Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Medical Expenses Analysis of Middle-Aged and Elderly Patients with Diabetes Mellitus in China

Objective Diabetes is one of the most serious and most critical health problems facing the world in the 21st century. The number of patients is increasing year by year, and it has a huge impact and burden on individuals and families, society and the country. This study estimates the medical expenses of diabetes in China and provides a basis for implementing diabetes prevention and treatment strategies. Methods Using the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), the propensity score matching (PSM) was used to solve the sample selection bias to study the impact of diabetes on residents' outpatient, hospitalization and total direct health expenditure. At the same time, attribution analysis is used to measure the part of the health expenditure of Chinese diabetic patients attributable to diabetes. Results Diabetes significantly increased the health expenditure of residents. The outpatient, hospitalization and total direct health expenditures of Chinese diabetic patients were significantly higher than those of non-diabetic patients. Among them, the difference in hospitalization expenses was the largest; 62.69% of the total expenditures of Chinese diabetic patients were attributed to diabetes. Conclusion Diabetes medical expenses are high, and diabetes-related treatment costs are high. We should expand the support and awareness of diabetes-related medical insurance compensation policies, strengthen early diabetes intervention and health education, and improve drug compensation policies to effectively reduce diabetes medical expenses.
Review of Time–Frequency Masking Approach for Improving Speech Intelligibility in Noise

Over the last decade, time–frequency masking techniques have been explored to achieve substantial improvement of speech intelligibility in noise. Binary or soft mask can be applied to the noisy speech for speech separation. Binary masking approach retains the time–frequency (T–F) units of the noise-corrupted signal where the target speech is stronger than the interfering noise, and removes the T–F units where the interfering noise is dominant. While binary mask is 0 or 1, soft mask can take any value mostly in the range from 0 to 1, and is closely related to the frequency domain Wiener filter gain. Motivated by intelligibility studies of speech synthesized using the ideal binary (or soft) mask, a number of subsequent researches on estimating T–F mask have been conducted for practical use. This paper reviews the T–F masking strategies, covering the definition, preliminary studies with ideal mask, and the estimation of mask in practice.
Role for artificial intelligence in respiratory diseases—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global healthcare challenge. It is highly prevalent in low-income countries, causes 3 million death per year and is projected to be the leading cause of death globally by 2030. Challenges in COPD management result in care quality gaps which impair timely and accurate diagnosis and limit patient stratification and provision of evidence-based interventions. COPD exacerbations are responsible for a large proportion of the disease-burden, adverse outcomes and healthcare costs. There is a requirement to re-orientate COPD exacerbation care from failure-driven reactive approach to one based on proactive preventative management. Service model adaptation supported by artificial intelligence (AI) tools offer the prospect of addressing these care-quality gaps and achieving this practice re-orientation. Progress with clinical applications of AI for COPD is accelerating. Evidence available demonstrates the potential of AI techniques to facilitate early and precise COPD case-finding and diagnosis, allow stratification with clinical decision support to prioritise management, and achieve accurate exacerbation detection/prediction to allow proactive interventions. In this narrative review, we will summarise current evidence for the application of AI to these COPD challenges, outline the barriers to implementation of AI models and present our opinion on the required next steps to realise the potential role for AI in COPD
Ionizing Radiation Effects in SONOS-Based Neuromorphic Inference Accelerators

We evaluate the sensitivity of neuromorphic inference accelerators based on silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) charge trap memory arrays to total ionizing dose (TID) effects. Data retention statistics were collected for 16 Mbit of 40-nm SONOS digital memory exposed to ionizing radiation from a Co-60 source, showing good retention of the bits up to the maximum dose of 500 krad(Si). Using this data, we formulate a rate-equation-based model for the TID response of trapped charge carriers in the ONO stack and predict the effect of TID on intermediate device states between “program” and “erase. ” This model is then used to simulate arrays of low-power, analog SONOS devices that store 8-bit neural network weights and support in situ matrix–vector multiplication. We evaluate the accuracy of the irradiated SONOS-based inference accelerator on two image recognition tasks—CIFAR-10 and the challenging ImageNet data set—using state-of-the-art convolutional neural networks, such as ResNet-50. We find that across the data sets and neural networks evaluated, the accelerator tolerates a maximum TID between 10 and 100 krad(Si), with deeper networks being more susceptible to accuracy losses due to TID.
Ameliorated Full-Endoscopic Transforaminal Decompression for L5–S1 Foraminal and Extraforaminal Stenosis

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Study Design: This is a retrospective review. Objective: To describe a modified surgical technique, full-endoscopic transforaminal decompression (FETD) in patients with L5–S1 foraminal stenosis or extraforaminal stenosis (EFS) and to detail the short-term results. Summary of Background Data: Performing FETD surgery for L5–S1 FS and EFS is challenging because of high iliac crests in most cases and the difficulty in accurately differentiating between FS and EFS by images preoperatively. Material and Methods: Patients who had solitary unilateral L5–S1 FS or EFS and had undergone FETD between October 2014 and December 2017 were included. In total, 22 patients underwent FETD for L5 root compressions at the L5–S1 levels. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year. Results: The mean visual analog scale score for back and leg pain, assessed preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively, improved from 6.3±1.7 to 1.59±1.30 and from 7.29±0.78 to 1.41±1.20, respectively. The mean Oswestry Disability Index improved from 61.53% preoperatively to 15.8% at 12 months postoperatively. Neurovascular injury–related complications were absent in all these cases. Conclusion: Successful short-term clinical outcome is achievable using the ameliorated FETD technique for treating L5–S1 FS and EFS.
Three-dimensional aperture principle for end-fire radiation antenna array

According to the two-dimensional aperture principle, directivity and gain are expected to be proportional to the aperture area of an antenna or antenna array. Our simulations and measurements of an end-fire radiation antenna array overturn this conventional wisdom. The gain of an end-fire antenna array is found to be much higher than that calculated by the two-dimensional aperture principle. We introduce a length component into the two-dimensional aperture principle and propose a three-dimensional aperture principle. A four-element end-fire antenna array is designed and measured to verify the correctness of this new principle. The three-dimensional aperture principle opens a pathway to novel types of aperture utilization.
Enhancement of Frequency Regulation in AC Microgrid: A Fuzzy-MPC Controlled Virtual Synchronous Generator

Electrical energy storage (EES) with a virtual synchronous generator (VSG) method is used widely for power fluctuation compensation in renewable energy microgrid systems. In the traditional VSG method, the inertia moment and damping coefficients usually remain constant. When dealing with large load variations, this method may cause obvious system frequency deviations and exceed the standard limit (e.g., IEEE Std 1547-2018). This paper proposes a novel control method combining fuzzy control with a model predictive controller (MPC) to solve this problem. The new method was applied to VSG. The virtual inertia and damping coefficient of VSG are on-line adjusted by a fuzzy controller, so that the regulation capability of the swing equation can be substantially utilized. The optimal rated power of VSG was modified using the MPC method, which further strengthens the EES support for power needs. The system frequency performance can be enhanced effectively under joint control. The simulation and experimental results further demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Striking the balance between professionalism and commercialism: A cross-case study on news start-ups in China

The conflict between professionalism and commercialism has been a challenge for journalistic practice for decades. Early research on news start-ups in the West reported few possibilities to resolve this conflict. This article draws on interviews and participatory observation of four Chinese news start-ups to examine their efforts to strike the balance. Results indicate that Chinese news start-ups are hybrids of business corporations and social instruments. In this dual operational model, advertorial service is both the rational choice to ensure profits and the root of the conflict between professionalism and commercialism. News start-ups implement business innovations and editorial modifications to cope with the situation. The former expands sources of income, which relieves the economic pressure on the editorial room, while the latter enhances media credibility, which translates to profits. Hence, the Chinese model of entrepreneurial journalism suggests possible directions for rebalancing professionalism and commercialism.
Public Perceptions about Nepalese National Parks: A Global Twitter Discourse Analysis

Abstract Public participation in managing natural resources is important but obtaining diverse perspectives remains challenging. To assess how Twitter, a globally popular and influential public forum, could provide insights into diverse views about natural resource management in developing countries, we examined tweets about Nepalese National Parks. The content and sentiments of >9,000 tweets posted by >4,500 Twitter users from >90 countries were evaluated. Most tweets were sent by accounts in Nepal, India, USA, UK, Australia and Canada, with tourism, charismatic fauna, landscapes, culture, ethnic people, and issues relating to managing parks common topics. Twitter users’ origin/home location influenced which park and topics they discuss and with what emotions. The number of Twitter users was not correlated with park visitation but rather tweets were often sent in response to specific events and news. Twitter can provide insights into perceptions about parks including in low income countries, but there are important limitations.
Genetic polymorphisms of 44 Y chromosomal genetic markers in the Inner Mongolia Han population and its genetic relationship analysis with other reference populations

Abstract Y chromosomal genetic markers in the non-recombining region are commonly used for human evolution research, familial searching, and forensic male differentiation since they strictly follow paternal inheritance. Y chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) possess extraordinarily advantages in forensic applications because of their high polymorphisms and special genetic pattern. Here, we assessed the genetic diversities of 41 Y-STRs and three Y chromosomal insertion/deletion (Y-InDels) loci in the Chinese Inner Mongolia Han population; besides, genetic differentiation analyses among the studied Han population and other previously reported populations were conducted based on 27 same Y-STRs. Totally, 425 alleles were observed in 324 Inner Mongolia Han individuals for these Y-markers. Gene diversities of these Y-markers distributed from 0.0306 to 0.9634. The haplotype diversity and discriminatory capacity of these Y-markers in the Inner Mongolia Han population were 0.9999 and 0.98457, respectively. Haplotype resolution comparisons of different Y-marker groups in the studied Han population revealed that higher haplotype resolution could be achieved for these 44 Y-markers. Population genetic analyses of the Inner Mongolia Han population and other reference populations demonstrated that the studied Han population had relatively closer genetic affinities with Northern Han Chinese populations than Southern Han and other minority groups. To sum up, these 44 Y-markers can be utilized as a valuable tool for male differentiation in the Inner Mongolia Han population.
THE EFFECT OF E-SERVICESCAPE DIMENSIONS ON CUSTOMER TRUST OF TOKOPEDIA E-STORE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

This research aims to reveal the effect of e-servicescape dimensions (aesthetic appeal, layout and functionality, and financial security) on customer trust of Tokopedia e-store. This research involved 200 respondents as the data were gained through an online questionnaire. Data analysis was run in SmartPLS software. From the test result, it is found that aesthetic appeal, layout and functionality, and financial security demonstrate a positive and significant effect on customer trust. Based on these findings, it is concluded that improving e-servicescape dimensions result in better customer trust of Tokopedia e-store. Further research may include more variables like the technology acceptance model (TAM) and e-WOM for enhancing the framework of this recent research to predict customer trust for the e-store.
Is wetter better? Exploring agriculturally-relevant rainfall characteristics over four decades in the Sahel

The semi-arid Sahel is a global hotspot for poverty and malnutrition. Rainfed agriculture is the main source of food and income, making the well-being of rural population highly sensitive to rainfall variability. Studies have reported an upward trend in annual precipitation in the Sahel since the drought of the 1970s and early ‘80s, yet farmers have questioned improvements in conditions for agriculture, suggesting that intraseasonal dynamics play a crucial role. Using high-resolution daily precipitation data spanning 1981–2017 and focusing on agriculturally-relevant areas of the Sahel, we re-examined the extent of rainfall increase and investigated whether the increases have been accompanied by changes in two aspects of intraseasonal variability that have relevance for agriculture: rainy season duration and occurrence of prolonged dry spells during vulnerable crop growth stages. We found that annual rainfall increased across 56% of the region, but remained largely the same elsewhere. Rainy season duration increased almost exclusively in areas with upward trends in annual precipitation (23% of them). Association between annual rain and dry spell occurrence was less clear: increasing and decreasing frequencies of false starts (dry spells after first rains) and post-floral dry spells (towards the end of the season) were found to almost equal extent both in areas with positive and those with no significant trend in annual precipitation. Overall, improvements in at least two of the three intraseasonal variables (and no declines in any) were found in 10% of the region, while over a half of the area experienced declines in at least one intraseasonal variable, or no improvement in any. We conclude that rainfall conditions for agriculture have improved overall only in scattered areas across the Sahel since the 1980s, and increased annual rainfall is only weakly, if at all, associated with changes in the agriculturally-relevant intraseasonal rainfall characteristics.
Research on Sensitive Measuring Points for Vibration Fault of NC Turret Based on Energy Flow and Transfer Path

Some equipment fault measurement points are difficult to determine. Thus, this study proposes a method using energy flow and transfer path to select sensitive measurement points. Firstly, based on the energy flow theory of the shell, the energy flow is taken as the physical quantity to describe the energy transfer of the structure vibration, and the energy-based transfer path analysis method is established. Secondly, the simulation model of the finite element energy flow was established by focusing on the NC turret, and the vector image of the energy flow transfer path of the NC turret shell was created. For the relationship between the vector images of the experimental and simulation energy flows, the validity of the finite element energy flow simulation results is verified. Lastly, three abnormal areas of the NC turret shell are identified by comparing and analyzing the energy flow vector images of the NC turret in the healthy and fault states, taking the poor meshing fault of the grooves as an example. By choosing nine test points in the abnormal areas and calculating the distribution rate of the transfer paths between the test points to the joint surfaces of the fluted disc, the energy flow distribution rate of the different fault positions to the test points is obtained. Calculation results enabled us to identify three measuring points that can accurately distinguish the fault location for a typical fault mode. This research combined energy flow theory and transfer path analysis method to determine the vibration fault sensitive measuring points of NC equipment. The proposed method is practical in the field of fault diagnosis and has broad application prospects.
An end-user evaluation to analyze the effectiveness of cartograms for mapping relative non-motorized accessibility

Relative accessibility is a widely studied approach that recognizes access to major locations as subjective and shaped by individual circumstances (e.g., individual preferences, habits, and cultural norms). One missing element in the knowledge base is how relative accessibility can be effectively mapped for decision-making. To fill the research gap, this paper evaluates whether cartograms are an appropriate tool for mapping relative accessibility, taking the city of Zaragoza, Spain as a case study. The research design included three phases: (i) elaboration of grid-based maps on relative non-motorized accessibility; (ii) elaboration of cartograms on relative non-motorized accessibility; (iii) an end-user evaluation with 30 local practitioners to analyze the effectiveness of cartograms to map relative accessibility compared to grid-based maps. Participants signaled that diffusion-based cartograms could be complementary to grid-based maps, providing better visualization of spatial dissimilarity patterns of accessibility between population groups. However, participants noted greater difficulty in identifying Dorling cartograms as an effective technique for mapping relative accessibility. The paper closes with a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the potential application of these visualization techniques in the field of accessibility planning.
Generation of ultrashort keV Ar+ ion pulses via femtosecond laser photoionization

Ion beams with energies in the keV regime are widely utilized in solid-state physics, but the ultrafast dynamics triggered by an ion impact onto a solid surface is to date exclusively accessible via simulations based on many untested assumptions and model parameters. A possible experimental access rests on the availability of a laser-synchronized ion source delivering sufficiently short ion pulses for time resolved pump–probe experiments. Here, we demonstrate a new miniaturized ion optical bunching setup for the creation of rare gas ion pulses using strong-field femtosecond laser photoionization. Neutral Ar gas atoms at room temperature are intercepted by a 50 fs, 800 nm laser pulse focused to ∼10 μm spot size. We demonstrate the generation of monoenergetic 2 keV Ar+ ion pulses with 180 ps duration (FWHM) at laser peak intensities around 1014 W cm−2 and of multiply charged Ar q+ ions (q = 1–5) at higher laser intensities. The results are in good agreement with detailed ion trajectory simulations, which show that the temporal resolution is essentially limited by the initial (thermal) velocity spread of the generated photo-ions, indicating the possibility to achieve even better time resolution by cooling the gas prior to ionization.
Wideband Multibeam SIW Horn Array With High Beam Isolation and Full Azimuth Coverage

This communication presents a Ka-band multibeam substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW) horn array implemented in a single-layer planar substrate. By conforming the array into a circular shape, the horn array covers full 360° azimuth range with 12 beams. Every adjacent beam overlaps each other at the half-power beam shoulders. A wideband matching is obtained with −10 dB reflection coefficients from 27.5 to 38 GHz. By suppressing the side-lobe levels to be lower than −20 dB, the mutual coupling between each SIW horn is less than −45 dB from 28 to 38 GHz. With a thin radiating aperture of 0.1 $6\lambda$ , a stable realized gain of each beam is achieved around 9.5 dBi, whereas it increases to 12.9 dBi when there is a conducting reflector closely beneath it. Due to the reflector, the main radiation directions tilt 30°, which enables the proposed multibeam antenna to be mounted on the ceiling while maintaining the communication for multiple users below. Results with a manufactured prototype well demonstrate the multibeam performance both in simulation and measurement with good agreement. In addition, it is compact and easy to be fabricated with common printed circuit board (PCB) techniques, also suitable to be integrated into microwave systems. It is promising for the application in beam-switched, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and omnidirectional systems.
The Impact of Remanufactured Products’ Similarity on Purchase Intention of New Products

The remanufacturing industry can realize sustainability by saving resources and protecting the environment. The remanufactured products have a high similarity with the new products, and how they affect consumers’ evaluation of the new products is an important issue. This paper discusses the relationship between the similarity of remanufactured products and consumers’ willingness to purchase new products, with a mediating effect of perceived quality and a moderating effect of brand reputation. The empirical analysis based on 498 valid samples shows our conclusions below. First, the similarity of remanufactured products has a significant negative impact on the purchase intention of new products. Second, the perceived quality of new products plays a partial mediating role between similarity and purchase intention. Third, brand reputation negatively moderates the relationship between the similarity of remanufactured products and the perceived quality of new products. Furthermore, brand reputation also moderates the mediating effect of the similarity of remanufactured products on the purchase intention of new products through the perceived quality of new products. This paper suggests a new perspective for the research of remanufactured products and provides an important reference for the healthy and sustainable development of recycling and remanufacturing industry.