Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A One-Dimensional Non-Intrusive and Privacy-Preserving Identification System for Households

In many ambient-intelligence applications, including intelligent homes and cities, awareness of an inhabitant’s presence and identity is of great importance. Such an identification system should be non-intrusive and therefore seamless for the user, especially if our goal is ubiquitous and pervasive surveillance. However, due to privacy concerns and regulatory restrictions, such a system should also strive to preserve the user’s privacy as much as possible. In this paper, a novel identification system is presented based on a network of laser sensors, each attached on top of the room entry. Its sensor modality, a one-dimensional depth sensor, was chosen with privacy in mind. Each sensor is mounted on the top of a doorway, facing towards the entrance, at an angle. This position allows acquiring the user’s body shape while the user is crossing the doorway, and the classification is performed by classical machine learning methods. The system is non-intrusive, non-intrusive and preserves privacy—it omits specific user-sensitive information such as activity, facial expression or clothing. No video or audio data are required. The feasibility of such a system was tested on a nearly 4000-person, publicly available database of anthropometric measurements to analyze the relationships among accuracy, measured data and number of residents, while the evaluation of the system was conducted in a real-world scenario on 18 subjects. The evaluation was performed on a closed dataset with a 10-fold cross validation and showed 98.4% accuracy for all subjects. The accuracy for groups of five subjects averaged 99.1%. These results indicate that a network of one-dimensional depth sensors is suitable for the identification task with purposes such as surveillance and intelligent ambience.
Multiparametric ultrasound imaging characteristics of multiple testicular adrenal rest tumours in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Introduction Testicular adrenal rest cell tumours (TART) are rare benign adrenocorticotropic hormone-dependent testicular tumours, which can develop in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. If left untreated, they can cause testicular tissue damage and infertility. Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice allowing for non-invasive diagnosis provided that characteristic features are seen. In recent times, magnetic resonance imaging characteristics have also been described to aid diagnosis. Case Report This case describes the imaging features of multiple bilateral TART in a young patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Traditional greyscale and colour Doppler ultrasound demonstrated intratesticular, predominantly hypoechoic areas, with increased surrounding colour Doppler flow. In addition, contrast-enhanced ultrasound and strain elastography were performed, showing increased TART vascularisation and increased stiffness in the hypoechoic areas. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging confirmed bilateral lobulated, well demarcated, intratesticular lesions, which appeared predominantly isointense on T1-weighted imaging, hypointense on T2-weighted imaging, with heterogeneous enhancement following gadolinium administration. Discussion This case illustrates the sonographic features including greyscale, colour Doppler, contrast and elastography ultrasound of TART in a patient with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Both contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography can provide information about tissue properties not normally derived from conventional ultrasound and aid accurate diagnosis. Additional magnetic resonance imaging is not normally required with typical ultrasound appearances. The unusual findings seen on the ultrasound examination were likely secondary to poor compliance with treatment. Conclusion Familiarity and recognition of characteristic and uncommon imaging features of these tumours are important to avoid misdiagnosis and surgical intervention.
A Study of Multi-Sensory Experience and Color Recognition in Visual Arts Appreciation of People with Visual Impairment

Visually impaired visitors experience many limitations when visiting museum exhibits, such as a lack of cognitive and sensory access to exhibits or replicas. Contemporary art is evolving in the direction of appreciation beyond simply looking at works, and the development of various sensory technologies has had a great influence on culture and art. Thus, opportunities for people with visual impairments to appreciate visual artworks through various senses such as hearing, touch, and smell are expanding. However, it is uncommon to provide an interactive interface for color recognition, such as applying patterns, sounds, temperature, or scents. This review aims to convey the visual elements of the work to the visually impaired through various sensory elements. In addition, to open a new perspective on appreciation of the works, the technique of expressing the color coded by integrating patterns, temperature, scent, music, and vibration was explored, and future research topics were presented.
Multimedia Computational Offloading for 5G Mobile Edge Computing

Due to the tremendous growth of smartphone users with their massive usage of faster response, delay sensitive applications lead to high traffic demands, still not yet been met by current researchers. Thus, the ever-increasing computational demands are managed through computational offloading, which offload intensive workloads to the small cells having functionality similar to the resource-rich providers namely edge server. With the use of edge server, the heavily loaded computations get executed outside of the mobile device which results in minimization of mobile energy consumption and latency. Mobile edge computing is an emerging paradigm of commercial infrastructure for computational offloading, which enhances the power of smart mobile devices. Generally, edge provides cloud services and resources to the nearest proximity of users with radio access in fifth-generation (5G) networks for low latency, prompt response, and filtering. But, the frequent network failure automatically degrades the performance. Hence in this paper, we integrate the functionalities of Edge Server with Pico cells (ESP) for efficient traffic management and also propose a distributed Multi hop Mesh Middle layer (MMM) architecture for seamless communication with high resilience, minimal latency, and reduction of energy consumption. Generally, a pico cell is a distributed antenna system, an alternative to a repeater used to extend wireless services to 100 users. We developed an Ant Social based Vector (ASV) optimization algorithm for an intelligent offload decision, which paves the way for backhaul routing conflicts. Simulation results of Cloud Sim show that offloading tiny devices integrated with significant additional computational capabilities would satisfy all the demands from each network within a 15ms delay.
Tree Physiology, Fruit Growth and Nutrient Elements of Wax Apple (Syzygium Samarangense) as Affected by Branch Bending Angle

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential effects of branch bending angle on the plant physiological characteristics, mineral nutrients accumulation and fruit quality of wax apple. Different treatments with five replicates each by Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) layouts were arranged in this study. All the treatments represent different branch angles which were at 5˚ (control), 20˚, 45˚, 65˚ and 85˚ from vertical axis. Leaf chlorophyll content (SPAD chlorophyll index) was significantly affected by different bending treatments at a budding stage, flowering, fruit development and after harvesting of wax apple. Total soluble solids (TSS) content in the leaves of bent branches increased significantly at before bud development, flowering, fruit ripening and after harvesting stages of wax apple trees. During fruit development and maturation stages, leaf TSS content was decreased in all bent branches. The results showed that 20˚ to 65˚ angle bent branches increase weight and firmness of fruit, fruit diameter and produced dark-coloured fruit compared to control. The results showed that 65˚ bent branches give the highest potassium (K+) and magnesium (Mg2+) content in the fruits. Higher sodium (Na+), iron (Fe2+) and calcium (Ca2+) content in fruits were found in 20˚ bent branches. There was a positive correlation between fruit TSS with Mg2+ (r = 0.70), with Na+ (r = 0.67) and with Ca2+ (0.57) content in the bent branches of wax apple. Fruit TSS content also positively correlated with firmness and peel colour of wax apple fruits. The number of fruit, fruit weight and fruit diameter of wax apple also positively correlated (weak) with leaves TSS content. It can be concluded that 20˚ to 65˚ branch bending angle are promising for enhancing plant physiology, fruit growth and quality of wax apple fruits.
Emotional exhaustion in front-line healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic -- the effects of time pressure, social sharing and cognitive reappraisal: A cross-sectional study

Background: With the increasing spread of COVID-19, healthcare workers, especially front-line medical staff, have become more vulnerable to emotional exhaustion.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the influence of time pressure on the emotional exhaustion of front-line healthcare workers, and explore the effects of social sharing and cognitive reappraisal on this.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2020. A total of 232 questionnaires were completed by front-line healthcare workers in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Hierarchical linear regression and conditional process analysis were performed to explore the relationships among time pressure, social sharing, cognitive reappraisal, and emotional exhaustion.Results: Time pressure was positively associated with social sharing and emotional exhaustion. Social sharing presented a dark side in terms of the impact on emotional exhaustion. Cognitive reappraisal negatively moderated the relationship between time pressure and social sharing, and it further indirectly influenced the relationship between time pressure and emotional exhaustion through social sharing.Conclusions: Our findings shed light on how time pressure influences the emotional exhaustion of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 period. Although social sharing is commonly regarded as a positive behavior, we identified a dark side in terms of its impact. We also identified that improving cognitive reappraisal may present a positive strategy toward alleviating emotional exhaustion.
Gender Stereotypes and Their Impact on Women’s Career Progressions from a Managerial Perspective

Gender stereotypes continue to exist and are transmitted through media, and through social, educational and recreational socialization, which promote gender prejudice and discrimination. This paper argues that contemporary management culture does not critically engage with the social theories of gender studies, which could help in developing gender-neutral affirmative action-oriented managerial perspectives. The paper outlines different aspects of gender stereotyping and their impact on women’s career progressions from a managerial perspective, which engages with the critical theories of gender studies. The paper contributes to existing literature by identifying the antecedents of gender stereotypes and their impacts on the career progressions of women in management. It advances theoretical understanding of three clear conceptual shifts, that is, (a) Women in Management, (b) Women and Management and (c) Gender and Management. The theoretical transition from Women in Management to Women and Management led to progressive conceptual shifts in management literature but gender stereotypes continue to exist in society.
Spanish adaptation of the teachers’ attitudes towards inclusive education scale

ABSTRACT The current concept of inclusive education brings to light the need for assessment of pre-service and in-service teachers’ attitudes towards inclusion, as they are essential agents to achieve full educational inclusion. The present study aimed to adapt a simple unidimensional tool to assess attitudes towards inclusion, the TAI scale. A total of 320 students of the BSc in Teacher Education and 89 in-service teachers took part in this study. The final adapted version of the scale (TAIS-SP) showed adequate psychometric properties.
Biomechanics effect of two implant system with different bone height under axial and non–axial loading conditions

The objective of this current in silico study was to evaluate the influence of axial and non-axial loads on unitary implant-supported implants, with external hexagon or Morse-taper connection in two different bone level, using finite element analysis. Two implant models with the same length (13 x 3.75 mm) were analyzed according to the prosthetic connection (external hexagon or morse Taper) and bone height (bone level or 5 mm of bone loss). Both implant systems received screw-retained metallic crowns in chromium-cobalt. The peri-implant tissue was simulated as an isotropic material (polyurethane resin). The polyurethane block has been fixed and a load of 300 N was applied on the occlusal surface in two different directions (Axial or Non-axial) for each implant model and bone condition. The results were analyzed in terms of von-Mises stress and bone microstrain. The materials were considered isotropic, homogeneous, linear and elastic. The results showed that there is no difference regarding the prosthetic connection for the generated stress and strain under the same load incidence. However, bone loss and non-axial loadings increased the stress and strain magnitude regardless the prosthetic connections. In conclusion, the load incidence is more prone to modify the implant stress and bone microstrain than the prosthethic connection. In addition, the higher the bone loss the higher the stress and strain magnitude generated, regardless the loading condition.
Revisiting Adaptive Frequency Hopping Map Prediction in Bluetooth with Machine Learning Classifiers

Thanks to the frequency hopping nature of Bluetooth, sniffing Bluetooth traffic with low-cost devices has been considered as a challenging problem. To this end, BlueEar, a state-of-the-art low-cost sniffing system with two Bluetooth radios proposes a set of novel machine learning-based subchannel classification techniques for adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) map prediction by collecting packet statistics and spectrum sensing. However, there is no explicit evaluation results on the accuracy of BlueEar’s AFH map prediction. To this end, in this paper, we revisit the spectrum sensing-based classifier, one of the subchannel classification techniques in BlueEar. At first, we build an independent implementation of the spectrum sensing-based classifier with one Ubertooth sniffing radio. Using the implementation, we conduct a subchannel classification experiment with several machine learning classifiers where spectrum features are utilized. Our results show that higher accuracy can be achieved by choosing an appropriate machine learning classifier and training the classifier with actual AFH maps.Our results show that higher accuracy can be achieved by choosing an appropriate machine learning classifier and training the classifier with actual AFH maps.
Chemical Characterization and Antibacterial Efficacy of Essential Oils of Three Lamiaceae Species Growing in Cameroon

Essential oils (EOs) have aroused attention among the naturally-occurring therapeutic compounds with anti-infective properties. This study examined the chemical composition and the antibacterial potential of EOs from three Lamiaceae species including Ocimum gratissimum (leaves), Plecthrantus epilithicus (leaves), and Satureja robusta (leaves and flowers). EOs were obtained by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus, followed by characterization by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and flame ionization detector (GC/FID). The antibacterial efficacy of EOs was screened using the microdilution method, against a panel of eight foodborne bacteria isolates namely Enterobacter cloacae, Yersinia enterocolotica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Shigella flexneri, and Enterococcus faecalis. GC-MS and GC/FID analysis led to the identification of 53 components from EOs of P. epilithicus, while around forty compounds have been characterized from the EOs of O. gratissimum (43), leaves of Satureja robusta (43), and flowers of S. robusta (44). The nature of identified compounds varied according to the species. The most prevalent volatile compounds identified in the EOs of P. epilithicus were piperitenone oxide (23.65%) and two isomers piperitone oxide 2/2 (16.15%) and piperitone oxide 1/2 (7.24%). The major constituents in the EOs of leaves of O. gratissimum were elemicin (33.474%) and eugenol (30.258%). Piperitone oxide, piperitone, and germacrene D were identified as major constituents in both the EOs of leaves of S. robusta (28.3%, 15.14%, and 9.42% respectively) and flowers (45.6%, 11.55%, and 3.94% respectively). The oils displayed selective antibacterial potential, with the recorded minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.0156 to 1% (v/v). EOs of P. epilithicus as well as that of the leaves and flowers of S. robusta acted against all studied bacteria. Most of the MIC values were below 0.25% (v/v), indicating a strong inhibitory potential of studied EOs. The present study provides a strong baseline for consideration of the EOs from O. gratissimum, S. robusta, and P. epilithicus in the control of bacterial foodborne infections.
Migrants in the Attic: The Case of Migrants with Disabilities and Resettlement Services in Serbia

The global migrant crisis triggered an unprecedented number of asylum seekers in the Balkan region. In this case study, the state of migrants with disabilities—a community notoriously overlooked during global conflict—is explored through field interviews of settlement service providers in Serbia. A human rights framework is espoused in first examining contemporary refugee law discourse and the corresponding gaps in current resettlement practice of migrants with disabilities. The study’s findings illuminate the need for a drastic shift in settlement services for those migrants most vulnerable to persecution in de facto destination countries. The discussion takes aim at “humanitarian silo” funding models and argues for international cooperation and transparency in accommodating migrants with disabilities internationally.
Interactive Effects of Scion and Rootstock Genotypes on the Root Microbiome of Grapevines (Vitis spp. L.)

Diversity and community structure of soil microorganisms are increasingly recognized as important contributors to sustainable agriculture and plant health. In viticulture, grapevine scion cultivars are grafted onto rootstocks to reduce the incidence of the grapevine pest phylloxera. However, it is unknown to what extent this practice influences root-associated microbial communities. A field survey of bacteria in soil surrounding the roots (rhizosphere) of 4 cultivars × 4 rootstock combinations was conducted to determine whether rootstock and cultivar genotypes are important drivers of rhizosphere community diversity and composition. Differences in α-diversity was highly dependent on rootstock–cultivar combinations, while bacterial community structure primarily clustered according to cultivar differences, followed by differences in rootstocks. Twenty-four bacterial indicator genera were significantly more abundant in one or more cultivars, while only thirteen were found to be specifically associated with one or more rootstock genotypes, but there was little overlap between cultivar and rootstock indicator genera. Bacterial diversity in grafted grapevines was affected by both cultivar and rootstock identity, but this effect was dependent on which diversity measure was being examined (i.e., α- or β-diversity) and specific rootstock–cultivar combinations. These findings could have functional implications, for instance, if specific combinations varied in their ability to attract beneficial microbial taxa which can control pathogens and/or assist plant performance.
Multi-Criteria Decision Making for Photovoltaic Alternatives: A Case Study in Hot Climate Country

Photovoltaic (PV) experiences significant growth and has installed in many locations worldwide over the past decades. However, selecting the best alternative of PV system remains a problem in developing countries which often involves both interest and multiple objectives and from stakeholders. This research aims to select ideal PV model in an isolated island in the eastern part of Indonesia. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) will provide an ideal solution that uses a systematic process of decision making. This research proposes an alternative concept of MCDM by taking into account best-worst method and VIKOR method. In general, the main purpose of the both methods are to obtain weights and rank alternatives with the advantages of less information required and produce a more consistent result compared to AHP method. The result shows the best alternative for PV installation, which offers the highest power and potentially developed not only for daily access to electricity but also to support economic activities such as tourism and aquaculture.
Radiotherapy impact on health-related quality of life in localized prostate cancer: results of an observational, non-interventional, multicenter study in Spain

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is greatly affected by prostate cancer (PCa) and associated treatments. This study aimed to measure the impact of radiotherapy on HRQoL and to further validate the Spanish version of the 16-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-16) in routine clinical practice.Methods: An observational, non-interventional, multicenter study was conducted in Spain with localized PCa patients initiating treatment with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or brachytherapy (BQT). Changes from baseline in EPIC-16, University of California-Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index (UCLA-PCI), and patient-perceived health status were longitudinally assessed at end of radiotherapy (V2) and 90 days thereafter (V3). Psychometric evaluations of the Spanish EPIC-16 were conducted.Results: Of 516 patients enrolled, 495 were included in the analysis (EBRT, n = 361; BQT, n = 134). At baseline, mean (standard deviation [SD]) EPIC-16 global scores were 11.9 (7.5) and 10.3 (7.7) for EBRT and BQT patients, respectively; scores increased, i.e., HRQoL worsened, from baseline, by mean (SD) of 6.8 (7.6) at V2 and 2.4 (7.4) at V3 for EBRT and 4.2 (7.6) and 3.9 (8.2) for BQT patients. Changes in Spanish EPIC-16 domains correlated well with urinary, bowel, and sexual UCLA-PCI domains. EPIC-16 showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .84), reliability, and construct validity.Conclusion: EPIC-16 scores worsened after radiotherapy in different HRQoL domains, regardless of patient-perceived health status. UCLA-PCI scores mostly recovered for EBRT patients at V3, while scores for BQT patients did not. The Spanish EPIC-16 questionnaire demonstrated sensitivity, strong discriminative properties and reliability, and validity for use in clinical practice.
Moving noise action planning towards more environmental health equity. Five propositions

ABSTRACT European noise policy is originally committed to the precautionary principle of environmental planning, aiming at high environmental health standards. Recent assessments of the European Noise Directive report an increase of traffic and an under-estimation of health effects, however. In addition to traffic-related noise exposure, the European Union faces another serious public health problem: health inequity, with social epidemiological research providing tentative evidence on social and socio-spatial inequalities in noise exposures and health effects. In view of these two challenges, we set out to describe five propositions offering entry points to achieve more environmental health equity through noise action planning.