of PE.Methods: Whole blood samples were collected from 5 paired PE and healthy pregnant women, the differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were investigated by using high-throughput sequencing. Bioinformatics was performed to evaluate the sequencing results and obtain insights into possible mechanisms, such as GO and KEGG pathway analyses. Then, six DE-circRNAs were chosen and validated by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) in an enlarged sample size. Their diagnostic values were analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The establishment and analysis of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were made for the validated DE-circRNAs.Results: A total of 139 DE-circRNAs between PE and controls were revealed. Of them, 18 circRNAs were upregulated, and 31 circRNAs were downregulated (fold change >2 and P-value < 0.05). Three circRNAs (has-circ-0007717, has-circ-0006460, and has-circ-0093055) were higher in both blood of early-onset and late-onset PE patients. The ROC analysis showed area under the curve values of has-circ-0007717, has-circ-0006460, and has-circ-0093055 were 0.64 (P=0.11), 0.72 (P=0.01), and 0.72 (P=0.01), respectively. Then, the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA competing for endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) network comprised 2 circRNAs, 154 miRNAs, and 6 mRNAs. KEGG analysis of these mRNAs included immunity response-related pathways and cellular senescence.Conclusion: CeRNA regulatory network indicated that the DE-circRNAs might participate in the processes of cell immunity response.
Comprehensive Analysis of Endogenous Volatile Compounds, Transcriptome, and Enzyme Activity Reveals PmCAD1 Involved in Cinnamyl Alcohol Synthesis in Prunus mume

Floral scent is an important economic and ornamental trait of Prunus mume. The floral volatiles from most cultivars of P. mume in composition exist significant differences. Cinnamyl alcohol was one of the main floral volatile compounds with distinct abundances in different cultivars, namely, ‘Zaohua Lve,’ ‘Zao Yudie,’ ‘Fenpi Gongfen,’ ‘Jiangsha Gongfen,’ and ‘Fenhong Zhusha. ’ Based on the determination of endogenous volatiles of full-blooming flowers, vital enzyme activity and transcriptomes were comprehensively analyzed to screen the key potential genes involved in cinnamyl alcohol synthesis. Transcriptome combining with enzyme activity level analysis suggested that the expression levels of three PmCADs were highly correlated with the cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) enzyme activities in six cultivars. Furthermore, phylogenetic tree and transcriptome analysis suggested that PmCAD1 and PmCAD2 might contribute to the cinnamyl alcohol synthesis. Relative expression analyses and enzyme activity assays showed that PmCAD1 played an important role in cinnamyl alcohol biosynthesis in vitro. Overall, this research lays a theoretical foundation for clarifying comprehensively the molecular biosynthesis mechanism of floral volatiles in P. mume.
Technology Leadership Competencies Scale for Educational Administrators: Development, Validity and Reliability Study

The purpose of this paper is to develop a multiple item scale for measuring technology leadership competencies of educational administrators. The population of the study was formed by 127 school principals in Maltepe and Kadikoy districts in Istanbul. To obtain content validity, expert panel was made of 6 academics and 1 local information and computer technologies (ICT) coordinator and experts reviewed and rated the 56-items draft scale in terms of the relevance of each item with respect to study purpose (CVI=0.708). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) revealed that the measurement model accounted for 65.35% of total variance and factor loadings ranged between . 522 and . 838 (KMO=.899, p<.001). Based on the model fit and modification indices, three alternative models were constructed thus it was found that 32items five-factor structure (Model-4) was the best-fitting model (x2=645.527; x2/df= 1.416; CFI=.913; NFI=.759; RMSEA=.057). In the predictive validity study, the areas under the ROC curve for the entire scale were found to be 0.745 and . 712, suggesting cut-off point of 121.500 and 123.500 for total score. Overall internal consistency reliability of the scale was found to be . 943 with subscales ranging from . 939 -. 941. The split-half reliability was found to be 0.735. The values of item-total correlation ranged from . 449 to . 675.