Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio for Predicting Recurrence in Medullary Thyroid Cancer

Simple Summary The anatomical staging system for thyroid cancer only contains categories for lymph node compartments. The metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR), which is the ratio of metastasized lymph nodes to the total number of evaluated lymph nodes, is suggested as a quantitative evaluation tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with medullary thyroid cancer in this study. The initial stratification implemented in this study was helpful in predicting structural recurrence, and LNR was identified as a predictor of disease-free survival. Abstract The lymph node ratio (LNR) has been investigated as a prognostic factor in many different types of cancers, including differentiated thyroid cancer; however, reports regarding medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) are limited. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate LNR as a risk factor for structural recurrence in patients with MTC. Medical records of patients treated for MTC in a single tertiary center between 1995 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. LNR is defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes or lymph node metastases (LNM) divided by the number of retrieved lymph nodes or lymph node yield (LNY). In the survival analysis, recurrence-free survival was defined as the time from the date of total thyroidectomy to recurrence or last follow-up. To identify risk factors influencing structural recurrence, univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used. A total of 132 patients were enrolled. The mean age of study participants was 49.7 years, and 86 patients (65%) were women. Structural recurrence was identified in 39 patients at the end of the study period, and the median follow-up period was 8.7 years. In univariable analyses, gross extra thyroidal extension, N stage, postoperative serum calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, and LNR were significant (p < 0.05) predictors of structural recurrence. In multivariable analysis, postoperative serum calcitonin, postoperative serum CEA, and LNR were identified as a predictor of disease-free survival (p < 0.05). LNR can potentially predict structural recurrence as a quantitative evaluation tool for lymph node metastasis in patients with MTC.
Applications Of Adaptive Least-Squares Lattice Structures To Problems In Underwater Acoustics

The applications of adaptive least-squares lattice structures to problems in underwater acoustics are discussed. Both single and dual channel problems are considered. The prewhitening of acoustic reverberation data is used as an illustration of the former while sea surface reverberation rejection is suggested as an application of the latter.
Crisis Magnitude and Interstate Conflict: Changes in the Arab-Israel Dispute

This research aims to analyze change in the Arab-Israel conflict. At its core lies the following theoretical question: How can change in a protracted conflict be detected? Four empirical questions are then addressed. (1) Is the Arab-Israel conflict undergoing change? (2) If so in which realm did change occur? (3) When did change take place? (4) How can change be explained? The theoretical setting explaining change is based on both realist/neo-realist and the regime/neo-liberal approaches in the study of world politics. This essay integrates qualitative and quantitative methods. The quantitative empirical data is drawn from the Middle East section of the International Crisis Behavior (ICB) database. To measure trends of state behavior in crises, a Crisis Magnitude Index (CMI) has been devised, consisting of three realms: context, process and termination. This index is applied to the 25 crises in the Arab-Israel conflict, between 1947 and 1994, and its total scores are linked to changing conditions which affect the extent of conflict escalation or moderation.
Understanding process dynamics at aquifer‐surface water interfaces: An introduction to the special section on new modeling approaches and novel experimental technologies

This paper introduces the special section on “new modeling approaches and novel experimental technologies for improved understanding of process dynamics at aquifer‐surface water interfaces. ” It is contextualizing the framework for the 27 research papers of the special section by firth identifying research gaps and imminent challenges for ecohydrological research at aquifer‐surface water interfaces and then discussing the specific paper contributions on (i) new developments in temperature/heat tracing at GW‐SW interfaces, (ii) new methods to capture the temporal and spatial variability of groundwater—surface water exchange, (iii) new approaches in modeling aquifer‐river exchange flow, and (iv) new concepts and advanced theory of groundwater—surface water exchange.
MENTAL MAPS OF LISBON METROPOLIS (PORTUGAL) AS A TEACHING STRATEGY IN URBAN GEOGRAPHY

Two weeks before the university lockdown, a group of twenty-three students from the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) were invited to draw their image of the city of Lisbon and environs. The objective of the exercise was to compare their initial vision of the Metropolitan Area of Lisbon (AML) with the subsequent research conducted in situ, aimed at the investigation of urban planning and sustainability issues that needed intervention and change. As the university went online the 10th of March 2020, fieldwork became an impossibility. In alternative, the class was asked to identify the three main street grids, existent within the AML: (i) rectangular; (ii) irregular; and (iii) radio-concentric. To complement their assignment on the issue of urban morphology, the research further included the examination of three main square designs: (i) monumental; (ii) traffic squares; and (iii) gathering or reunion. Mental maps of cities were first used to evaluate the image of urban environments by their residents, in the work of Kevin Lynch, published in the 1960s. In this contribution, the mental maps of Lisbon drawn by the students were accompanied by an enquiry sheet with several personal data, as well as their plans for the future. In spite of the confinement, it was possible to overcome some movement limitations as, using Google Earth and Street View tools, the class examined in detail the urban morphology of the AML. In contrast, the impossibility to stroll along the streets, to interview city residents, service providers and traders, prevented the students from acquiring the necessary skills to propose urban renewal. Conclusion was that online work makes reproductive research plausible but innovation research is highly unlikely achieved. The usage of mental maps as a teaching strategy is, however, a good option, both in online and in-person Urban Geography classes.
Development of a Numerical Model for Calculating Exposure to Toxic and Nontoxic Stressors in the Water Column and Sediment from Drilling Discharges

ABSTRACT EDITOR'S NOTE: This is 1 of 5 papers reporting on the results of a 4-year project to develop an environmental risk-based decision support tool, to assist the oil industry in establishing cost-effective measures for reducing risk to the marine environment from drilling discharges. Drilling discharges are complex mixtures of chemical components and particles which might lead to toxic and nontoxic stress in the environment. In order to be able to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of such discharges in the water column and in sediments, a numerical model was developed. The model includes water column stratification, ocean currents and turbulence, natural burial, bioturbation, and biodegradation of organic matter in the sediment. Accounting for these processes, the fate of the discharge is modeled for the water column, including near-field mixing and plume motion, far-field mixing, and transport. The fate of the discharge is also modeled for the sediment, including sea floor deposition, and mixing due to bioturbation. Formulas are provided for the calculation of suspended matter and chemical concentrations in the water column, and burial, change in grain size, oxygen depletion, and chemical concentrations in the sediment. The model is fully 3-dimensional and time dependent. It uses a Lagrangian approach for the water column based on moving particles that represent the properties of the release and an Eulerian approach for the sediment based on calculation of the properties of matter in a grid. The model will be used to calculate the environmental risk, both in the water column and in sediments, from drilling discharges. It can serve as a tool to define risk mitigating measures, and as such it provides guidance towards the “zero harm” goal.
A novel one-stage object detection network for multi-scene vehicle attribute recognition

In recent years, with the continuous development of computer vision technology, computer vision has been widely used in many scientific research fields and civil applications. As one of the basic tasks of many advanced visual tasks, object detection has important research significance in the field of computer vision and practical applications. At present, with the joint efforts of many scholars, the research on object detection based on deep learning has made remarkable progress. However, in some special weather, such as rainy days, foggy days, nights and the lack of visible light source, the visual distance and visibility are very poor, and the obtained images cannot be used normally, thus affecting the result of object detection. To solve the above problem, this paper proposes a novel one-stage object detection network for multi-scene vehicle attribute recognition, which mainly contains vehicle type and color attributes. The one-stage object detection network YOLOv3 is used as the basic network, and GIOU loss function is used to replace MSE loss function. Finally, experimental results show that the accuracy of the proposed algorithm is improved significantly on public data sets.
Children's Glasses

There is a common opinion among eye specialists and opticians that children's glasses often are not shaped for optimal fitting. A fundamental reason for this is the lack of data for the shaping of the bows, with the result that most children's glasses are reduced copies of adult's glasses. This report describes a photogrammetric method for collection of primary data for manufac-turing bows for children. An ordinary amateur camera was equipped with a stereo-adapter. With a few arrangements, such as projecting a pattern on the face and keeping the hair away from the ears, 600 children were photographed. A calibration photograph was exposed at the beginning and end of each film or when the equipment had been transported or otherwise disturbed. The photographs were measured in a stereocomparator and the coordinates analytically corrected for distortion. After determination of model coordinates the requested geometric information, such as pupillar distance, eye-ear distance, location of the bridge of the nose etc, was calculated. The shapes of average noses were presented as profile plots.
A cost analysis study for testability purposes on silicon active substrates

This paper presents cost analysis results based on yield calculations of test structures placed on multichip module (MCM) substrates. Calculations are made using yield analysis studies based on the number of defects per area, a critical technological-dependent parameter. The use of MCMs has increased in recent years thanks to their high integration capacity, their greater performance, the capacity to gather different technological integrated circuits (ICs) on the same substrate, and to the reduced substrate areas obtained. These characteristics make the MCMs a powerful integration technology for module development, but the intrinsic construction of the MCMs may cause significant problems when testing has to be performed. Because of this, new cost-effective test methodologies are expected for MCMs that will be built on the MCM substrate. These test structures on the MCM substrate will be integrated if cost-effective solutions are possible.
Behavioral Factors Associated with COVID-19 Risk: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Japan

Background: Behaviors to avoid infection are key to minimizing casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to avoid excessive interventions that are less effective. This study aims to identify behavioral patterns associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the real world. Methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted targeting a research panel of NTTCom Online Marketing Solutions Corporation or its affiliates. Data were extracted so that their demographic composition ratios matched the population estimates. Individuals who answered with consistency to have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 at a medical facility were categorized into a SARS-CoV-2 group. Differences in lifestyles were compared using multiple regression and inverse probability weighing. Results: In total 13,277 participants were included, of whom 44 (0.33%) were categorized as the SARS-CoV-2 group. Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was negatively correlated with crowd avoidance, mask wearing, and hand-washing behavior. On the contrary, the diagnosis was positively correlated with some behaviors that appear to be preventive actions against the infection, such as changing clothes frequently, sanitizing belongings, and remote working. Conclusions: It is important to conduct evidence-based intervention on people’s behaviors and to avoid excessive interventions that are less effective, so that people can minimize the indirect harm, such as exhaustion and economic loss.
A motor learning oriented, compliant and mobile Gait Orthosis

People affected by Cerebral Palsy suffer from physical disabilities due to irreversible neural impairment since the very beginning of their life. Difficulties in motor control and coordination often relegate these patients to the use of a wheelchair and to the unavoidable upcoming of disuse syndromes. As pointed out in recent literature Damiano [7] physical exercise, especially in young ages, can have a deep impact on the patient health and quality of life. For training purposes is very important to keep an upright position, although in some severe cases this is not trivial. Many commercial mobile orthoses are designed to facilitate the standing, but not all the patients are able to deploy them. ARGO, the Active Reciprocated Gait Orthosis we developed, is a device that overcomes some of the limitations of these devices. It is an active device that is realized starting from a commercial reciprocated Gait Orthosis applying sensors and actuators to it. With ARGO we aim to develop a device for helping limbs in a non-coercive way accordingly to user's intention. In this way patients can drive the orthosis by themselves, deploying augmented biofeedback over movements. In fact Cerebral Palsy patients usually have weak biofeedback mechanisms and consequently are hardly inclined to learn movements. To achieve this behavior ARGO deploys a torque planning algorithm and a force control system. Data collected from a single case of study shows benefits of the orthosis. We will show that our test patient reaches complete autonomous walking after few hour of training with prototype.
Analysis and measurement of NRD-guide leaky wave coupler in Ka-band

A new structure for a nonradiative dielectric (NRD) waveguide directional coupler has been developed. The structure combines two NRD guides and a dielectric slab guide in order to utilize a leakage mechanism for coupling. The coupling depends on this leaky mechanism, but not on field interactions as in a conventional proximity coupler. A theoretical formula for calculation of the decay constant is derived. The field along the NRD guide and the decay constant are measured at Ka band (35 GHz) and compared with the theoretical data. Reasonable agreement between the measured and theoretical data is found. >
A supplier selection model: a comparison of fuzzy logic and the analytic hierarchy process

This paper aims to compare two tools for decision makers that intend to support the decision of the selection of the appropriate supplier. Suppliers are crucial to both the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance of companies. A critical success factor of these companies is the selection of the appropriate supplier. A methodology is proposed to optimise the evaluation process based on different criteria. The proposed approach extends the one proposed by Ordoobadi (2009, Development of a supplier selection model using fuzzy logic. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 14 (4), 314–327) who proposed the application of fuzzy logic (FL) where we use the same example case study in order to compare the analytic hierarch process (AHP) with FL. In this paper we demonstrate how we can achieve the same objective of expressing human assessments in the form of linguistic expressions by using AHP. Moreover, we demonstrate the capability to run a sensitivity analysis which helps to understand the causal relationships among the different factors. We demonstrate how this capability can help us to explain and predict the different relationships among criteria and alternatives. Moreover, we provide a measure that is able to capture the consistency of the decision maker's preferences. In our approach we provide a single unit of scale that is not only capable of ranking suppliers but also provides an understanding of the difference in scale between different suppliers which can then help to allocate resources accordingly. These facilities are not offered by Ordoobadi (2009). The proposed approach here can help companies to identify the best supplier in changing environments. The paper describes a decision model that incorporates a decision maker's subjective assessments and applies a multiple criteria decision making technique to manipulate and quantify these assessments. Unlike many similar studies, two techniques have been performed on the same case study in order to improve our understanding of the differences in the proposed techniques.
RISK MANAGEMENT: MODELING THE HUMAN RESOURCES RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 SHUTDOWN

: When an organization closes its business temporarily or transfers employees to work from home during the pandemic, it faces risks. The biggest risk is the loss of the most important assets of any company – the employee. Employees who have been left without a job may find a new one and not return to the old job when the business reopens. Further disruption may occur because some people prefer the organizational culture of face-to-face work, and working online is not the same. They experience loneliness and disruption from their personal life. Our model and survey are designed to help managers and leaders save their organizations. A business’s effectiveness and reputation is built from customer and employee communication.
Biologic Foundations for Skeletal Tissue Engineering

Tissue engineering research for bone and joint applications entails multidisciplinary teams bringing together the needed expertise in anatomy, biology, biochemistry, pathophysiology, materials science, biomechanics, fluidics, and clinical and veterinary orthopedics. It is the goal of this volume to provide students and investigators who are entering this exciting area with an understanding of the biologic foundations necessary to appreciate the problems in bone and cartilage that may benefit from innovative tissue engineering approaches. This volume includes state-of-the-art information about bone and cartilage physiology at the levels of cell and molecular biology, tissue structure, developmental processes, their metabolic and structural functions, responses to injury, mechanisms of post-natal healing and graft incorporation, the many congenital and acquired disorders, effects of aging, and current clinical standards of care. It reviews the strengths and limitations of various experi ental animal models, sources of cells, composition and design of scaffolds, activities of growth factors and genes to enhance histogenesis, and the need for new materials in the context of cell-based and cell-free tissue engineering. These building blocks constitute the dynamic environments in which innovative approaches are needed for addressing debilitating disorders of the skeleton. It is likely that a single tactic will not be sufficient for different applications because of variations in the systemic and local environments. The realizations that tissue regeneration is complex and dynamic underscore the continuing need for innovative multidisciplinary investigations, with an eye to simple and safe therapies for disabled patients. Table of Contents: Introduction / Structure and Function of Bone and Cartilage Tissue / Development / Responses to Injury and Grafting / Clinical Applications for Skeletal Tissue Engineering / Animal Models / Tissue Engineering Principles for Bone and Car ilage / Perspectives
Exploration of pediatric manual wheelchair confidence among children, parents, and occupational therapists: a qualitative study

Abstract Purpose Manual wheelchair (MWC) confidence is a predictor of adult life-space mobility and social participation. To date, scientific literature specific to pediatric MWC confidence is scarce which prevents in-depth understanding. The objective of this study was to explore the perceptions of pediatric MWC users (PMWU), parents, and occupational therapists regarding pediatric MWC confidence. Methods Five focus groups were conducted with PMWUs (n = 12) and occupational therapists (n = 9), and semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of PMWUs (n = 2). Inductive thematic analysis was performed following verbatim transcription of audio recorded material. Results Three overarching themes were identified across PMWUs, parents, and occupational therapists: (1) “MWC confidence is not a clinical priority” depicted the construct’s varying level of clinical priority and perceived abstractness; (2) “MWC confidence is both a child and parent consideration” revealed nuances between the PMWU’s MWC confidence and the parents’ perception of the PMWU’s MWC confidence; and (3) “Opportunities to develop MWC confidence are context-specific” contrasted afforded and unafforded opportunities to experience independent MWC mobility. Conclusions Pediatric MWC confidence is an important aspect of wheelchair use that is shaped by a multitude of factors in PMWU’s lives. This new area of pediatric study provides support for the need to measure this important construct. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION This study is the first to explore children’s, parents’, and occupational therapists’ perceptions of pediatric MWC confidence. Pediatric MWC confidence impacts MWC use in a multifaceted fashion. Future studies should consider the development and validation of a self-report measure to assess pediatric MWC confidence.
A case study analysis of extension service provision in Malawi

Evidence suggests that a lack of extension agents impedes the effective delivery of agricultural extension services in Malawi and many other developing nations. The purpose of this study was to examine the initiatives taken by the Malawi Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services Delivery (MaFAAS) to address the extension shortage. The research questions were addressed using a qualitative case study approach. MaFAAS and other partners launched an initiative to teach youth from local communities, particularly in rural regions, in agricultural extension so that they can serve their communities in positions comparable to extension agents. The effort resulted in the hiring of 427 extension agents to serve in their areas. While recruiting extension agents alone will not address the problem immediately, it is a start. The beneficial consequences of the Malawian organizations' partnership give an opportunity and potential paradigm for addressing the extension shortfall and difficulties farmers confront in Malawi and beyond.