Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EEMD and GUCNN-XGBoost Joint Recognition Algorithm for Detection of Precursor Chemicals Based on Semiconductor Gas Sensor

The precursor chemical (PC) plays a crucial role in the drug manufacture. In recent years, PC intelligent recognition technology based on the analysis of semiconductor gas sensor signals has become a research hotspot due to PC’s volatility. However, in practice, the weak discrimination for commercial semiconductor gas sensor signals of PC gases is frequent, making it difficult to accurately recognize PC gases using the existing intelligent recognition methods. To tackle this problem, this article proposes a data-driven model based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and gate recurrent unit (GRU) union convolutional neural network XGBoost (GUCNN-XGBoost) methods for PC gases recognition. First, the signals are collected by the commercial semiconductor gas sensor (MQ2) under the square wave temperature modulation, and then processed by the EEMD to obtain the intrinsic mode functions (IMF1–IMF7). Second, the GUCNN-XGBoost model is constructed to automatically extracts the binary morphological characteristics (BMC) and the time sequence characteristics (TSC) of the IMF1–IMF6; the XGBoost is utilized as the final classifier instead of common softmax to realize the high precision of 97.54%. Subsequently, we employ the IMF7-XGBoost regression model to achieve the accurate estimation of PC gases concentration, which can result in an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 4.98. Finally, a typical comparative experimental analysis validates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
DOMESTIC VISITORS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY (WTP) FOR THE PRESERVATION OF WORLD HERITAGE SITE, STADTHUYS, MELAKA, MALAYSIA

This research explores the issue of local management system governing the heritage preservation in UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) Stadthuys, Melaka. Thus far, there is no clearly defined value of cultural heritage that justifies the benefits of preserving cultural heritage as a tourism product and as a sustainable heritage site. Most studies have proven that visitors in general are less interested in visiting cultural heritage sites due to the lack of information available there. Another issue identified in the recent research on cultural heritage assessment is the lack of empirical references on the economic valuation of cultural heritage preservation. This study used contingent valuation method (CVM) and questionnaire for data collection. Four sets of questionnaires were designed and distributed to a total of 100 respondents consisting of local community and domestic tourists. On average, respondents are willing to pay RM8.82, in which this value is higher than the current fee, RM5.00, showing that visitors have the awareness to value cultural heritage through preservation in Stadthuys, Melaka, WHS. Finally, this research has established a framework to be considered by the management regarding the WTP value of the cultural heritage in order to create a more sustainable Melaka Historical City.
Interval Short-Term Traffic Flow Prediction Method Based on CEEMDAN-SE Nosie Reduction and LSTM Optimized by GWO

With rapid economic growth and urbanization, the accelerated increase in car ownership has brought massive pressure on urban traffic, and accurate traffic flow prediction information can provide an important basis for urban traffic dynamic planning. The existing methods have problems such as low efficiency, large error, and inability to adapt to short-term traffic changes. To solve the above problems, the CEEMDAN-SE-GWO-LSTM method was proposed in this paper. First, the traffic flow data is processed for outliers and missing values. The Complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) method is used to decompose the traffic flow data, and sample entropy (SE) is used to reconstruct the subsequence, which is used to improve the quality of the input data. Then, the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) is used to optimize the parameters of the long-short-term memory (LSTM) in order to improve the prediction accuracy and prevent the model from falling into a local optimum. Three models are used to compare with the ensemble model proposed in this paper, including back propagation neural network (BPNN), LSTM, and long-short-term memory optimized by Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO-LSTM). Root mean square error (RMSE) is reduced by 40.9% to 66.7%; R 2 score is improved by 1.5% to 7.1%. The experimental results show that CEEMDAN-SE-GWO-LSTM has a higher prediction accuracy than the existing traffic flow prediction models. Finally, this paper uses the model prediction error to establish an interval prediction model based on the kernel density estimation theory, which enhances the generalization of the model and the practical application value.
Optimal Granularity Selection for Indoor Localization Detection with Wireless IoT Networks

Indoor localization detection acts as an important issue and has wide applications with wireless Internet of Things (IoT) networks. In recent years, the WiFi-based localization by using the latest artificial intelligence methods for improving the detection accuracy has attracted attention of many researchers. Granular computing is a newly emerged computing paradigm in artificial intelligence, which focuses on the structured thinking based on multiple levels of granularity. Thus, we introduce granular computing approaches to the task of wireless indoor localization detection, and a novel heuristic data discretization method is proposed based on the binary ant colony optimization and rough set (BACORS) for the selection of optimal granularity. For BACORS, the global optimal cut point set is searched based on the binary ant colony optimization to simultaneously discretize multiple attributes. Meanwhile, the accuracy of approximation classifications coined from rough sets is used to determine the consistent of multiple attribute data. To validate the effectiveness of BACORS, it is applied to a wireless indoor localization data set, and the experimental results indicate that it has promising performance.
When Eastern India Oscillated Between Desert Versus Savannah‐Dominated Vegetation

During the last glacial period, the tropical hydrological cycle exhibited large variability across orbital and millennial timescales. However, the response of the Indian summer monsoon (ISM), its related impact on terrestrial ecosystems, and associated forcing mechanisms remain controversial. Here we present a marine record of pollen‐inferred vegetation changes suggesting that eastern India shifted from woody‐savanna mosaics during Marine Isotopic Stage 3 to grasslands during the Last Glacial Maximum resulting from large‐scale drying. Our data shows that ISM maximum is in phase with obliquity and precession maxima suggesting a dominant role of the Indian Ocean interhemispheric temperature gradient on glacial ISM variability. Persistent and abrupt dryland expansions of varying magnitude suggest rapid‐scale onset of aridity during Heinrich Stadial events and during the Toba eruption. We propose that the amplitude of ISM drought events are initiated by high latitude and volcanic forcings, although modulated by precession.
Microplastics found in the World Heritage Site Cocos Island National Park, Costa Rica

Microplastics (MPs) defined as ‘small’ pieces of plastic < 5 mm have been found in almost every marine habitat around the world, and studies have shown that we can find them in the ocean surface, the water column, the seafloor, the shoreline, in biota and in the atmosphere-ocean interface. This study aimed to assess both marine and freshwater environments of Cocos Island, Costa Rica, in the Pacific Ocean, by sampling sediments and biota to determine the presence and abundance of this pollutant. Sediment samples were superficial and weighed one kilogram each. For the sampling of freshwater fish and shrimps, nonselective capture with small nets was made in rivers with access by land, while fishing rods were used for the marine fish sampling, and cage and scuba diving for lobsters. Plastics were found in all types of samples: 93% of marine sediments, 32% of freshwater sediments, 20% of freshwater fish, 15% of freshwater shrimps, 27% of marine fish, and 51% of marine lobsters. Like many reports around the world, it was expected to find MPs at marine samples, and it was concluded that ocean currents, tourism activities, and discarded fishing gear from illegal fishing activities could be the sources of marine pollutants. In contrast, the amount of MPs found in freshwater environments was not expected. Their possible sources are unclear at this moment.
‘I Believe in That Version of the Future’. Cli-Fi and Design Fictions as Dialogical Frameworks for Expert Engagements

Abstract The Design for Sustainability community has highlighted the importance of engaging different societal stakeholders and experts in discussions of how to achieve sustainability. The work we present is situated within a research project exploring ‘How climate goals can be portrayed to explore individual's’ carbon footprint’. In this paper we present a dialogical tool to engage experts in the discussion of issues related to moral, ethical and societal aspects in the transition towards a low emission society. We created two stories that were used during a workshop with experts. Those stories are positioned within the Climate Fiction genre, which centres on man-made climate change. We shaped the stories as Design Fictions, a design approach focusing on sparking discussions and explore possible worlds. The stories facilitated discussions on the aspects that we aimed for. We see potential in this approach to facilitate expert involvement and we highlight opportunities and improvement-potential.
Corporate Governance Compliance among the Listed Firms in Colombo Stock Exchange: Does Size Matter?

Literature is conflicting on the determinants of corporate governance, particularly relating to emerging financial markets. Therefore, this study examined whether firm size affects corporate governance compliance based on firm-level data from 2016 to 2020 for a sample of 100 firms listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange selected using the systematic random sampling technique. Firm size was measured using the natural logarithm of total assets. A corporate governance index was used to measure corporate governance compliance on 18 board related best practices. Results of three random-effects panel regression models indicated that firm size has a statistically significant positive effect on corporate governance compliance. This implies that larger firms are better motivated or capable of complying with corporate governance due to their more extensive resource. This way they can benefit from the reduced agency cost and increased attractiveness for investors. Smaller firms might have considered compliance with corporate governance as less beneficial given the higher cost of compliance. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to make policies flexible enough in the application based on the firm-specific characteristics, such as the firm size. Even though attempts have been made to assess the effect of firm size on corporate governance using firm size as a control variable, this is the first study dedicated to investigating the size effect on corporate governance compliance in the Sri Lankan context.
Subduction Zone Interface Structure Within the Southern MW9.2 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake Asperity: Constraints From Receiver Functions Across a Spatially Dense Node Array

We conduct a high‐resolution teleseismic receiver function investigation of the subducting plate interface within the Alaskan forearc beneath Kodiak Island using data collected as part of the Alaska Amphibious Community Seismic Experiment in 2019. The Kodiak node array consisted of 398 nodal geophones deployed at ∼200–300 m spacing on northeastern Kodiak Island within the southern asperity of the 1964 Mw9.2 Great Alaska earthquake. Receiver function images at frequencies of 1.2 and 2.4 Hz show a coherent, slightly dipping velocity increase at ∼30–40 km depth consistent with the expected slab Moho. In contrast to studies within the northern asperity of the 1964 rupture, we find no evidence for a prominent low‐velocity layer above the slab Moho thick enough to be resolved by upgoing P‐to‐S conversions. These results support evidence from seismicity and geodetic strain suggesting that the 1964 rupture connected northern (Kenai) and southern (Kodiak) asperities with different plate interface properties.
Breaking Barriers With Basal Insulin Biosimilars in Type 2 Diabetes

Despite increases in the availability and effectiveness of other therapies, insulin remains an essential treatment for approximately 30 million people with type 2 diabetes worldwide. The development of biosimilars has created the potential for significant health care cost savings and may lead to greater access to basal insulin for vast populations. In this review, we discuss evidence demonstrating equipoise between basal insulin biosimilars and the patented analogs they may replace.
Bariatric Surgery and Myocardial Mechanics: A Meta-Analysis of Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Studies

Aim: Current evidence on the effects of bariatric surgery on cardiac mechanics in patients with obesity is based on a few single studies. We investigated this issue through a meta-analysis of speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) studies that reported data on changes in left ventricular (LV) mechanics as assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS). Methods: The PubMed, OVID-MEDLINE and Cochrane library databases were systematically analysed to search English-language articles published from inception to 31 May 2022. Studies were identified by using Me-SH terms and crossing the following terms: “obesity”, “bariatric surgery”, “left ventricular mechanics”, “left ventricular hypertrophy”, “systolic dysfunction”, “global longitudinal strain”, “echocardiography” and “STE echocardiography”. Results: The meta-analysis, including a total of 512 patients with obesity from 13 studies (follow-up 1–23 months), showed a significant GLS improvement after bariatric procedures, with standard mean difference (SMD) being 0.50 ± 0.08, CI: 0.34/0.65, p < 0.0001. Corresponding SMD value for LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 0.15 ± 0.09, CI: −0.04/0.34, p = 0.11. A sensitivity analysis restricted to 11 studies with follow-up ≥ 6 months confirmed that GLS (SMD: 0.47 ± 0.08, CI: 0.30/0.63, p < 0.0001) but not LVEF (SMD: 0.14 ± 0.11, CI: −0.08/0.37, p = 0.21) improved after surgery. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis adds a new piece of information on the beneficial effects of bariatric surgery on LV systolic function and, more importantly, suggests that the assessment of myocardial strain should be routinely implemented for a comprehensive evaluation of cardiac functional changes associated with bariatric procedures.
Diagnostic Role of Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Patients with Suspected SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia and Negative Upper Respiratory Tract Swab: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The added role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in SARS-CoV-2 detection in hospitalized patients with suspected COVID-19 pneumonia and at least one negative nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) has yet to be definitively established. We aimed to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize data from the literature on the diagnostic yield of BAL in this context. We searched Medline and Embase for all studies reporting outcomes of interest published up to October 2021. Two authors reviewed all titles/abstracts and retrieved the selected full texts according to predefined selection criteria. The summary estimate was derived using the random-effects model. Thirteen original studies, involving 868 patients, were included. The summary estimate of proportions of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in BAL fluid in patients with at least one previous negative NPS was 20% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 11–30%). Moreover, microbiological tests of BAL fluid led to the identification of other pathogens, mainly bacteria, in up to two-thirds of cases. BAL plays a crucial role in the diagnostic work-up of patients with clinical suspicion of COVID-19 and previous negative NPS, as it allowed to detect the infection in a significant proportion of subjects, who would have been otherwise misclassified, with relevant implications in the prevention of disease spread, especially in hospital settings.
Using a new coefficient conjugate gradient method for solving unconstrained optimization problems

The conjugate gradient technique is a numerical solution strategy for finding minimization in mathematics. We present a simple, straightforward, efficient, and resilient conjugate gradient technique in this study. To address the convergence difficulty and descent property, the new technique is built on the quadratic model. Under some assumptions, the new improved approach meets the convergence characteristics and the adequate descent criterion. The suggested unique strategy is substantially more efficient than the classic FR method, according to our numerical analysis. The number of function evaluations, iterations and restarts are all included in the numerical results. The computational efficiency of the proposed approach is proved by comparative results.
Poxvirus Recombination

Genetic recombination is used as a tool for modifying the composition of poxvirus genomes in both discovery and applied research. This review documents the history behind the development of these tools as well as what has been learned about the processes that catalyze virus recombination and the links between it and DNA replication and repair. The study of poxvirus recombination extends back to the 1930s with the discovery that one virus can reactivate another by a process later shown to generate recombinants. In the years that followed it was shown that recombinants can be produced in virus-by-virus crosses within a genus (e.g., variola-by-rabbitpox) and efforts were made to produce recombination-based genetic maps with modest success. The marker rescue mapping method proved more useful and led to methods for making genetically engineered viruses. Many further insights into the mechanism of recombination have been provided by transfection studies which have shown that this is a high-frequency process associated with hybrid DNA formation and inextricably linked to replication. The links reflect the fact that poxvirus DNA polymerases, specifically the vaccinia virus E9 enzyme, can catalyze strand transfer in in vivo and in vitro reactions dependent on the 3′-to-5′ proofreading exonuclease and enhanced by the I3 replicative single-strand DNA binding protein. These reactions have shaped the composition of virus genomes and are modulated by constraints imposed on virus–virus interactions by viral replication in cytoplasmic factories. As recombination reactions are used for replication fork assembly and repair in many biological systems, further study of these reactions may provide new insights into still poorly understood features of poxvirus DNA replication.
Nested Bee Hive: A Conceptual Multilayer Architecture for 6G in Futuristic Sustainable Smart Cities

Several smart city ideas are introduced to manage various problems caused by overpopulation, but the futuristic smart city is a concept based on dense and artificial-intelligence-centric cities. Thus, massive device connectivity with huge data traffic is expected in the future where communication networks are expected to provide ubiquity, high quality of service, and on-demand content for a large number of interconnected devices. The sixth-generation (6G) network is considered the problem-solving network of futuristic cities, with huge bandwidth and low latency. The expected 6G of the radio access network is based on terahertz (THz) waves with the capability of carrying up to one terabit per second (Tbps). THz waves have the capability of carrying a large amount of data but these waves have several drawbacks, such as short-range and atmospheric attenuation. Hence, these problems can introduce complications and hamper the performance of the 6G network. This study envisions futuristic smart cities using 6G and proposes a conceptual terrestrial network (TN) architecture for 6G. The nested Bee Hive is a scalable multilayer architecture designed to meet the needs of futuristic smart cities. Moreover, we designed the multilayer network infrastructure while considering the expectations from a network of futuristic smart cities and the complications of THz waves. Extensive simulations are performed using different pathfinding algorithms in the 3D multilayer domain to evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture and set the dynamics of futuristic communication of 6G.
Biosorption of Pb2+ using Fusarium sp. RS01, a Hg2+ and Pb2+-Resistant Indigenous Fungus of an Abandoned Illegal Gold Mining Site

This study aims to identify and characterize Hg2+ and Pb2+-resistant indigenous fungi that originated in Mandor, an abandoned illegal gold mining site in West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The resistant fungus which has the highest ability in uptaking Pb2+ is then further examined for its biosorption characteristics towards Pb2+. Three different samples consisted of samples taken in the sand area (RP), rhizosphere area (RR) and sediment area (RS) were collected as the sources of fungi. The three types of samples were inoculated in a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium supplemented with 7.4 ppm of HgCl2 and 7.5 ppm of PbCl2 for screening Hg2+ and Pb2+-resistant fungi, respectively. Each screened fungus was identified macroscopically and microscopically. The tolerant index (TI) towards Hg2+ and Pb2+ was checked by measuring the fungal growth diameter in a PDA medium without or with the presence of different HgCl2 or PbCl2 concentrations. From six identified fungi, five of them showed resistance towards Hg2+ and Pb2+ to maximum concentrations of 200 ppm of HgCl2 and 2085 ppm of PbCl2, respectively. The five identified fungi were Penicillium sp. RR01, Aspergillus sp. RR02, Aspergillus sp. RR03, Aspergillus niger RP01, and Fusarium sp. RS01. At the optimum condition of pH 6 and adsorption time 15 min, the application of 200 ppm of Fusarium sp. was able to remove 9.5 ppm of Pb2+. This Pb2+ biosorption followed well Freundlich isotherm model indicating that the Fusarium sp. RS01 had heterogenous active sites for the adsorption.