Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soft Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery and Interventions: Advances and Outlook

Since the emergence of soft robotics around two decades ago, research interest in the field has escalated at a pace. It is fuelled by the industry’s appreciation of the wide range of soft materials available that can be used to create highly dexterous robots with adaptability characteristics far beyond that which can be achieved with rigid component devices. The ability, inherent in soft robots, to compliantly adapt to the environment, has significantly sparked interest from the surgical robotics community. This article provides an in-depth overview of recent progress and outlines the remaining challenges in the development of soft robotics for minimally invasive surgery.
Single-Phase Dielectric Fluid Thermal Management for Power-Dense Automotive Power Electronics

This article describes the design and performance of a dielectric fluid cooling concept for automotive power electronics. The concept combines a low-thermal-resistance package (which eliminates metalized ceramic substrates) with a high-performance convective cooling strategy (slot jets impinging on finned surfaces). Modeling was first used to design the cooling system to maximize thermal performance and minimize pumping power. A prototype was then fabricated, and experiments were conducted to validate the model predictions using three fluids at various fluid flow rates (16.7 cm3/s [1 L/min] to 68.3 cm3/s [4.1 L/min]) and inlet temperatures (30 °C and 70 °C). The final design was compact (120-cm3 total volume, including heat exchanger and conceptual power modules) and cooled 12 devices (e.g., silicon carbide [SiC]). The validated model was then used to predict the junction-to-fluid thermal resistance and pumping power for various conditions, including −40 °C fluid temperature. The results predict thermal resistance values as low as 19 mm2·K/W is possible using the dielectric fluid cooling approach. The dielectric fluid cooling system is predicted to provide thermal resistance and pumping power values that are approximately 56% and 90% lower, respectively, compared to an automotive power electronics cooling system. Moreover, the dielectric fluids can be used for direct cooling of the bus bars, which can be an effective capacitor and gate driver cooling strategy and enable the use of new driveline fluids tailored for this application.
What the radiologist should know about the role of percutaneous gastrostomy: a pictorial essay

The image-guided gastrostomy techniques, as transoral and transabdominal, can be performed when there is a failure of the endoscopic procedure or in some specific clinical scenarios. This pictorial essay intends to show the percutaneous gastrostomy techniques, indications, technical approaches, post-procedure care, and complications.
Does culture matter for the EFQM model application?

The main objective of this paper is to analyse which kind of organisational culture is most suitable for the successful application of the EFQM model in the manufacturing sector. Partial Least Squares (PLS) was employed with data from a sample of 200 Spanish companies. Two managers in each organisation provided the data for analysis. The results of the empirical analysis identify the relationships between some of the variables, and contribute to the understanding of how the organisational culture can be a key factor in the company’s success by facilitating the utilisation of the EFQM enabling criteria. This research highlights the importance of an orientation towards a culture of control and stability that can support the use of the principles and results suggested by the EFQM model. The research fills the gap in the literature regarding the relationship between organisational culture and EFQM model application. The findings suggest the possibility that TQM and the EFQM model could require different organisational cultures for success.
Hybrid Model for Detection of Cervical Cancer Using Causal Analysis and Machine Learning Techniques

Cervical cancer has become the third most common form of cancer in the in-universe, after the widespread breast cancer. Human papillomavirus risk of infection is linked to the majority of cancer cases. Preventive care, the most expensive way of fighting cancer, can protect about 37% of cancer cases. The Pap smear examination is a standard screening procedure for the initial screening of cervical cancer. However, this manual test procedure generates many false-positive outcomes due to individual errors. Various researchers have extensively investigated machine learning (ML) methods for classifying cervical Pap cells to enhance manual testing. The random forest method is the most popular method for anticipating features from a high-dimensional cancer image dataset. However, the random forest method can get too slow and inefficient for real-time forecasts when too many decision trees are used. This research proposed an efficient feature selection and prediction model for cervical cancer datasets using Boruta analysis and SVM method to deal with this challenge. A Boruta analysis method is used. It is improved from of random forest method and mainly discovers feature subsets from the data source that are significant to assigned classification activity. The proposed model's primary aim is to determine the importance of cervical cancer screening factors for classifying high-risk patients depending on the findings. This research work analyses cervical cancer and various risk factors to help detect cervical cancer. The proposed model Boruta with SVM and various popular ML models are implemented using Python and various performance measuring parameters, i.e., accuracy, precision, F1–Score, and recall. However, the proposed Boruta analysis with SVM performs outstanding over existing methods.
Strength Models of Axial Capacity of FRP-Confined Circular Concrete Columns

Several numbers of strength models of FRP-confined circular concrete columns have been published by several researchers. In this study, strength models were proposed based on experimental data. Nine existing FRP-confined strength models of column confinement were reviewed in this study and two forms of strength models of FRP-confined circular concrete columns were proposed. The models were proposed based on different number of experimental data collected from literature. Based on the number of experimental data, i.e. 64-, 106-, 156- and 192-, the strength models were developed. The performance of the existing and the proposed strength models were evaluated and compared. The evaluation results showed that the strength models proposed based on 192-data had the best performance among other models proposed with smaller number of data. It was also shown that the proposed strength models had better performance than the existing strength models.
MicroRNA-20a-5p Downregulation by Atorvastatin: A Potential Mechanism Involved in Lipid-Lowering Therapy

The treatment of hypercholesterolemia is mainly based on statins. However, the response to pharmacological therapy shows high inter-individual variability, resulting in variable effects in both lipid lowering and risk reduction. Thus, a better understanding of the lipid-lowering mechanisms and response variability at the molecular level is required. Previously, we demonstrated a deregulation of the microRNA expression profile in HepG2 cells treated for 24 h with atorvastatin, using a microarray platform. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-20a-5p and hsa-miR-106a-5p in hypercholesterolemic patients before and after atorvastatin treatment and in HepG2 cells treated for 24 h with atorvastatin The miRNA hsa-mir-20a-5p was repressed after atorvastatin treatment in hypercholesteremic subjects and in HepG2 cells in culture. Repression of hsa-mir-20a-5p increased LDLR gene and protein expression in HepG2 cells, while hsa-mir-20a-5p overexpression reduced LDLR gene and protein expression.
Research advances of in-situ soil zymography

Soil enzymes play an important role in the material circulation and energy flow of soil ecosystem, and the detection of their activity is the basis for the development of soil enzymes. Traditional soil enzyme activity detection methods can reflect soil enzyme activity, but cannot reflect the real situation of soil enzyme in situ, and distinguish the continuous changes of enzyme activity in time and space. Based on fluorescent substrate, in-situ zymography technology can obtain two-dimensional images of soil enzyme activity distribution in situ, reflect its continuous changes in space from microscale, and distinguish between hot and non-hot areas of soil enzyme activity. It has the advantages of high accuracy, high spatial resolution and high time resolution. In this paper, the working principle and technical advantages of in-situ zymography were summarized, and the development direction of the combination of in-situ zymography and other technologies was prospected, in order to promote the development and application of this technology and provide research direction for the further study of soil enzymology.
A Domain-Independent Facility Control Framework

The purpose of our built environment is to provide spaces in which human-designed activities may comfortably occur. An ever-increasing set of technical disciplines, economics, and societal norms place dynamic requirements on those who plan, design, construct, maintain, operate and manage our built environment. In this paper, a domain-independent framework to capture design requirements and then compare those requirements to the actual performance of a facility is presented. The foundations of this framework were five related Industry Foundation Class Model View Definitions that are partially implemented within commercial software and are being balloted within the United States National Building Information Model Standard (NBIMS-US V3). The application of this framework was tested using an algorithm that compares expected data with as-operated sensor telemetry. This algorithm was verified against simulated data and validated against sensor data. The sample models and tool kit developed for this project’s experimental test bed has been adopted by industry and academia to support their missions of streamlining design and construction processes and educating future design and construction professionals. In addition, the initial application of this framework to support wider sustainability, engineering economics, and business process analysis goals is introduced. These applications demonstrate how small additions to standard building information model submission may quantitatively address current and future requirements placed on our engineered environment. CE Database subject headings: Building information models; Design management; Construction management Author keywords: Building information model; BIM; Model view definition; MVD; Industry foundation class; domain-independent; framework; life cycle; building control; control cycle; COBie; HVACie; Sparkie; WSie; BAMie; BPie; resource utilization
Targeting Circulating lncRNA ENST00000538705.1 Relieves Acute Coronary Syndrome via Modulating ALOX15

Objective Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is the most dangerous and deadly form of coronary heart disease. Herein, we aimed to explore ACS-specific circulating lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms. Methods This study collected serum samples from ACS patients and healthy controls for microarray analysis. Dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and mRNAs were determined with |log2fold − change| > 1 and p < 0.05. lncRNA-mRNA coexpression analysis was carried out. ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 expression was further verified in serum specimens. In human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs), ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 were knocked out through transfecting specific siRNAs. Thereafter, proliferation and migration were investigated with CCK-8 and wound-healing assays. Myocardial infarction rat models were established and administrated with siRNAs against ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15. Myocardial damage was investigated with H&E staining, and serum TC, LDL, and HDL levels were measured. Results Microarray analysis identified 353 dysregulated circulating lncRNAs and 441 dysregulated circulating mRNAs in ACS. Coexpression analysis indicated the interaction between ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15. RT-qPCR confirmed the remarkable upregulation of circulating ENST00000538705.1 and ALOX15 in ACS patients. In HCAECs, ENST00000538705.1 knockdown lowered the expression of ALOX15 but ALOX15 did not alter the expression of ENST00000538705.1. Silencing ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 weakened the proliferation and migration of HCAECs. Additionally, knockdown of ENST00000538705.1 or ALOX15 relieved myocardial damage, decreased serum TC and LDL levels, and elevated HDL levels in myocardial infarction rats. Conclusion Collectively, our findings demonstrate that circulating ENST00000538705.1 facilitates ACS progression through modulating ALOX15, which provide potential targets for ACS treatment.
A transfer weighted extreme learning machine for imbalanced classification

Previous class imbalance learning methods are mostly grounded on the assumption that all training data have been labeled, however, is impractical in many real‐world applications. The limited amount of labeled instances may produce a classifier with poor generalization. To address the issue, a transfer weighted extreme learning machine (TWELM) classifier is proposed, with the purpose of extracting knowledge from other domains to improve the classification performance of a classifier in a limited labeled target domain. To be specific, a well‐tuned weighted extreme learning machine classifier is first learned from source data that has been completely labeled. Subsequently, another extreme learning machine classifier is obtained from the limited labeled target domain data to preserve the target domain structural knowledge and the decision boundary information. Finally, the target classifier is optimized by minimizing the outputs of the two classifiers on unlabeled target data. Experimental results on real‐world data sets show that TWELM outperforms existing algorithms on classification accuracy and computation cost.
Impoved Test Techniques for Network-on-Chip Based Memory Systems

The search for a cost effective interconnect architecture and increasing communication demand in Systems-on-Chip (SoC) designs have paved the route to Network-on-Chip (NoC) research a decade back. However, like all other designs, NoC based SoC designs must also be tested for defects. The research on different test techniques for NoC based systems suggest that focus has been primarily on finding improved test techniques for NoC based logic cores. However, the embedded memory content in NoC based systems have increased over the years and will continue to increase. Due to their high density, these embedded memories are more prone to defects than other type of on-chip circuits and therefore, require more importance when it comes to testing NoC based systems. This book covers the improvement brought about in the existing approaches of test of NoC based memory cores. The improvements have been considered along the along the following directions : test architecture, test scheduling algorithms and on-line test techniques. In addition, the book also covers novel test architectures which are based on concept of re-use of on-chip resources.
Dynamic finite element model validation of an assembled aero-engine casing

Structural dynamic model updating and validation of an aero-engine casing is critical to the design and development of an aircraft engine. It helps to identify the dynamic characteristics and reduce the response of the aero-engine. The modelling and parameter identification of joint are extremely difficult and important in structural dynamic analysis of the assembled aero-engine casing. In this paper, dynamic model validation technique was applied to update and validate the finite element model of an assembled aero-engine casing. First, modal test of individual casings and the assembled casing was performed by using the traditional acceleration sensors and a hammer. The modal frequencies and mode shapes were obtained by modal analysis tools. Second, the Inverse Eigen-sensitivity Method was used to correct frequency errors and MAC values of correlated mode pairs in the individual components to obtain validated models. Last, the bolt joints of two aero-engine casings were modelled by thin layer of shell elements. The material parameters or element properties of the thin-layer contact elements were updated to obtain reliable connection parameters. The results show that the errors of natural frequencies between the validated FE model of an assembled aero-engine casing and test data are within 7%, and the MAC values of main modes are above 70%, which can verify the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach.
Exploring the Limits of Lexicon-based Natural Language Processing Techniques for Measuring Engagement and Predicting MOOC's Certification

: We address the problem of assessing the contributions of lexicon-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to measure learner affective and cognitive engagement and thus predict certiﬁcation in French-speaking MOOCs. Interest in these approaches comes from the fact they are explainable. Our investigation protocol consists of applying machine learning techniques to determine the relationships between lexicon-based engagement indicators and learning outcomes. The lexicon-based approach is compared with trace log features, and we distinguish between specialised linguistically-based approaches with dedicated lexicon resources and more general but deeper text representations. Language quality and its impact on the task are discussed. We investigate this issue in MOOCs imposing or not the use of the forum in their learning activities.
No Negative Effects of Reading on Screen on Comprehension of Narrative Texts Compared to Print: A Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT While some argue digital reading media may impair text comprehension, the empirical literature is ambiguous, in particular when it comes to the reading of narrative texts. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic meta-analysis of studies exploring the effect of screen reading media on reading comprehension of narrative texts was conducted (k = 32, N = 2239). Multimedia and interactive functions in general, the type of multimedia and interactive functions, the change in effect over time, and the type of digital reading device (computer, e-reader, and tablet) were explored as moderating variables. In general, the analyses did not reveal a significant impact of the reading medium (screen vs. paper) on the reading comprehension of a narrative text. Moreover, there does not seem to be a difference over time and between different types of digital reading devices. Also, the analysis of the subsample of studies using plain digital text without any additional functions in comparison to print showed no significant differences. In contrast, multimedia and interactive functions of digital texts affect reading comprehension positively, regardless of the type of additional function. In conclusion, the results do not suggest a negative effect of digital reading media on reading comprehension when reading narrative texts.
Vegetative growth and belowground expansion from transplanted low‐arctic tundra turfs

Whole‐turf transplantation is a restoration method used to restore plant communities within disturbed arctic environments. Transplant expansion and restoration success is often determined based on aboveground characteristics, and to our knowledge, this is the first investigation of belowground expansion from transplanted turfs. In this growth chamber experiment, turfs harvested from undisturbed tundra near Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada, were exposed to fertilized and unfertilized substrates to determine the effect of adjacent nutrient‐enrichment on plant community composition within the turfs and substrates, as well as above and belowground biomass and expansion. Next‐generation sequencing was used to determine the species identity of expanding roots. Our results show that fertilization of substrates surrounding tundra transplants did not alter the community composition of the turfs, but did increase biomass and expansion, as well as biological soil crust cover on the adjacent substrate. Belowground biomass far exceeded aboveground, revealing the importance of evaluating belowground roots and rhizomes that dominate the vegetative biomass within arctic ecosystems. Investigation of belowground development is likely to provide holistic interpretations of restoration success and should not be ignored in future transplantation studies.
Determinants of abnormal audit fees in international financial reporting standards-based financial statements

This study essentially examines the audit effort as a possible determinant of the abnormal audit fees evinced in International Financial Reporting Standards-based financial statements. Therefore, the secondary data were sourced from the audited annual reports and the relevant financial statements of the Nigerian listed banks for the period of observation (2010-2019). An analysis was performed using the relevant techniques that include descriptive statistics, the correlation matrix and panel regression. The findings showed that the IFRS, the client complexity (CPX) and the client size (SIZ) were negatively correlated with abnormal audit fees (ABFEE), whereas joint audit (JAD) recorded a positive correlation with such abnormal audit fees. Lucidly, joint audit showed a stronger relationship with abnormal audit fees, whereas the client size showed a significant, but negative relationship with abnormal audit fees. Similarly, the fact that, with a probability value 0.9494, the relationship between ABFEE and the client complexity was not significant was noticed. Given these research outcomes, it can be concluded that abnormal audit fees are primarily motivated by extra or unexplained audit efforts and the costs associated with them. It is, therefore, recommended that, proportionately with the service(s) rendered, accounting professional bodies should review, harmonize and tactically institute a limit for professional charges through the enforcement of regulated benchmarks for audit fees payable by clients.