Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Participatory Approach for Digital Documentation of Egyptian Bedouins' Intangible Cultural Heritage

The Bedouins of Egypt hold a unique intangible cultural heritage (ICH), with distinct cultural values and social practices that are rapidly changing as a consequence of having settled after having been nomadic for centuries. We present our attempt to develop a bottom-up approach to document Bedouin ICH. Grounded in participatory design practices, the project purpose was two-fold: engaging Egyptian Engineering undergraduates with culturally-distant technology users and introducing digital self-documentation of ICH to the Bedouin community. We report the design of a didactic model that deployed the students as research partners to co-design four prototypes of ICH documentation mobile applications with the community. The prototypes reflected an advanced understanding for the values to the Bedouins brought by digital documentation practices. Drawing from our experience, three recommendations were elicited for similar ICH projects. Namely, focusing on the community benefits; promoting motivation ownership, and authenticity; and pursuing a shared identity between designers and community members. These guidelines hold a strong value as they have been tested against local challenges that could have been detrimental to the project.
Interprofessional Health Care Escape Room for Advanced Learners.

BACKGROUND Interprofessional education is essential to ensure that health care graduates are prepared for collaborative practice. One way to prepare students for interprofessional practice is to expose them to interprofessional activities throughout their educational program. METHOD In this article, we present the design and curricular implementation of an interprofessional health care escape room-a type of serious game in which teams of interprofessional participants were provided with a fictitious case. The participants were given 1 hour to work together to solve puzzles and create a postdischarge care plan for the patient. RESULTS Seven hundred eighty-six students, across four professions, have participated in this experience as part of an academic course. The results were positive: 89.5% of participants found that the activity improved communication and teamwork, and 94.1% felt that team members were listened to. CONCLUSION This report demonstrates the value of an interactive interprofessional activity for advanced learners. [J Nurs Educ. 2020;59(1):46-50. ].
Biomass Estimation for Semiarid Vegetation and Mine Rehabilitation Using Worldview-3 and Sentinel-1 SAR Imagery

The surface mining activities in grassland and rangeland zones directly affect the livestock production, forage quality, and regional grassland resources. Mine rehabilitation is necessary for accelerating the recovery of the grassland ecosystem. In this work, we investigate the integration of data obtained via a synthetic aperture radar (Sentinel-1 SAR) with data obtained by optical remote sensing (Worldview-3, WV-3) in order to monitor the conditions of a vegetation area rehabilitated after coal mining in North China. The above-ground biomass (AGB) is used as an indicator of the rehabilitated vegetation conditions and the success of mine rehabilitation. The wavelet principal component analysis is used for the fusion of the WV-3 and Sentinel-1 SAR images. Furthermore, a multiple linear regression model is applied based on the relationship between the remote sensing features and the AGB field measurements. Our results show that WV-3 enhanced vegetation indices (EVI), mean texture from band8 (near infrared band2, NIR2), the SAR vertical and horizon (VH) polarization, and band 8 (NIR2) from the fused image have higher correlation coefficient value with the field-measured AGB. The proposed AGB estimation model combining WV-3 and Sentinel 1A SAR imagery yields higher model accuracy (R2 = 0.79 and RMSE = 22.82 g/m2) compared to that obtained with any of the two datasets only. Besides improving AGB estimation, the proposed model can also reduce the uncertainty range by 7 g m−2 on average. These results demonstrate the potential of new multispectral high-resolution datasets, such as Sentinel-1 SAR and Worldview-3, in providing timely and accurate AGB estimation for mine rehabilitation planning and management.
Critical roles of long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer

Breast cancer is a major clinical challenge that affects a wide range of the female population and heavily burdens the health system. In the past few decades, attempts have been made to understand the etiology of breast cancer, possible environmental risk factors, and the genetic predispositions, pathogenesis, and molecular aberrations involved in the process. Studies have shown that breast cancer is a heterogeneous entity; each subtype has its specific set of aberrations in different cell signaling pathways, such as Notch, Wnt/β‐catenin, transforming growth factor‐β, and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways. One novel group of molecules that have been shown to be inducted in the regulation of multiple cell signaling pathways is the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). These molecules have important implications in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by interacting with various genes, affecting the transcription process, and finally, playing roles in posttranslational control of these genes. There is growing evidence that lncRNAs are involved in the process of breast cancer formation by effecting the aforementioned signaling pathways, and that this involvement can have significant diagnostic and prognostic values in clinical contexts. The present review aims to elicit the significance of lncRNAs in the regulation of cell signaling pathways, and the resulting changes in cell survival, proliferation, and invasion, which are the hallmarks of breast cancer.
Préparation et caractérisation de surfaces poreuses ordonnées en polymères en vue d'applications médicales.

Les stents ureteraux et les sondes de nephrostomie sont constitues de silicone ou de polyurethane thermoplastique (TPU). Afin de limiter les risques infectieux lors de leur implantation, une modification topographique par creation de pores permettrait de limiter l’adhesion des bacteries et de former des reservoirs pour une liberation in situ de substances antiinfectieuses. Ce travail vise a preparer des surfaces en polymere ayant un motif poreux tubulaire ordonne. Une replication en deux temps a partir de surfaces ordonnees poreuses d’oxyde d’aluminium (PAAO) preparees par 2 methodes (double anodisation douce et double anodisation dure/douce) a ete mise en œuvre pour reproduire le motif initial sur des surfaces en silicone et TPU. Pour le moule intermediaire trois materiaux ont ete testes (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polystyrene et resine polyacrylate). Les surfaces ont toutes ete caracterisees par des techniques microscopiques et spectroscopiques. Les surfaces en PAAO preparees par double anodisation douce possedaient des pores d’environ 50 nm de diametre et 100 nm de profondeur, alors que celles obtenues apres mise au point de la methode dure/douce etaient de taille superieure, d’environ 125 nm de diametre et ayant des profondeurs de quelques centaines de nanometres. La surface du moule intermediaire est constituee de picots. Une adhesion laterale de ceux-ci a ete observee pour certaines conditions. La meilleure replication du motif a ete obtenue pour le TPU. Les surfaces ainsi obtenues pourront etre utilisees et optimisees lors de l'etude ulterieure de l'adhesion du biofilm.
DEV127209 3713..3720

Post-transcriptional regulation of stem cell self-renewal by microRNAs is emerging as an important mechanism controlling tissue homeostasis. Here, we provide evidence that bantam microRNA controls neuroblast number and proliferation in the Drosophila central brain. Bantam also supports proliferation of transit-amplifying intermediate neural progenitor cells in type II neuroblast lineages. The stem cell factors brat and prospero are identified as bantam targets acting on different aspects of these processes. Thus, bantam appears to act in multiple regulatory steps in the maintenance and proliferation of neuroblasts and their progeny to regulate growth of the central brain.
Scheduling DDoS Cloud Scrubbing in ISP Networks via Randomized Online Auctions

While both Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and third-party Security Service Providers (SSPs) offer Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) mitigation services through cloud-based scrubbing centers, it is often beneficial for ISPs to outsource part of the traffic scrubbing to SSPs to achieve less economic cost and better network performance. To explore this potential, we design an online auction mechanism, featured by the challenge of the switching cost of using different winning bids over time. Formulating the social cost minimization as a nonconvex integer program, we firstly relax it and design an online algorithm that breaks it into a series of modified single-shot problems and solves each of them in polynomial time, without requiring knowledge of future inputs; then, we design a randomized rounding algorithm to convert the fractional decisions into integers without violating any constraints; and finally, we design the payment for each bid based on its winning probability. We rigorously prove that our mechanism achieves a parameterized-constant competitive ratio for the long-term social cost, with truthfulness and individual rationality in expectation. We also exhibit its superior practical performance via evaluations driven by real-world data traces.
NEW DEVELOPMENT IN HIGH RESOLUTION ACOUSTIC IMAGING FOR MATERIALS EVALUATION

This review describes recent advances in highresolution acoustical imaging and quantitative acoustic microscopy for material evaluation. The theoretical basis, as well as experimental fundamentals for quantitative characterization of the contrast response in the acoustic microscope, will be described. Together with the well known V(z) method, new techniques for the measurement of acoustical parameters will be discussed. This will include the V(x, t) method, ultrasonic microspectrometry, air-coupling pair measurement technique for the reflection mode, as well as the A(z) method for the transmission mode. Improvement of imaging resolution using higher harmonics is one of the priorities to be addressed, including new opportunities for non-linear material characterization using parametric acoustic imaging. The last part of review is related to recent developments of highresolution imaging techniques for practical uses. Based on the most successful experimental results, some examples will be provided of different applications, including evaluation of advanced material structure, quality control of joints, adhesive bonding, and layer structures.
CANOPY CHLOROPHYLL CONTENT INDEX (CCCI)

Various remote sensing indices have been used to infer crop nitrogen (N) status for field-scale nutrient management. However, such indices may indicate erroneous N status if there is a decrease in crop canopy density influenced by other factors, such as water stress. The Canopy Chlorophyll Content Index (CCCI) is a two-dimensional remote sensing index that has been proposed for inferring cotton N status. The CCCI uses reflectances in the near-infrared (NIR) and red spectral regions to account for seasonal changes in canopy density, while reflectances in the NIR and far-red regions are used to detect relative changes in canopy chlorophyll, a surrogate for N content. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the CCCI and several other remote sensing indices for detecting the N status for cotton during the growing season. A secondary objective was to evaluate the ability of the indices to appropriately detect N in the presence of variable water status. Remote sensing data were collected during the 1998 (day of year [DOY] 114 to 310) and 1999 (DOY 106 to 316) cotton seasons in Arizona, in which treatments of optimal and low levels of N and water were imposed. In the 1998 season, water treatments were not imposed until late in the season (DOY 261), well after full cover. Following an early season N application in 1998 for the optimal (DOY 154) but not the low N treatment, the CCCI detected significant differences in crop N status between the N treatments starting on DOY 173, when canopy cover was about 30%. A common vegetation index, the ratio of NIR to red (RVI), also detected significant separation between N treatments, but RVI detection occurred 16 days after the CCCI response. After an equal amount of N was applied to both optimal and low N treatments on DOY 190 in 1998, the CCCI indicated comparable N status for the N treatments on DOY 198, a trend not detected by RVI. In the 1999 season, both N and water treatments were imposed early and frequently during the season. The N status was poorly described by both the CCCI and RVI under partial canopy conditions when water status differed among treatments. However, once full canopy was obtained in 1999, the CCCI provided reliable N status information regardless of water status. At full cotton cover, the CCCI was significantly correlated with measured parameters of N status, including petiole NO3-N (r = 0.74), SPAD chlorophyll (r = 0.65), and total leaf N contents (r = 0.86). For well-watered cotton, the CCCI shows promise as a useful indicator of cotton N status after the canopy reaches about 30% cover. However, further study is needed to develop the CCCI as a robust N detection tool independent of water stress.
Developing a Novel Scene-Oriented Framework for Multichannel Program Mixing

Achieving a stable and correct multichannel rendering is a challenging multistage process that can be performed under a scene oriented perspective, with many advantages over the conventional multi-track orientation. In this paper we present a flexible and scalable framework in development to generate multichannel programs. In addition to novel operational interfaces, it integrates a group of spatial rendering techniques and considers strategies to tackle the management of loudness and the smoothing of the sound objects images, leading to a balanced render of the sound scene regardless the output listening mode. An implementation in the Pd platform has been recently prototyped and is presented.
Postoperative Fasting Blood Glucose Predicts Prognosis in Stage I-III Colorectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Resection

Purpose The relationship between high blood glucose and colorectal cancer (CRC) has been studied, but the role of postoperative fasting blood glucose (FBG) in patients with a prior normal FBG has never been addressed. Methods A total of 120 CRC patients staged I-III were enrolled, and the prognostic value of postoperative FBG for disease-free survival (DFS) was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to test other clinicopathological parameters, including preoperative hemoglobin (HGB) and the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Results By a cut-off point of 5.11 mmol/L, 51 and 69 patients were divided into low postoperative FBG (<5.11 mmol/L) and high postoperative FBG (≥5.11 mmol/L) groups, respectively. A high postoperative FBG was more common in older age (P = 0.01), left-located tumor (P = 0.02), smaller tumor diameter (P = 0.01), node negative involvement (P = 0.01), lesser positive lymph nodes (P = 0.02), and high preoperative HGB (P = 0.01). Further, high postoperative FBG patients displayed a significantly better DFS than low postoperative FBG patients (48.80 ± 22.12 months vs. 40.06 ± 24.36 months, P = 0.04), but it was less likely to be an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions Postoperative FBG plays a temporal prognostic role for patients with stage I-III CRC with a prior normal FBG, but it is not an independent prognostic factor.
ARC-ELECTRODE INTERACTIONS IN SILICON AND FERROSILICON FURNACES

A typical three-phase submerged-arc furnace for production of silicon metal and ferrosilicon has arc currents ~100 kA, phase voltages ~100 V and total furnace power ~10 60 MW. The arcs burn in gas filled cavities or "craters", where the main atomic components of the plasma mixture are silicon, oxygen and carbon. Two quite different simulation models for high-current AC arcs have been developed: the simple Channel Arc Model (CAM), and the more sophisticated Magneto-Fluid-Dynamic Model (MFD). These models have been described extensively and results reported at INFACON-8 and INFACON-9, respectively. The coupling between the arcs and the AC power source is described by a complete three-phase Electric Circuit Model. Recent numerical modelling studies of industrial AC arcs show that the boundary conditions at the cathode and anode are critical for the simulation results. A novel Cathode/Anode Sub-Model for high-current AC arcs that treats both cathode and anode indicates a completely different cathode behaviour than previously assumed. A cathode spot which serves a high-current electric arc is shown to be dominated by the energy impact from the arc. This leads to lower cathode fall voltage than obtained from previously developed models. The anode fall voltage is negative, as the main function of the potential barrier is to repel plasma electrons. The cathode spot is diffuse in the sense that the arc in fact contracts away from the cathode. Simulation results are compared to measurements on both industrial furnaces and smaller scale pilot furnaces. An important conclusion, supported by our arc studies, is that the arc length in silicon metal and ferrosilicon furnaces does not exceed 15 cm and the arc may burn anywhere on the electrode, not necessarily beneath the electrode tip.
A stereo system with adaptive pattern projection for the determination of object geometries

This paper presents a practical projector-camera based 3D object modelling system developed in our laboratories. The hardware consists of a computer, a video projector and at least two digital cameras. The 3D modelling of a real object is realized automatically by applying an adaptive spot projection technique. For each spot in the first image, an algorithm is applied to find its correspondence in the second one, thus a cloud of 3D points is finally generated by triangulation, which is necessary for the calculation of the geometry of the object. In the case that the surface of the object is irregular, an iterative optimization process is lanced to improve the 3D reconstruction speed and the precision of the reconstructed model.
COIIoT - An Interface between CoAP and OSGP Protocols for the Integration of Internet of Things Devices with Smart Grids

The evolution and miniaturization of the technologies for processing, storage, and communication have enabled computer systems to process a high volume of information and make decisions without human intervention. Within this context, several systems architectures and models have gained prominences, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Smart Grids (SGs). SGs use communication protocols to exchange information, among which the Open Smart Grid Protocol (OSGP) stands out. In contrast, this protocol does not have integration support with IoT systems that use some already consolidated communication protocols, such as the Constrained Application Protocol (CoAP). Thus, this work develops the integration of the protocols OSGP and CoAP to allow the communication between conventional IoT systems and systems dedicated to SGs. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of this integration, with the minimum impact on the flow of commands and data, making possible the use of the developed CoAP-OSGP Interface for Internet of Things (COIIoT).
Untangling the Origins of Sustainable Commitment: New Insights on the Small vs. Large Firms’ Debate

The sustainable development challenge is increasingly being included in entrepreneurs’ agendas. Firms are considered responsible for social and environmental effects but are also considered as social actors that can effectively incorporate sustainability solutions into market transactions. The literature on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in small business has depicted these firms as less involved in sustainability management implementation owing to resource constraints and limited perception of the business case for sustainability. Further, studies on both small business and sustainable entrepreneurship have highlighted the pivotal role of entrepreneurs’ values in motivating a more sustainable way of conducting business while, large companies, driven by external pressures, are more focused on a strategic CSR approach than small firms. Starting from these premises, the paper aims to identify the main drivers or barriers of sustainability implementation and to verify any significant differences between small and large-sized companies in their approach to sustainability practices implementation. The study adopts a qualitative research method based on semi-structured interviews addressing 22 participants from Italian firms of different sizes selected for their social and environmental commitment. The findings of the study highlight the existence of some common features among small and large firms, in particular, regarding motivations, entrepreneur values, and business vision, contributing new perspectives to the sustainable entrepreneurship debate.
The Shapeshifter: a Morphing, Multi-Agent, Multi-Modal Robotic Platform for the Exploration of Titan (preprint version)

In this report for the Nasa NIAC Phase I study, we present a mission architecture and a robotic platform, the Shapeshifter, that allow multi-domain and redundant mobility on Saturn's moon Titan, and potentially other bodies with atmospheres. The Shapeshifter is a collection of simple and affordable robotic units, called Cobots, comparable to personal palm-size quadcopters. By attaching and detaching with each other, multiple Cobots can shape-shift into novel structures, capable of (a) rolling on the surface, to increase the traverse range, (b) flying in a flight array formation, and (c) swimming on or under liquid. A ground station complements the robotic platform, hosting science instrumentation and providing power to recharge the batteries of the Cobots. Our Phase I study had the objective of providing an initial assessment of the feasibility of the proposed robotic platform architecture, and in particular (a) to characterize the expected science return of a mission to the Sotra-Patera region on Titan; (b) to verify the mechanical and algorithmic feasibility of building a multi-agent platform capable of flying, docking, rolling and un-docking; (c) to evaluate the increased range and efficiency of rolling on Titan w.r. t to flying; (d) to define a case-study of a mission for the exploration of the cryovolcano Sotra-Patera on Titan, whose expected variety of geological features challenges conventional mobility platforms.
Mechanistic Pathways and Molecular Targets of Plant-Derived Anticancer ent-Kaurane Diterpenes

Since the first discovery in 1961, more than 1300 ent-kaurane diterpenoids have been isolated and identified from different plant sources, mainly the genus Isodon. Chemically, they consist of a perhydrophenanthrene subunit and a cyclopentane ring. A large number of reports describe the anticancer potential and mechanism of action of ent-kaurane compounds in a series of cancer cell lines. Oridonin is one of the prime anticancer ent-kaurane diterpenoids that is currently in a phase-I clinical trial in China. In this review, we have extensively summarized the anticancer activities of ent-kaurane diterpenoids according to their plant sources, mechanistic pathways, and biological targets. Literature analysis found that anticancer effect of ent-kauranes are mainly mediated through regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and metastasis. Induction of apoptosis is associated with modulation of BCL-2, BAX, PARP, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3, -8, and -9, while cell cycle arrest is controlled by cyclin D1, c-Myc, p21, p53, and CDK-2 and -4. The most common metastatic target proteins of ent-kauranes are MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF, and VEGFR whereas LC-II and mTOR are key regulators to induce autophagy.