Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computational Flow Dynamics Study in Severe Carotid Bulb Stenosis with Ulceration

Purpose: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications for atherosclerotic carotid stenosis have not been widely used due to limited resolution in the severely stenotic lumen as well as small flow dimension in the stenotic channel. Materials and Methods: CT data in DICOM format was transformed into 3 dimensional (3D) CFD model of carotid bifurcation. For computational analysis of blood flow in stenosis, commercial finite element software (ADINA Ver. 8.5) was used. The blood flow was assumed to be laminar, viscous, Newtonian, and incompressible. The distribution of wall shear stress (WSS), peak velocity and pressure across the average systolic and diastolic blood pressures permitted construction of a contour map of the velocity in each cardiac cycle. Results: Computer simulation of WSS, flow velocity and wall pressure could be demonstrated three dimensionally according to flow vs. time dimension. Such flow model was correlated with angiographic finding related to maximum degree of stenosis associated with ulceration. Combination of WSS map and catheter angiogram indicated that the highest WSS corresponded to the most severely stenotic segment at systolic phase, whereas ulceration, which is the weakest point of the plaque, appeared at the downstream side of the carotid bulb stenosis. Conclusion: Our preliminary study revealed that 3D CFD analysis in carotid stenosis was feasible from CT angiography source image and could reveal WSS, flow velocity and wall pressure in the severe carotid bulb stenosis with ulceration. Further CFD analysis is warranted to apply such hemodynamic information to the atherosclerotic lesion in the more practical way.
Lamb wave propagation modelling for damage detection: I. Two-dimensional analysis

Wave propagation modelling is important for reliable damage detection based on Lamb waves. A number of different numerical computational techniques have been developed for wave propagation studies. The local interaction simulation approach, used for modelling sharp interfaces and discontinuities in complex media, has been applied effectively for numerical simulations of elastic wave interaction with structural damage. The paper builds upon this experience and reports numerical investigations of Lamb wave propagation modelling for damage detection in metallic structures. The ultimate objective of the investigations is to demonstrate that numerical simulations can significantly ease the monitoring strategy used for damage detection with Lamb waves. The interaction of fundamental Lamb wave modes with a rectangular damage slot in an aluminium plate is investigated as an example. For the sake of completeness, the first part of the paper forms an introduction to wave propagation studies for damage detection. The local interaction simulation approach is implemented. This is followed by a series of two-dimensional studies of wave interaction with damage.
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago barcoded: �sh diversity in the remoteness and DNA barcodes reference library for metabarcoding monitoring

Anthropogenic pressures have been depleting the global biodiversity. In order to monitor the changes in ecosystems, molecular techniques can be used to characterize species composition. Among molecular markers capable of identifying species, the COI is the most used, and its sequencing is the standard procedure of how taxonomic information can be surveyed. Despite this, new possibilities of biodiversity pro�ling have become possible through the assessment of highly fragmented DNA molecules in environmental samples. Now, medium- and short-length markers are used in metabarcoding studies. Here, a survey of marine �sh from the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago was barcoded, in which the COI barcode procedure identi�ed 21 species of 11 families of �sh. Then, the �rst extensive COI library of these islands located in isolation was constructed; from these sequences, the most appropriate primer pair for future metabarcoding studies was identi�ed. The new Saint Peter and Saint Paul sequence database has 9,183 sequences from 165 species and 62 families of �sh. The overall mean distance among all sequences was 0.4. This distance reveals that the archipelago is a reservoir of biodiversity as this attribute is higher than other islands around the world. Due to this, the protection of the archipelago should be enhanced and well monitored with science-based approaches such as DNA metabarcoding. In this case, the primer pair speci�cally designed from this library should be considered.
Numerical Analysis of Steady and Unsteady Sheet Cavitation on a Marine Propeller Using a Simple Surface Panel Method "SQCM"

This paper presents a calculation method for the steady and unsteady cavitating propeller problem. The method is based on a simple surface panel method “SQCM” which satisfies the Kutta condition easily. SQCM consists of Hess and Smith type source panels on the propeller or cavity surface and discrete vortices on the camber surface according to Lan’s QCM (Quasi-Continuous vortex lattice Method). The boundary conditions to determine these singularities are the constant pressure condition on the cavity surface and the zero normal velocity condition on the propeller and cavity surfaces. In this paper, we describe how to apply SQCM to the calculation of nonlinear cavitation on propellers and show some calculated results about cavitation patterns, cavity shapes and cavity volumes in steady and unsteady flow. Good agreements are obtained between the calculated results and published experimental data.
The Effectiveness of Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy in the Treatment of Patients With COVID-19 in the Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in prolonged hospitalizations due to complications of moderate-to-severe COVID-19, leaving many with significant debilitation and functional impairment. The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of physical, occupational, and speech therapy in the treatment of individuals recovering from COVID-19 in the inpatient rehabilitation setting. An observational pretest–posttest study of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 admitted to Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation was conducted. Results from the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument (IRF PAI), the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), the Modified Barthel Index–Shah Version (mBI), the Orientation Log, and the Cognitive Log were collected and analyzed utilizing a paired t test. Statistically significant improvements ( p < .05) in IRF PAI ( p = 2.02 × 10 −14 ), 6MWT ( p = 2.29 × 10 −9 ), mBI ( p = 5.95 × 10 −9 ), Orientation Log ( p = 1.81 × 10 −2 ), and Cognitive Log ( p = 9.21 × 10 −4 ) scores demonstrate that physical, occupational, and speech therapy improved the mobility, self-care, and cognitive performance of individuals recovering from COVID-19 at the inpatient rehabilitation level of care. These findings can be used to impact the appropriate progression of patients through the health care continuum. As treatment of COVID-19 continues to evolve, ongoing research in this area of practice is warranted to continue to demonstrate the role of rehabilitation in the recovery process.
Reconstruction of layered one-dimensional dielectric media using the wavelet transform

This paper applies wavelets to the inverse scattering problem of reconstructing the permittivity of a one-dimensional dielectric medium from its reflection response to an electromagnetic plane wave. All multiple scattering effects, which can be significant in a sharply-varying medium, are included. The significance of this algorithm is that it works even in the presence of time and frequency support-limited noise or interference, as long as a single noise free wavelet component can be isolated (we can also switch from one scale to another). This differs from previous approaches, in which noise filtering is restricted to Fourier domain filtering. The added freedom of choice of the wavelet basis function makes it much easier to isolate a noise-free wavelet component; one such suffices to reconstruct the medium. Alternatively, if a noise-free wavelet component cannot be found, orthogonality of the wavelet components allows different noisy reconstructed permittivities to be combined to yield less-noisy reconstructed permittivities. <<ETX>>
ZVS frequency analysis of a current-fed resonant converter

ZVS (zero voltage switching) is a basic control strategy for normal current-fed DC-AC parallel resonant converters. However, the ZVS operating frequency and how it varies with the load and system parameters remains an unsolved theoretical problem of practical importance. After identifying different types of resonant frequencies of a typical resonant tank of a current-fed resonant converter, this paper gives both accurate numerical solution and approximate analytical solution of ZVS frequencies. The analysis is based on a step current injection model in a half-switching cycle. The validity of the analysis is proven with PSpice simulation results.
Risk communication and stakeholder participation in the governance of systemic environmental health risks

Achieving effective stakeholder participation in discourses about modern, systemic risks is difficult. Risks and policies to control them stimulate behavioural changes in society, so stakeholdership evolves as events play out, and defining stakeholders requires the ability to model the adaptive responses involved. Engaging stakeholders is also problematic because of inherent barriers of time, resources and expertise, as well as the scale and complexity of the risks and the large numbers of people involved. Direct participation of stakeholders in risk discourses is therefore limited, and most participation has to be by proxy. Established mechanisms of representation tend to favour more powerful and articulate stakeholders, so new methods to enable participation by proxy (e.g., through use of the internet) need to be developed. Above all, however, the experts and professionals involved in risk assessment and management need to build greater empathy with the wider body of stakeholders on whose behalf they act.
Which emphasis technique to use? Perception of emphasis techniques with varying distractors, backgrounds, and visualization types

Emphasis effects are visual changes that make data elements distinct from their surroundings. Designers may use computational saliency models to predict how a viewer’s attention will be guided by a specific effect; however, although saliency models provide a foundational understanding of emphasis perception, they only cover specific visual effects in abstract conditions. To address these limitations, we carried out crowdsourced studies that evaluate emphasis perception in a wider range of conditions than previously studied. We varied effect magnitude, distractor number and type, background, and visualization type, and measured the perceived emphasis of 12 visual effects. Our results show that there are perceptual commonalities of emphasis across a wide range of environments, but also that there are limitations on perceptibility for some effects, dependent on a visualization’s background or type. We developed a model of emphasis predictability based on simple scatterplots that can be extended to other viewing conditions. Our studies provide designers with new understanding of how viewers experience emphasis in realistic visualization settings.
Suicide Bomb Attack Identification and Analytics through Data Mining Techniques

Suicide bomb attacks are a high priority concern nowadays for every country in the world. They are a massively destructive criminal activity known as terrorism where one explodes a bomb attached to himself or herself, usually in a public place, taking the lives of many. Terrorist activity in different regions of the world depends and varies according to geopolitical situations and significant regional factors. There has been no significant work performed previously by utilizing the Pakistani suicide attack dataset and no data mining-based solutions have been given related to suicide attacks. This paper aims to contribute to the counterterrorism initiative for the safety of this world against suicide bomb attacks by extracting hidden patterns from suicidal bombing attack data. In order to analyze the psychology of suicide bombers and find a correlation between suicide attacks and the prediction of the next possible venue for terrorist activities, visualization analysis is performed and data mining techniques of classification, clustering and association rule mining are incorporated. For classification, Naïve Bayes, ID3 and J48 algorithms are applied on distinctive selected attributes. The results exhibited by classification show high accuracy against all three algorithms applied, i.e., 73.2%, 73.8% and 75.4%. We adapt the K-means algorithm to perform clustering and, consequently, the risk of blast intensity is identified in a particular location. Frequent patterns are also obtained through the Apriori algorithm for the association rule to extract the factors involved in suicide attacks.
An Integrated Modular On-line Experiment Platform Proposal for Simulation-Based Experiments with Domain Experts as Participants

Researchers face difficulty in accessing subject-matter-experts as participants in lab settings for many common human factor research studies. Delivering such experiments online would allow researchers access to a much broader population of subject-matter-experts; however, currently, there appears to be a lack of demonstrated techniques to design and deliver complex research studies on the web. This is particularly the case for experiments involving communication between multiple participants, simulated dynamic task envi-ronments, and participant screening for domain expertise. This paper describes and demonstrates a novel technique of integrating current online video-sharing technology, web-site templating and embedding third-party technologies to create a re-usable, customizable, on-line experiment delivery platform. This allows researchers to include a broader population of subject-matter-experts in a time and cost efficient manner.
Uncontained and uncontaining: A grounded theory of therapists’ countertransference and defensive practices in an organisational context

ABSTRACT Countertransference, it is widely agreed can either deepen awareness of personal and relational dynamics to the benefit of the work or it can distort and become an impediment through the adoption of defences. The aim of this study was to explore what supported the development of countertransference awareness in an organisational context through a qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 therapists either face to face or online. The findings indicate that participants followed one of two pathways, a reflective pathway, where they developed their countertransference awareness to the benefit of the work, and a defensive pathway, the focus of the present paper. Here, the findings suggest that when the organisational setting, the supervisory relationship, and the adopted theoretical framework, did not support the thinking about the relational dynamics, including countertransferential responses, it resulted in the adoption of defences, to the detriment of the work with the client. The implication of the findings, including the limitations of the study and avenues for further research, are also discussed.
Optimum bandgap profile for a high-efficiency p-i-n a-Si: H solar cell

High efficiency is the key to large-scale applicability of photovoltaic systems. The efficiency depends on material fabrication and design parameters. One of the most successful approaches to improve efficiency is to aid the drift of minority carriers by a stronger electric field. This can be effectively accomplished through bandgap profiling. In this paper, we have developed a model to describe bandgap profile, the electric field and the current-voltage characteristics of p-i-n solar cell. A technique for optimizing graded bandgap profile in p-i-n aSi:H solar cell has been developed using a Fletcher-Powell minimization technique. The parameters to be optimized are replaced by independent variables without constraints. The variables include the coefficients of a third order equation describing the bandgap profile under consideration. The method allows a simultaneous optimization of parameters leading to maximization of solar cell efficiency. It suggests a new cell design criterion in terms of optimum and bandgap profile.
Assessment of environmental impacts of Rabak cement factory on vegetation and soil by cement dust

https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2021. 3.2. 0136 Abstract Globally, the cement industry has been identified as a factor which causes significant pollution. This study is conducted to assess environmental impacts of cement industry - Rabak Cement Factory on vegetation and soil. Standard methods were followed in collecting, preparation and examination of some plant and soil samples from the study areas. The results showed that, the mean values of soil pH, electric conductivity and moisture contents, were (7.58, 449.38 µs/cm, 4.56%), respectively in the exposed area, and (7.28, 343.63 µs/cm, 4.31%) in the unexposed area. There were significance differences between exposed and unexposed areas with regard to concentrations of oxides of elements (Fe 2 O 3, CaO, MgO, Mn 2 O, Na 2 O and K 2 O) in soil and in different vegetables (Radish, Jews mallow, Fennel, Rocket) in the study area. The factory management should further provide the latest technologies to reduce industrial emissions to protect the environment and population living around the factory. Further studies are needed to investigate the impacts of cement industry on
Impact of Economic Integration and Information and Communication Technology on Economic Growth for European Union: Dynamic Panel GMM Approach

European Union is the strongest economic union globally and has observed rapid economic growth in the last few decades. This study investigates whether economic integration and information and communication technology (ICT) promotes economic growth in the EU. Additionally, the study examines the role of ICT for economic integration and growth relationship concerning ICT readiness and usage. The study undertook panel data from 2002 to 2019 and employed the Generalized Method of Moments approach to estimate results. The results revealed that economic integration and ICT enhance economic growth. Moreover, enhanced ICT stimulates the impact of economic integration on economic growth. The results also confirmed a more substantial effect of ICT usage on economic growth than ICT readiness.
Measuring Visual Fatigue and Cognitive Load via Eye Tracking while Learning with Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Displays: A Review

ABSTRACT Virtual Reality Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) reached the consumer market and are used for learning purposes. Risks regarding visual fatigue and high cognitive load arise while using HMDs. These risks could impact learning efficiency. Visual fatigue and cognitive load can be measured with eye tracking, a technique that is progressively implemented in HMDs. Thus, we investigate how to assess visual fatigue and cognitive load via eye tracking. We conducted this review based on five research questions. We first described visual fatigue and possible cognitive overload while learning with HMDs. The review indicates that visual fatigue can be measured with blinks and cognitive load with pupil diameter based on thirty-seven included papers. Yet, distinguishing visual fatigue from cognitive load with such measures is challenging due to possible links between them. Despite measure interpretation issues, eye tracking is promising for live assessment. More researches are needed to make data interpretation more robust and document human factor risks when learning with HMDs.
Dynamics of the Toxic Dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum in the Taiwan Strait and Its Linkages to Surrounding Populations

The dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum can produce paralytic shellfish toxins and is mainly distributed in the Pacific. Blooms of A. pacificum have been frequently reported in offshore areas of the East China Sea, but not along the coast. To investigate the bloom dynamics of A. pacificum and their potential origins in the Taiwan Strait, we performed intensive sampling of both water and sediments from 2017 to 2020. Ellipsoidal cysts were identified as A. pacificum and enumerated based on microscopic observation. Their abundances were quite low but there was a maximum of 9.6 cysts cm−3 in the sediment near the Minjiang River estuary in May 2020, consistent with the high cell abundance in the water column in this area. Cells of A. pacificum were examined using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and they appeared to be persistent in the water column across the seasons. High densities of A. pacificum (103 cells L−1) were observed near the Jiulongjiang and Minjiang River estuary in early May 2020, where high nutrients (dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate), and relatively low temperatures (20–21 °C) were also recorded. Strains isolated from the East and South China Sea exhibited the highest division rate (0.63 and 0.93 divisions d−1) at 20 and 23 °C, respectively, but the strain from the Yellow Sea showed the highest division (0.40 divisions d−1) at 17–23 °C. Strains from the East and South China Sea shared similar toxin profiles dominated by the N-sulfocarbamoyl toxins C1/2, but the strain from the Yellow Sea predominantly produced the carbamoyl toxins GTX1/4 and no C1/2. Our results suggest that both cyst germination and persistent cells in the water column might contribute to the bloom formation in the Taiwan Strait. Our results also indicate that the East and South China Sea populations are connected genetically through similar toxin formation but separated from the Yellow Sea population geographically.
Development of PCR Control Software for Cross-platform Applications

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a detection method used in almost all the experimental processes that involve manipulation of the current genetic materials to amplify the specific target genetic material to be preferably detected. The recent PCR thermal cycler has adopted a general-purpose computing platform in which specific operation systems run in a computing device to support the GUI. In this paper, PCR control software, including the GUI, which can be run on various platforms, is proposed. The GUI is implemented in Java, and the connection to the PCR device uses a standard interface USB to minimize the dependence on the platform. The proposed system has been verified to run in the commercial system using Windows OS and MAC OS.
Sensitivity considerations in microwave paramagnetic resonance absorption techniques

This paper discusses some factors which limit the sensitivity of microwave paramagnetic resonance equipments. Several specific systems are analyzed and the results verified by measuring the signal-to-noise ratio with known amounts of a free radical. The two most promising systems, especially at low powers, employ either superheterodyne detection or barretter homodyne detection. A detailed description of a superhetrodyne spectrometer is given.
A modified Chebyshev bandpass filter with attenuation poles in the stopband

This paper describes a design method of a modified Chebyshev bandpass filter with attenuation poles in the stopband. The insertion of attenuation poles into resonators in the authors' bandpass-filter design is accomplished by connecting a lumped inductor or capacitor in series with a shunt-type coaxial transmission-line resonator. The inserted poles which are distributed over the stopband can be chosen such that the insertion loss of the filter has equiripple characteristic and maximum attenuation in the stopband with the given number of attenuation poles. The modified Chebyshev bandpass filter designed by this method can be effectively used in diplexer design.