Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Data-Collection Techniques for Highway Agencies

In the last decade, many agencies within Canada and the United States have initiated programs to assess the effectiveness of their traffic-monitoring programs and the value gained from their traffic-monitoring dollars. A project was initiated by the British Columbia Ministry of Transportation to assess the accuracy of the existing traffic-monitoring system and to compare it to alternatives for estimating traffic volumes on the highway network. The study included a review of findings from similar projects by the New Brunswick Department of Transportation and the Prince Edward Island Department of Transportation and Public Works. The options for traffic data collection considered by all three provincial agencies and the accuracy and cost implications that can be expected from each option are presented. Two methods for expanding short-term traffic counts to estimate average daily traffic volumes are discussed. The reported accuracy estimates allow practitioners to better understand cost and accuracy trade-offs.
Enrichment on polyunsaturated fatty acids by Rhodomonas salina (Cryptophyta) following ethyl methane sulphonate induced random mutagenesis

Miguel Guevara1,2, Patricia Gómez3, Mercedes Acosta1 1Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña. ISFODOSU-FEM. República Dominicana 2Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela, Departamento de Biología Pesquera, Universidad de Oriente, Venezuela 3Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Departamento de Botánica, Universidad de Concepción, Chile. Casilla 160-C Correspondencia: Miguel Guevara E-mail: miguevara2003@gmail.com Artículo original|Original article
Analysis of characteristics of a U‐slot patch antenna using finite‐difference time‐domain method

The finite‐difference time domain (FDTD) method is successfully used to analyze characteristics of a U‐slot patch antenna without using commercial software packages such as HFSS, IE3D, and CST. The method is proved to be an efficient tool for deep insight studies on complicated patch antennas. Numerical results of return loss, radiation pattern, current distribution, and antenna efficiency are presented. FDTD results are also compared with measurement data and shown to be in good agreement. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 1687–1694, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21804
Characteristics of opioid prescribing to outpatients with chronic liver diseases: A call for action

Background Chronic liver disease (CLD) is among the strongest risk factors for adverse prescription opioid-related events. Yet, the current prevalence and factors associated with high-risk opioid prescribing in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) remain unclear, making it challenging to address opioid safety in this population. Therefore, we aimed to characterize opioid prescribing patterns among patients with CLD. Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients with CLD identified at a single medical center and followed for one year from 10/1/2015-9/30/2016. Multivariable, multinomial regression was used identify the patient characteristics, including demographics, medical conditions, and liver-related factors, that were associated with opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions (≥90mg morphine equivalents per day [MME/day] or co-prescribed with benzodiazepines). Results Nearly half (47%) of 12,425 patients with CLD were prescribed opioids over a one-year period, with 17% of these receiving high-risk prescriptions. The baseline factors significantly associated with high-risk opioid prescriptions included female gender (adjusted incident rate ratio, AIRR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.14–1.53), Medicaid insurance (AIRR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.36–2.06), cirrhosis (AIRR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.04–1.43) and baseline chronic pain (AIRR = 3.40, 95% CI = 2.94–4.01), depression (AIRR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.60–2.32), anxiety (AIRR = 1.84, 95% CI = 1.53–2.22), substance use disorder (AIRR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.67–2.79), and Charlson comorbidity score (AIRR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.22–1.32). Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was associated with decreased high-risk opioid prescriptions (AIRR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.47–0.66). Conclusion Opioid medications continue to be prescribed to nearly half of patients with CLD, despite efforts to curtail opioid prescribing due to known adverse events in this population.
Bone structure models using stereolithography: a technical note

The development of a physical model of cancellous bone whose structure could be controlled would provide significant advantages over the study of in vitro samples, making repetitive or comparative testing possible. This would enable the relationship between the mechanical integrity (and hence fracture risk) of cancellous bone and its structural properties to be more exactly defined. Whilst the use of RP to generate these porous objects was a considerable challenge such objects would have been impossible to manufacture using any other approach. This short technical note describes how stereolithography was used to create over 25 accurate models, which were required to perform physical experiments to validate the results of the FEA. The note highlights how problems associated with STL and SLC file formats, support generation and software limitations were overcome to produce stereolithography models of highly complex, naturally occurring three‐dimensional structures.
EFFECT OF INTERNAL FACTORS ON THE PROFITABILITY OF PRIVATE HOSPITALS IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF THE KAREN HOSPITAL LIMITED

Private hospitals largely depend on competitive marketing strategy that determines their success and growth. The modalities of the health sector have changed a lot in the new millennium compared to the way they used to be in the years bygone. The profitability of a firm is a key concern, as is the ability to better with stand negative shocks and contribute to the stability of the sector. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of internal factors on the profitability of private hospitals in Kenya. A case study research design was adopted by this study. The population for this study was departmental heads and staff in the finance department of the Karen Hospital. Stratified random sampling was used to get the data sources with primary data collected using semi structured questionnaires. The researcher used drop and pick method of data collection. A sample size of 5 respondents was chosen to form the pilot study. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Descriptive statistics were used with multiple regressions done using SPSS. Tables and other graphical presentations such as bar charts, histogram, and pie charts were used to present the data. The study established a positive relationship between profitability of private hospitals and firm size, volume of capital and tangibility of assets with leverage showing a negative relationship. The study concluded that firm size, leverage, volume of capital and tangibility of assets affect profitability of private hospitals in Kenya. The researcher recommends that private hospitals should expand in a controlled way with the aim of achieving an optimum size, avoid situations where they are highly leveraged, increasing the number of shareholders, and develop sound techniques of managing their assets. The researcher recommends a study on the external factors that may affect the performance of hospitals in Kenya.
Flight Control System Design for Propulsion-Controlled Aircraft

Abstract The loss of an aircraft's primary flight controls can lead to a fatal accident. However, if the engine thrust is available, controllability and safety can be retained. This article describes flight control using engine thrust only when an aircraft has lost all primary flight controls. This is a kind of flight control reconfiguration. For safe return, the aircraft must first descend to a landing area, decelerate to a landing speed, and then be capable of precise flight control for approach and landing. For these purposes, two kinds of controllers are required: a controller for descent and deceleration and a controller for approach and landing. The former controller is designed for longitudinal motion using a model-following control method, based on a linear quadratic regulator. The latter is designed by an H∞ state-feedback control method for both longitudinal and lateral-directional motions. Computer simulation is conducted using linear models of the Boeing 747. The results indicate that flight path control, including approach and landing, is possible using thrust only; however, speed control proves more difficult. However, if the horizontal stabilizer is available, the airspeed can be reduced to a safe landing speed.
Short communication: Distribution of phospholipids in parotid cancer by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry

Background Parotid cancer is relatively rare, and malignancy varies; therefore, novel markers are needed to predict prognosis. Recent advances in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS), useful for visualization of lipid molecules, have revealed the relationship between cancer and lipid metabolism, indicating the potential of lipids as biomarkers. However, the distribution and importance of phospholipids in parotid cancer remain unclear. Objective This study aimed to use MALDI-IMS to comprehensively investigate the spatial distribution of phospholipids characteristically expressed in human parotid cancer tissues. Methods Tissue samples were surgically collected from two patients with parotid cancer (acinic cell carcinoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma). Frozen sections of the samples were assessed using MALDI-IMS in both positive and negative ion modes, with an m/z range of 600–1000. The mass spectra obtained in the tumor and non-tumor regions were compared and analyzed. Ion images corresponding to the peak characteristics of the tumor regions were visualized. Results Several candidate phospholipids with significantly different expression levels were detected between the tumor and non-tumor regions. The number of unique lipid peaks with significantly different intensities between the tumor and non-tumor regions was 95 and 85 for Cases 1 and 2, respectively, in positive ion mode, and 99 and 97 for Cases 1 and 2, respectively, in negative ion mode. Imaging differentiated the characteristics that phospholipids were heterogeneously distributed in the tumor regions. Conclusion Phospholipid candidates that are characteristically expressed in human parotid cancer tissues were found, demonstrating the localization of their expression. These findings are notable for further investigation of alterations in lipid metabolism of parotid cancer and may have potential for the development of phospholipids as biomarkers.
Prediction of impact force in sideways fall by image-based subject-specific dynamics model

The impact force applied to the greater trochanter during sideways fall is a critical factor for determining whether or not a hip fracture would occur. However, the impact force is subject-dependent as it is related to the subject’s anthropometric parameters and the kinematic variables in fall. It cannot be accurately predicted by the currently available dynamics models. We developed and validated a method for constructing subject-specific dynamics models to more accurately predict the impact force. The anthropometric parameters required in the model were obtained from the subject’s whole body DXA (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry) image. The subject-specific dynamics models were then validated by protected fall tests using young volunteers. The effects of anthropometric parameters on the impact force were investigated using 90 clinical DXA images obtained from a local osteoporosis clinic center. The impact forces predicted by subject-specific dynamics models had much better agreement with the experimental data, compared with those predicted by the existing empirical functions. The parametric study results indicated that although body weight and height are the dominant parameters affecting the impact force, other parameters such as the hip vertical velocity before impact also have considerable effects. This finding suggests that the existing empirical functions that only consider body weight and height may not be able to accurately predict the impact force. As whole body DXA images are readily available in osteoporosis clinic centers, the proposed method may have potential applications in the clinic to improve the assessment of fall-induced hip fracture risk.
Demonstrating the Importance of Applying a New Probabilistic Power Flow Strategy to Evaluate Power Systems with High Penetration of Wind Farms

AbstractBecause today’s power systems encounter so many uncertainties, probabilistic methods, such as probabilistic power flow (PPF), are useful to analyze the systems. One of these methods is Monte-Carlo Simulation (MCS), which has the ability to consider all uncertainties, including renewable energy power production, load, and random outages of components. In this paper, the proposed method is based on MCS and data clustering to improve drawback of MCS, which include high burden of computations. The proposed method cannot only reduce the runtime, but also considers correlation between load and wind power generation (WPG). This correlation would be important to power systems having large-scale wind farms (WFs). The proposed method first was validated by applying it on an IEEE 24-bus reliability test system (RTS). Then the modified version of the method, which can model outages of components, was implemented by using analysis software on a power system that is an actual bulk power system. To demonstrate i.
Integrated Solutions for Safe Fuel Tanks

The integration of different tools for the prevention of fires or explosions due to impact or bullet damage may significantly improve the safety of fuel tanks. Self-healing polymers have demonstrated their ability to autonomous mending bullet punctures. The results of ballistic tests to check the response of multilayer structures based on self-healing ionomer and aramid fabric or carbon foam are presented in view of their potential employment as safety materials for dangerous liquids containment. Considerations related to the effect of coupling of different materials over self-healing response are discussed. A conceptual solution that integrates self-healing polymers or composites with cellular filler made of wrinkled aluminium foil for fuel tanks is proposed and discussed. Keywords fillers, fuel tanks, impact, self-healing Language: en
2-D localization and identification based on SAW ID-tags at 2.5 GHz

An identification and localization system based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) radio sensors is presented in this paper. This system is able to identify and localize objects within a two-dimensional area. Identification is achieved with a fixed coded passive SAW identification-tag. Localization is carried out with three receiving antennas and with a following analysis of time delay between the sent interrogation signal and the received signals. For practical tests, a special interrogator has been established, as well as the receiving and demodulation unit. The whole system is controlled by a computer.
Preparing to move: Setting initial conditions to simplify interactions with complex objects

Humans dexterously interact with a variety of objects, including those with complex internal dynamics. Even in the simple action of carrying a cup of coffee, the hand not only applies a force to the cup, but also indirectly to the liquid, which elicits complex reaction forces back on the hand. Due to underactuation and nonlinearity, the object’s dynamic response to an action sensitively depends on its initial state and can display unpredictable, even chaotic behavior. With the overarching hypothesis that subjects strive for predictable object-hand interactions, this study examined how subjects explored and prepared the dynamics of an object for subsequent execution of the target task. We specifically hypothesized that subjects find initial conditions that shorten the transients prior to reaching a stable and predictable steady state. Reaching a predictable steady state is desirable as it may reduce the need for online error corrections and facilitate feed forward control. Alternative hypotheses were that subjects seek to reduce effort, increase smoothness, and reduce risk of failure. Motivated by the task of ‘carrying a cup of coffee’, a simplified cup-and-ball model was implemented in a virtual environment. Human subjects interacted with this virtual object via a robotic manipulandum that provided force feedback. Subjects were encouraged to first explore and prepare the cup-and-ball before initiating a rhythmic movement at a specified frequency between two targets without losing the ball. Consistent with the hypotheses, subjects increased the predictability of interaction forces between hand and object and converged to a set of initial conditions followed by significantly decreased transients. The three alternative hypotheses were not supported. Surprisingly, the subjects’ strategy was more effortful and less smooth, unlike the observed behavior in simple reaching movements. Inverse dynamics of the cup-and-ball system and forward simulations with an impedance controller successfully described subjects’ behavior. The initial conditions chosen by the subjects in the experiment matched those that produced the most predictable interactions in simulation. These results present first support for the hypothesis that humans prepare the object to minimize transients and increase stability and, overall, the predictability of hand-object interactions.
Developing Machine Learning and Statistical Tools to Evaluate the Accessibility of Public Health Advice on Infectious Diseases among Vulnerable People

Background From Ebola, Zika, to the latest COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks of highly infectious diseases continue to reveal severe consequences of social and health inequalities. People from low socioeconomic and educational backgrounds as well as low health literacy tend to be affected by the uncertainty, complexity, volatility, and progressiveness of public health crises and emergencies. A key lesson that governments have taken from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is the importance of developing and disseminating highly accessible, actionable, inclusive, coherent public health advice, which represent a critical tool to help people with diverse cultural, educational backgrounds and varying abilities to effectively implement health policies at the grassroots level. Objective We aimed to translate the best practices of accessible, inclusive public health advice (purposefully designed for people with low socioeconomic and educational background, health literacy levels, limited English proficiency, and cognitive/functional impairments) on COVID-19 from health authorities in English-speaking multicultural countries (USA, Australia, and UK) to adaptive tools for the evaluation of the accessibility of public health advice in other languages. Methods We developed an optimised Bayesian classifier to produce probabilistic prediction of the accessibility of official health advice among vulnerable people including migrants and foreigners living in China. We developed an adaptive statistical formula for the rapid evaluation of the accessibility of health advice among vulnerable people in China. Results Our study provides needed research tools to fill in a persistent gap in Chinese public health research on accessible, inclusive communication of infectious diseases' prevention and management. For the probabilistic prediction, using the optimised Bayesian machine learning classifier (GNB), the largest positive likelihood ratio (LR+) 16.685 (95% confidence interval: 4.35, 64.04) was identified when the probability threshold was set at 0.2 (sensitivity: 0.98; specificity: 0.94). Conclusion Effective communication of health risks through accessible, inclusive, actionable public advice represents a powerful tool to reduce health inequalities amidst health crises and emergencies. Our study translated the best-practice public health advice developed during the pandemic into intuitive machine learning classifiers for health authorities to develop evidence-based guidelines of accessible health advice. In addition, we developed adaptive statistical tools for frontline health professionals to assess accessibility of public health advice for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
American Samoa Longliner Response, Wreck Removal, and Restoration Project1

ABSTRACT In 1991, Typhoon Val struck American Samoa and grounded nine long liner fishing vessels on the reef in Pago Pago Harbor. The potential for oil spills from the wrecks and the lack of an identifiable responsible party, prompted the U.S. Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) at Marine Safety Office (MSO) Honolulu to immediately federalize the project. Unfortunately, only a portion of the oil was discovered and removed and a viable responsible party was never identified. Because of repeated small spills from the vessels in subsequent years and the potential for a much larger spill due to remaining oil onboard, the FOSC again federalized in May 1999, and a cleanup contractor was deployed to the scene. The Coast Guard supervised response efforts that employed heavy equipment to cut open six of the vessels in the inner harbor to remove oil and hazardous materials. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) then administered removal of the remaining portions of the wrecks using .
Energy-efficient train control in urban rail transit systems

With the latest developments in technology, the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) has been widely used in urban rail transit systems over the past decade. The control process used by the ATO system generally consists of two levels. The high-level control calculates the target speed according to the moving authority of the trains and the low-level control implements precise tracking on the target speed by controlling the traction and braking force. Most of the literature has only focused on the high-level control to optimize the train trajectory, but did not practically combine the low-level control of the ATO system. When the optimized trajectory is applied as the target speed, it will cause frequent switches between acceleration and braking for precise tracking and waste a lot of energy. Hence, this previous research may not be applied to practical ATO systems. In this paper, a numerical algorithm is proposed to solve the energy-ecient train control problem with a given trip time by distributing the reverse time to dierent segments. Then a method is presented for optimization of target speeds based on the ATO control principles, which guides the train to output optimized control sequences. The proposed approach is capable of avoiding the unnecessary switching and then eciently reduces the traction energy consumption of the train switches. Furthermore, case studies have been undertaken based on infrastructure data from the Beijing Yizhuang rail transit line, and the simulation results illustrate that the proposed approach results in good performance with regards to energy saving.