Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo based estimation of a geoscience model parameter

The critical slip distance in rate and state model for fault friction in the study of potential earthquakes can vary wildly from micrometers to few meters depending on the length scale of the critically stressed fault. This makes it incredibly important to construct an inversion framework that provides good estimates of the critical slip distance purely based on the observed acceleration at the seismogram. The framework is based on Bayesian inference and Markov chain Monte Carlo. The synthetic data is generated by adding noise to the acceleration output of spring-slider-damper idealization of the rate and state model as the forward model.
Approaches to Managing Freight in Metropolitan Areas

The flow of freight in metropolitan areas has emerged as a major urban planning challenge. Most urban freight is moved in trucks. Although trucks make up a relatively small share of all vehicle traffic, they generate a disproportionate share of many externalities, including congestion on local streets and highways, infrastructure damage, vehicle emissions, greenhouse gases, and noise. The purpose of this paper is to examine strategies, policies, and practices that have been implemented in different countries to manage freight impacts on metropolitan areas and assess their effectiveness and potential for transferability. Researchers and local stakeholders have explored a broad range of measures aimed at reducing truck travel, emissions, or carbon consumption. Examples include freight partnerships, smaller or newer trucks, better routing algorithms, consolidated local delivery stations, alternative modes, off-peak deliveries, and low-emission zones. These efforts have had varying levels of success. On the basis of an extensive review of the literature, an assessment of the most effective strategies for solving urban freight problems is presented. The authors find that policy strategies and outcomes are quite different between the United States and the European Union and explain these differences as a function of local context, including political and regulatory structures. They conclude that experimentation is extensive and that there appear to be many possibilities for addressing urban freight externalities. More research and more careful and comprehensive evaluations of policy experiments are suggested by the authors to improve the understanding of urban freight problems. The paper is organized as follows: Section 2 discusses the nature of the urban freight problem and the challenges of effectively addressing freight problems. Section 3 provides an overview of policies and strategies organized around four major urban freight areas: 1) freight flows in the metropolitan core; 2) emissions; 3) metropolitanwide truck vehicle miles traveled; and 4) freight hubs. Section 4 presents conclusions, and Section 5 offers suggestions for EU-U.S. collaborative research.
Analysis of double band properties of frequency selective surfaces by using equivalent circuit method

The equivalent circuit method(ECM) is introduced in the research and application of frequency selective surfaces(FSS). The basic process of analyzing FSS with ECM is expatiated.The equivalent circuit models of some general elements are presented.The double stopband performance of the double square patch element is computed and the conclusion is compared with the experiment results obtained by the predecessors.And then the feasibility of analyzing dual-band FSS by using the equiralent circuit method is approved.In addition,the double passband properties of double square slot element is simulated by ECM.
Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome of Haemadipsa tianmushana Song 1977 (Hirudiniformes, Haemadipsidae) and its phylogenetic analysis

Abstract The complete mitochondrial genome of Haemadipsa tianmushana Song 1977 from China has been determined and reported for the first time in this study. It was 14,625 bp in length and consisted of 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 3 control regions. The nucleotide base content of the complete mitogenome for this species was 35.1% A, 10.5% C, 11.6% G, and 42.8% T. The tRNA genes were ranged from 57 bp (SerTCT) to 66 bp (GlnTTG) in length. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that Hirudinea is a mono-phyletic clade. And it includes Whitmania acranulata, Whitmania pigra, Whitmania laevis, Zeylanicobdella arugamensis, Ozobranchus jantseanus and Placobdella lamothei. In Hirudiniformes, H. tianmushana and three species of Haemopidae were obviously clustered into two independent branches. This result is consistent with a taxonomy that they all belong to the same suborder. This study adds to the genetic resources currently available for the species.
The Association between Parenting Confidence and Later Child Mental Health in the Area Affected by the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

After the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident, the Fukushima Health Management Survey was conducted to assess children’s lifestyle and mental health conditions. The participants in this study were 1126 children, aged 0 to 3 years, living in the evacuation zone at the time of the disaster. The parenting confidence of their mothers was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire as a baseline in 2013. We examined the association of parenting confidence level at baseline, using a total difficulty score of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and reluctance to attend school among children in a follow-up study in 2016 and 2017. As a result, no confidence was reported by 178 (15.8%) mothers, while 477 (42.4%) responded with “not sure” and 471 (41.8%) were confident. In the multiple logistic analysis, after adjusting for covariates such as the child’s sex, age, and current health condition, the group lacking parenting confidence demonstrated a significantly higher risk level for SDQ total difficulties (OR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.59–4.93) and reluctance to attend school (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.24–3.18) than the confident mothers. After a major disaster, which can have long-term effects on communities, intensive psychological care for mothers with young children is needed to prevent various mental health problems in their children.
The Design of an Interface Circuit for Micro-Electrostatic Vibration Energy Harvesters and Super-Capacitor

This paper presents the design of an interface circuit for storing power generated by low-frequency vibration based electrostatic energy harvesters. The circuit includes a structure of negative voltage converter with an active diode to minimize the forward voltage drop, and it also includes a boost-buck converter to accommodate a wide input voltage. The circuit has also been optimized to perform resistive matching. The maximum voltage of the capacitor in charging reaches about 1.83 V in simulation.
Intracellular Amplifiers of Reactive Oxygen Species Affecting Mitochondria as Radiosensitizers

Simple Summary Prodrugs that increase the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) specifically in cancer cells while not affecting normal cells can potentially act as radiosensitizers for side effect free radiotherapy (RT). However, previously known ROS-amplifying prodrugs were found to not beuseful for this purpose. Since functional mitochondria are necessary for RT-resistance, we assumed that the problem could be solved by using dual prodrugs as radiosensitizers, both targeting mitochondria and simultaneously inducing ROS. In this paper, we explored this possibility. In particular, we developed an N-alkylaminoferrocene-based prodrug (2c) effective at low μMolar concentrations. Upon conversion to its active form 2c_BA in aqueous solution, it is efficiently taken up by cancer cells. This leads to the decrease of their mitochondrial membrane potential and the amplification of both, intracellular mitochondrial and total ROS generation. We found that 2c_BA acts as an efficient radiosensitizer in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells in vitro. Abstract Radiotherapy (RT) efficacy can be improved by using radiosensitizers, i.e., drugs enhancing the effect of ionizing radiation (IR). One of the side effects of RT includes damage of normal tissue in close proximity to the treated tumor. This problem can be solved by applying cancer specific radiosensitizers. N-Alkylaminoferrocene-based (NAAF) prodrugs produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cancer cells, but not in normal cells. Therefore, they can potentially act as cancer specific radiosensitizers. However, early NAAF prodrugs did not exhibit this property. Since functional mitochondria are important for RT resistance, we assumed that NAAF prodrugs affecting mitochondria in parallel with increasing intracellular ROS can potentially exhibit synergy with RT. We applied sequential Cu+-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloadditions (CuAAC) to obtain a series of NAAF derivatives with the goal of improving anticancer efficacies over already existing compounds. One of the obtained prodrugs (2c) exhibited high anticancer activity with IC50 values in the range of 5–7.1 µM in human ovarian carcinoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma, pancreatic carcinoma and T-cell leukemia cells retained moderate water solubility and showed cancer specificity. 2c strongly affects mitochondria of cancer cells, leading to the amplification of mitochondrial and total ROS production and thus causing cell death via necrosis and apoptosis. We observed that 2c acts as a radiosensitizer in human head and neck squamous carcinoma cells. This is the first demonstration of a synergy between the radiotherapy and NAAF-based ROS amplifiers.
First-order general differential equation for multi-level asymptotics at higher levels and recurrence relationship of singulants

We construct a relation between the leading pre-factor function A(z) and the singulants u0(z), u1(z), and recurrence relation of the singulants at higher levels for the solution of singularly-perturbed first-order ordinary general differential equation with a small parameter via the method of multi-level asymptotics. The particular equation is chosen due to its appearance at every level of multi-level asymptotic approach for the first-order differential equations. By the relations derived by the asymptotic analysis from the equation, Stokes and anti-Stokes lines can be extracted more quickly and so which exponentials of the expansions are actually contributed in each sector of the complex plane can be deduced faster. Multilevel asymptotic analysis of the first-order singular equations and the Stokes phenomenon may be done straightaway from the higher levels of the analysis. 2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. 34M40, 34E20. Funding. This work was supported by an abroad Ph.D. scholarship of Ministry of National Education, Turkey. Manuscript received 19th April 2021, accepted 23rd August 2021.
Roe deer population trend after reintroduction of Eurasian lynx within the Palatinate Forest: a first insight into a long-term study

After becoming extinct approximately 250 years ago in the Palatinate Forest, the first Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) were reintroduced within this area in 2016, with 20 lynx reintroduced in the following five years. We observed the roe deer population within the Palatinate Forest before (2016) and during (2017–2019) the lynx reintroduction by estimating the population and evaluating the hunting bag. The roe deer population estimation based on the distance sampling method was conducted on ten defined transects with an average length of 48 km from 2016 to 2019, observing a 6,000 km transect length for 120 nights overall. An average of 6.54 ± 1.28 roe deer km-² was estimated over the course of the four years (2016 – 2019). Since we suspect that our estimations might underestimate the roe deer population within the Palatinate Forest, hence we preferred to use the roe deer count index for further analysis. Over the first four years (2016–2019), significant differences were neither found in the roe deer count index nor for the hunting bag in relation to the reintroduction of the lynx. The data and findings presented in this study provide a first insight into a long-term observation of a predator-prey system within the Palatinate Forest, with roe deer not having experienced a natural predator over a long time. In order to make coherent interpretations, long-term data is needed to estimate the population trends of both species within the Palatinate Forest.
Economic Impact and Cost Benefit of the Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist Interventions in Cancer Care Units

Background: Clinical pharmacists play a key role in ensuring the optimum use of cancer medicines. Yet, the economic benefit of this role has never been assessed in Qatar. Aim: To evaluate the overall economic impact of clinical pharmacist interventions in the main cancer care setting in Qatar. Methods: From the public healthcare perspective, this was an analysis of the total economic benefit and a cost-benefit analysis of the clinical pharmacy interventions. As a study sample size, patient records in March 2018, July/August 2018, and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed at the National Center for Cancer Care & Research (NCCCR), Qatar. The total benefit from interventions was the total of the cost avoidance due to preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) plus the cost savings associated with therapeutic interventions. The interventions cost was based on salary and increased cost due to therapeutic interventions. The cost-benefit analysis results were presented via net benefit and benefit‐to‐cost ratio measures. Results : Total of 1,352 interventions occurred during the 3-month follow-up period. The total benefit was QAR 196,010,360 (USD53,834,206), constituting cost avoidance of QAR 194,764,534 (USD 53,492,040) and cost savings of QAR 1,245,826 (USD 342,166), mostly due to recommending additional medications and the medication dose reduction. The benefit-to-cost ratio was 174:1 and the annual net benefit was QAR 779,539,440 (USD 214,100,351). Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of results. Conclusion: The clinical pharmacist intervention is a cost-beneficial practice in the NCCCR setting, associated with ADEs prevention and substantial economic benefits, including relative to the interventions cost.
One year clinical evaluation of fracture and marginal integrety of milled biohpp polyetheretherketon (PEEK) versus zirconia veneered single crowns

Objectives: To compare the clinical performance of milled PEEK-based single crowns to zirconia veneered single crowns through evaluation of restoration fracture, margin adaptation, and patient satisfaction. Material and Method: Twenty-four full coverage crowns were fabricated for posterior teeth. The patients were divided into two groups according to crowns’ material: Group 1(control group) patients received Zr veneered crowns and Group2 (intervention group) patients received Bio HPP crowns. The preparations were standardized with supra-gingival, chamfer finish line for all teeth. The try-in and provisionalization were performed using CAD/ CAM (CAM5-S1) machine with software (Exocad). The restorations were veneered according to manufactures instructions. The restoration surfaces were treated according to the manufacture instructions for each material. Self-adhesive resin cement (by BISCO) was sed for both groups for crowns cementation. Fracture, margin integrity and biocompatibility (shade and function) were also evaluated during each recall visit using questionnaire to determine patient satisfaction. These measurements were repeated after two, four, six, eight, ten and twelve months respectively. Results: Fisher’s Exact test was used to compare between the tw groups; There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P-value = 1.000, Effect size = 0.478) for each time period, respectively. Conclusions: Both Zr veneered and Bio HPP crowns revealed successful clinical performance from the clinical performance aspect and patient satisfaction. No significant difference was recorded between the two materials; regarding the clinical performance and patient satisfaction. Therefore, careful checking of the surface of the veneering materi l n -year post-cementation is recommended.
Development and characterisation of a self-powered measurement buoy prototype by means of piezoelectric energy harvester for monitoring activities in a marine environment

In the interest of our society, for example in Smart City but also in other specific backgrounds, environmental monitoring is an essential activity to measure the quality of different ecosystems. In fact, the need to obtain accurate and extended measurements in space and time has considerably become relevant. In very large environments, such as marine ones, technological solutions are required for the use of smart, automatic, and self-powered devices in order to reduce human maintenance service. This work presents a simple and innovative layout for a small self-powered floating buoy, with the aim of measuring and transmitting the detected data for visualization, storage and/or elaboration. The power supply was obtained using a cantilever harvester, based on piezoelectric patches, converting the motion of ripple waves. Such type of waves is characterized by frequencies between 1.50 Hz and 2.50 Hz with oscillation between 5.0 ° and 7.0 °. Specifically, a dedicated experimental setup was created to simulate the motion of ripple waves and to evaluate the suitability of the proposed design and the performance of the used harvester. Furthermore, a dynamic analytical model for the harvester has been defined and the uncertainty correlated to the harvested power has been evaluated. Finally, the harvested voltage and power have shown how the presented buoy behaves like a frequency transformer. Hence, although the used cantilever harvester does not work in its resonant frequency, the harvested electricity undergoes a significant increase.
Optical and thermodynamic investigations of a methane and hydrogen blend fueled large bore engine

The following paper presents thermodynamic and optical investigations of the natural flame and OH radical chemiluminescence of a hydrogen enriched methane combustion compared to natural gas combustion. The engine under investigation is a port-fueled unscavenged prechamber 4.8 L single cylinder large bore engine. The blends under consideration are 2%V, 5%V,10%V, and 40%V of hydrogen expected to be blended within existing natural gas grids in a short and mid-term timeline in order to store green energy from solar and wind. These fuel blends could be used for stabilization of the energy supply by reconverting the renewable fuel CH4/H2 in combined heat and power plants. As expected, admixture of hydrogen extends the ignition limits of the fuel mixture toward lean ranges up to an air-fuel equivalence ratio of almost 2. No negative effect on combustion is observed up to an admixture of 40%V hydrogen. At 40%V hydrogen, abnormal combustion like backfire occurs at an air-fuel equivalence ratio of 1.5. The higher mixtures exhibit increased nitrogen oxide emissions due to higher combustion chamber temperatures, while methane slip and CO emissions are reduced due to more complete combustion. The optical investigation of the natural flame and OH radical chemiluminescence are in good agreement with the thermodynamic results verifying the more intense combustion of the fuel blends by means of the chemiluminescence intensity. Further, lube oil combustion and a continuing luminescence after the thermodynamic end of combustion are observed.
Emoticon-based Feedback Tool for e-Learning Platforms

Emotions are strongly related to cognitive and perception process, this is why learner emotional state can easily affect his learning performance. Detection and recognizing learner emotional state is a very recent and active research field. In this paper, we propose a simplified vision to the emotional state detection; we try to avoid existent complex approaches by counting on the today user habits like as participation and feeling sharing habits strongly present in social network and web 2.0 concept in general. The result is an explicit system to allow learner to express his emotional state during a learner session.
Virtual Training System with Physical Viscoelastic Model and Blood Flow Simulation Based on a Range-Based SPH Method

A physical mesh-less soft tissue cutting model with the viscoelastic creep characteristics has been proposed in this paper. The model is composed of filled spheres which are connected by Kelvin structure, so as to realize the cutting with viscoelastic creep characteristics. Then, it is further compared with the mass spring model in order to verify the effectiveness of the model. Secondly, a range-based Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method with variable smoothing length is proposed, in order to simulate the blood flow simulation effect in the virtual surgery training system. Finally, the two are combined to be applied to the kidney soft tissue cutting experiment in surgery trainings. Experiments show there is a significant improvement on the cutting and simulation effect in terms of the viscoelasticity of the soft tissue cutting and the pressure and viscous force of blood flow.
Validation of a Web-based Platform for Online Training in Point-of-Care Diaphragm Ultrasound

Department of Critical Care, Respiratory Institute, and Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio; Lerner School of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio; Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, Ohio; Department of Medicine, Division of Respirology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Super-linear speedup for real-time condition monitoring using image processing and drones

Real-time inspections for the large-scale solar system may take a long time to get the hazard situations for any failures that may take place in the solar panels normal operations, where prior hazards detection is important. Reducing the execution time and improving the system’s performance are the ultimate goals of multiprocessing or multicore systems. Real-time video processing and analysis from two camcorders, thermal and charge-coupling devices (CCD), mounted on a drone compose the embedded system being proposed for solar panels inspection. The inspection method needs more time for capturing and processing the frames and detecting the faulty panels. The system can determine the longitude and latitude of the defect position information in real-time. In this work, we investigate parallel processing for the image processing operations which reduces the processing time for the inspection systems. The results show a super-linear speedup for real-time condition monitoring in large-scale solar systems. Using the multiprocessing module in Python, we execute fault detection algorithms using streamed frames from both video cameras. The experimental results show a super-linear speedup for thermal and CCD video processing, the execution time is efficiently reduced with an average of 3.1 times and 6.3 times using 2 processes and 4 processes respectively.