Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ExploreModelMatrix: Interactive exploration for improved understanding of design matrices and linear models in R

Linear and generalized linear models are used extensively in many scientiﬁc ﬁelds, to model observed data and as the basis for hypothesis tests. The use of such models requires speciﬁcation of a design matrix, and subsequent formulation of contrasts representing scientiﬁc hypotheses of interest. Proper execution of these steps requires a thorough understanding of the meaning of the individual coefﬁcients, and is a frequent source of uncertainty for end users. Here, we present an R/Bioconductor package, ExploreModelMatrix, which enables interactive exploration of design matrices and linear model diagnostics. Given a sample data table and a desired design formula, the package displays how the model coefﬁcients are combined to give the ﬁtted values for each combination of predictor variables, which allows users to both extract the interpretation of each individual coefﬁcient, and formulate desired linear contrasts. In addition, the interactive interface displays informative characteristics for the regular linear model corresponding to the provided design, such as variance inﬂation factors and the pseudoinverse of the design matrix. We envision the package and the built-in collection of common types of linear model designs to be useful for teaching and self-learning purposes, as well as for assisting more experienced users in the interpretation of complex model designs.
Doublet vs Single-Agent Maintenance Therapy in the Treatment of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Background Several published meta-analyses have confirmed that single-agent maintenance therapy in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can prolong time to disease progression and potentially increase overall survival (OS) in comparison to placebo. However, whether doublet maintenance therapy can improve the survival of advanced NSCLC remains undetermined. Methods We searched several databases for relevant trials. Prospective randomized controlled trials comparing doublet vs single-agent maintenance therapy in NSCLC patients were included for analysis. Outcomes of interest were OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and incidence of grade 3/4 toxicities. Results A total of 1,950 advanced-NSCLC patients from six trials were included for analysis. Our results showed that doublet maintenance therapy in NSCLC patients significantly improved PFS (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.59–0.93; P=0.010), but not for OS (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.85–1.07; P=0.40) in comparison with single-agent maintenance therapy. Subgroup analysis by maintenance regimen showed that pemetrexed plus bevacizumab maintenance therapy significantly improved PFS, but not OS. In addition, there was no significant risk difference between doublet and single-agent maintenance therapy in terms of grade 3/4 hematologic and nonhematologic toxicities. Conclusion Our study suggests that doublet maintenance therapy in advanced-NSCLC patients demonstrates PFS benefits, but not OS benefits, in comparison with single-agent maintenance therapy. Future trials are suggested to assess the long-term clinical benefit of doublet maintenance treatment in NSCLC patients and its impact on health-related quality of life.
An improved method for swing measurement based on monocular vision to the payload of overhead crane

In order to solve the problem that the blurred image of a moving object decreases accuracy in the process of detecting the payload swing angle of an overhead crane based on vision, and the tracking failure caused by the drastic change of grey targets, a robust real-time detection method of the load swing angle of a bridge crane is proposed. This method uses a spherical marker attached to the load, which is insensitive to rotation and tilt when it is detected. First, it uses the mean shift algorithm combined with Kalman filter to track the moving objects in the image plane continuously, and then integrates the method of minimum area circle to detect the spherical marker image in the region of interest accurately and quickly. Finally, combined with the geometric method, the real-time swing angle is calculated. In addition, the angle diagram method is used to increase the speed of calculating the swing angle. The experimental results show that the method is effective for detecting the load target swing angle of different trolley motion speed.
Marine Indigenous Areas: Conservation Assemblages for Sustainability in Southern Chile

Abstract Globally, Indigenous Marine Areas are contributing to ocean sustainability by protecting key habitats and species whilst safeguarding customary uses for local communities. They are emerging as one of the key political mechanisms that can counteract the ravages of the blue Anthropocene. Nevertheless, their contributions are threatened by the accelerating expansion of economic activities, and exclusionary marine governance systems, affecting both marine biodiversity and human wellbeing. In southern Chile, indigenous communities have been countering the expansion of the salmon farms by promoting the establishment of Espacios Costeros Marinos para Pueblos Originarios (here called Indigenous Marine Areas or IMAs). These IMAs are being developed by coastal communities to protect traditional or customary coastal uses, and revitalizing culture whilst contributing to marine conservation. Using a relational theoretical approach and mixed methods, the paper presents the major trends in the implementation of IMAs in Chile. Through the case of the Los Lagos Region, it shows how the action-network that pursued the designation of IMAs is continuing today. The paper stresses the role of conservation assemblages to lead collective actions, showing how these constellations of agents have been interacting during the decision-making process and institutional building, whilst promoting the establishment of IMAs as place-based democratic mechanism to promote the sustainability of the southern Chile.
Concordance of long‐term shifts with climate warming varies among phenological events and herbaceous species

Many temperate herbs now flower earlier than a few decades ago. Little is known about other phenological events, despite the importance of life history integration for plant fitness. This study addresses the hypothesis that temporal shifts of multiple phenological events in herbs are concordant with temporal changes in weather. Explicitly showing that changes in timing of annual life cycle events are correlated with changes in weather-predicting variables provides support for the hypothesis that a phenological shift is concordant with climate change. Observations of six phenological events and five phenophases were made year- round for 25 yr for herb species in a deciduous forest fragment, Trelease Woods in Illinois, USA. Dates for 43 species were analyzed by linear mixed-effects models for events and pheno- phases and were compared to weather data from a nearby station. For early species, emergence was delayed by 1.5 d/decade, while end expansion advanced by 3.8 d/decade and begin dor- mancy advanced by 2.5 d/decade. For late species, end expansion advanced by 6.7 d/decade, while begin senescence delayed by 17.7 d/decade. Begin flowering and end flowering advanced similarly for both seasonal groups, at 3.8 to 4.2 d/decade. Some events showed no temporal change. Species differed greatly in the degree or direction of change, related to seasonality of event or length of phase. Overall, for a given species, most events are advancing (68.4%) and most durations are shortening (74.4%). In 12 of 13 cases, inter-annual variation in event date was predicted by a temperature-event – season combination variable, but in only six cases did both event date shift and weather variable warm through time. This finding supports the hypothesis that climate change is associated with changes in some, but not all, phenological events. This first long-term, multi-phase study of a community of temperate herb species indi- cates little temporal coherence of responses of multiple phases. Changes in date are event specific, phase specific, and species specific. This complexity of responses among species and uneven responses within a species ’ integrated annual cycle events has implications for evolutionary responses and more immediate interactions among plant, animal, and microbe species in this community.
Transcriptome Analysis in Male Strobilus Induction by Gibberellin Treatment in Cryptomeria japonica D. Don

The plant hormone gibberellin (GA) is known to regulate elongating growth, seed germination, and the initiation of flower bud formation, and it has been postulated that GAs originally had functions in reproductive processes. Studies on the mechanism of induction of flowering by GA have been performed in Arabidopsis and other model plants. In coniferous trees, reproductive organ induction by GAs is known to occur, but there are few reports on the molecular mechanism in this system. To clarify the gene expression dynamics of the GA induction of the male strobilus in Cryptomeria japonica, we performed comprehensive gene expression analysis using a microarray. A GA-treated group and a nontreated group were allowed to set, and individual trees were sampled over a 6-week time course. A total of 881 genes exhibiting changed expression was identified. In the GA-treated group, genes related to ‘stress response’ and to ‘cell wall’ were initially enriched, and genes related to ‘transcription’ and ‘transcription factor activity’ were enriched at later stages. This analysis also clarified the dynamics of the expression of genes related to GA signaling transduction following GA treatment, permitting us to compare and contrast with the expression dynamics of genes implicated in signal transduction responses to other plant hormones. These results suggested that various plant hormones have complex influences on the male strobilus induction. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) using expression patterns of the genes that exhibited sequence similarity with flower bud or floral organ formation-related genes of Arabidopsis was performed. PCA suggested that gene expression leading to male strobilus formation in C. japonica became conspicuous within one week of GA treatment. Together, these findings help to clarify the evolution of the mechanism of induction of reproductive organs by GA.
Benefits of treating a sandy soil with a crosslinked-type polyacrylamide

The productivity of sandy soils is mostly limited by their low water-holding capacity and excessive deep percolation losses, which reduce the efficiency of water and fertiliser use by plants. The effect of a crosslinked-type polyacrylamide, ALCOSORB 400, on water-holding capacity of a sandy soil, siliceous sands, was studied under the laboratory and glasshouse conditions. Water-holding capacity of the soil exposed to 0.01 MPa increased by 23 and 95% by adding 0.03 and 0.07% of polyacrylamide to the soil, respectively. This indicated that the soil treated with polyacrylamide was able to store more water than untreated soil, thereby reducing the potential losses due to deep percolation in sandy soils. However, the polyacrylamide in the treated soil did not significantly increase the quantity of water released from the soil by increasing the pressure from 0.01 to 1.5 MPa. The results from the first glasshouse experiment demonstrated that the excess amount of water stored in the soil by polyacrylamide was available to plants and resulted in higher water use and grain production. Consequently, there was a 12 and 18 fold increase in water use efficiency of soybean plants grown in soils treated with 0.03 and 0.07% polyacrylamide, respectively. The results from the second glasshouse experiment demonstrated that increasing amounts of polyacrylamides in a sandy soil can extend the irrigation interval without any adverse effect on the grain yield of soybeans.
Gain and bandwidth enhancement of a singly‐fed circularly polarised dielectric resonator antenna

A technique is proposed for the enhancement of gain and circularly polarised (CP) bandwidth of a singly-fed CP dielectric resonator (DR) antenna. The specific geometry of DR is used to generate the orthogonal modes required for obtaining the CP response. The incremental harmonics of the fundamental and third-order modes, T E 11 δ + 1 and T E 31 δ + 1 , are generated by stacking of the similar DR layer topped with metallic patch after an air gap. This enhances the gain and CP bandwidth of the antenna maintaining the generated orthogonal modes with the required phase difference. The antenna with single DR layer provides the CP bandwidth of 13.56% and gain 4.04 dBic. After stacking, the antenna provides the measured CP bandwidth of 24.75% and 7.32 dBic stable gain over the passband. In addition, the antenna provides 92.87% radiation efficiency in the passband.
Synthesis of novel 1,2,3-triazolic compounds derived from natural product, by the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide (CuAAC) cycloaddition

A series of novel 1,2,3-triazolic compounds derived from natural products (thymol, carvacrol and eugenol) was synthesized by the copper(I)-catalyzed alkyne-azide (CuAAC) cycloaddition between the corresponding propargyl ethers of each natural product and a variety of azides. The reaction conducted with catalytic amount of copper (II) sulfate and sodium ascorbate affording desired products in good yields and their structures were confirmed by spectral techniques such as 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and high resolution mass spectrometry ( HRMS).
Exploring the front fricative contrast in Greek: A study of acoustic variability based on cepstral coefficients

In the current study, we explore the factors underlying the well-known difficulty in acoustic classification of front nonsibilant fricatives (Maniwa, Jongman & Wade 2009, McMurray & Jongman 2011) by applying a novel classification method to the production of Greek speakers. The Greek fricative inventory [f v θ ð s z ç ʝ x ɣ] includes voiced and voiceless segments from five distinct places of articulation. Our corpus contains all of the Greek fricatives produced by 29 monolingual speakers, but our focus is on the distinction between the front nonsibilant fricatives [f v θ ð]. For comparison, we also discuss the other places of articulation where relevant. We apply a relatively novel classification method based on cepstral coefficients, previously successful in categorizing English obstruent bursts (Bunnell, Polikoff & McNicholas 2004), English vowels (Ferragne & Pellegrino 2010), Romanian fricatives (Spinu & Lilley 2016), and Russian fricatives (Spinu, Kochetov & Lilley 2018). For this study, fricative boundaries were automatically aligned using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) and then manually checked. Six Bark-frequency cepstral coefficients (c0–c5) were extracted from 20-millisecond Hann windows. HMMs were used to divide the fricatives and adjacent vowels into three regions of internally minimized variance. A multinomial logistic regression analysis then used the mean cepstral coefficients from each region as predictors for classification by consonant identity. Our method yields highly successful classification rates, exceeding the performance of previous methods. We discuss these results in light of the differences of the phonemic distributions of fricatives between English and Greek.
Biodegradation of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by Aspergillus terreus

In our search for new fungal isolates capable of degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil, twenty one fungal isolates were recovered from Orman Garden, Wadi Degla Protectorate and benzene station soils. All tested fungi exhibited lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase activities in solid as well as in liquid cultures. However, laccase was detected in low amounts by some of the tested fungal isolates. Accordingly, laccase was eliminated from further work. Aspergillus terreus was superior in ligninolytic enzyme production. Hence, it was chosen for the following studies. The statistical optimum temperatures for lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase production by A. terreus were 33.6 and 33.1°C, respectively. Meanwhile lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase yields were maximal at pH 4.1 and 5.8, respectively. Highest ligninolytic enzyme secretions were established on D-glucose and sodium nitrate. An experiment to study biodegradation of PAHs in soil was conducted. A. terreus was able to degrade 98.5% of naphthalene and 91% of anthracene in soil models. Key words: Biodegradation, fungi, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) Ligninolytic enzymes, soil model
Mechanical Design and Gait Optimization of Hydraulic Hexapod Robot Based on Energy Conservation

Minimizing energy consumption is significant for the hydraulic walking robot to reduce its power unit weight and increase working hours. However, most robot leg designs are inefficient due to their bio-mimetic or mission-specific mechanical structure. This paper presents a structural optimization method of the hydraulic walking robot by optimizing its mechanical structure and gait parameters simultaneously. The mathematical model of the total power of the hydraulic hexapod robot (HHR) is established, which is derived based on a general template for designing the hydraulic walking robot. The archive-based micro genetic algorithm (AMGA) is used to optimize the highly nonlinear multi-constraint multi-objective optimizations. In the optimal solution, the energy consumption of the HHR has reduced more than 40% by comparison with the original mechanical structure and gait parameter. Design sensitivity analysis is carried out to determine the regulation of mechanical structure, and a virtual prototype is used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Patterns of abundance and distribution of species in intertidal rock pools

Rock pools are unique and complex habitats in intertidal areas. Quantitative studies of assemblages in pools are few. Abundances and distributions of species in pools on a rock platform near Sydney (Australia) were sampled for two years. Pools of four different depths (5, 15, 30 and 40 cm deep) and up to four strata within each pool (0–5, 5–15, 15–30 and 30–40 cm, from the top of the pool) were sampled, replicated at four sites. The abundances and distributions of most species of plants and animals in pools did not differ between strata nor at different depths in the pools. Abundances of only three species, the encrusting alga, Hildenbrandia prototypus Nardo, the trochid snail, Austrocochlea constricta (Lamarck) and the limpet, Cellana tramoserica (Sowerby) varied significantly between strata and depths. In contrast to other studies on rock pools, most species showed no significant temporal variations in mean abundances in the sites sampled. Significantly large, spatial and temporal, random fluctuations did, however, occur in abundances in individual pools. The consistency of abundances at larger spatial scales indicated that disturbance in these habitats may not be an important structuring process. The large variation between pools does, however, suggest that the history of each pool may have a more significant role in the character of its assemblage. Some implications of small-scale variability are discussed.
Optimizations for FPGA-Based Ultrasound Multiple-Access Spread Spectrum Ranging

Indoor localization based on ultrasound signals has been carried out by several research groups. Most of the techniques rely on a single ultrasound pulse ranging, where the Time of Flight between the ultrasound emitters and a receiver is computed. Ultrasound orthogonal modulation techniques have also been investigated and allow to compute the range between the receiver and multiple simultaneous emitters with increased accuracy. However, no comparative investigation on the possibilities of each of the modulation techniques, comprising Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum, and Chirp Spread Spectrum, could be found. Also, common optimized demodulation and correlation techniques for FPGA ready implementations are not widely available. Moreover, the hardware requirements for capturing modulated ultrasound signals could not be found for all the techniques. In this work, the different modulation techniques are optimized and implemented on an FPGA. A dedicated custom ultrasound MEMS-based receiver hardware for broadband ultrasound signal capturing is developed. Several modulation parameters are developed and applied for optimized signal processing. The FPGA resource consumptions are evaluated for the implemented methods. All methods are compared against the regular pulse ranging method, in both single-access and multiple-access ranging mode. Results show that, on average, up to 8 ultrasound-modulated emitters with an orthogonal sequence of length 63 can be demodulated on a Zynq7020 FPGA. In most cases, ranging up to 8 m is demonstrated in both single- and multiple-access mode, with accuracies generally remaining at a centimeter level. The requirements and capabilities for each of the modulation schemes are highlighted in the conclusions.
Machine learning algorithms for predicting occupants' behaviour in the manual control of windows for cross-ventilation in homes

The manual control of windows is one of the common adaptive behaviours for occupants to adjust their indoor environment in homes. The cross-ventilation by the window opening provides a useful tool to control the thermal comfort and indoor air quality in homes. The objective of this study was to develop a modelling methodology for predicting individual occupant's behaviour relating to the manual control of windows by using machine learning algorithms. The proposed six machine learning algorithms were trained by the field monitoring data of 23 sample homes. The predictive performance of the machine learning algorithms was analysed. The algorithms predicted the occupant's behaviour more precisely compared with the logistic model. Among the algorithms, K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) shows the best fitness with the monitored data set. The driving parameters of the manual control of windows in each sample home can be clearly drawn by the algorithms. The proposed machine learning algorithms can help to understand the influence of the occupant's behaviour on the indoor environment in buildings.
Teachers’ Perspectives on the Identification of and Intervention for Students at Risk for Disabilities in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study investigated teachers’ experiences and perspectives on the identification of and educational support for students at risk for disabilities. Three focus groups with general education teachers and four with special education teachers were conducted. The interview data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. The results, based on axial coding, revealed the core phenomenon to be the cycle of referral, identification, and intervention. The contextual conditions that sustained the cycle were: (a) parental denial, (b) families with low SES or vulnerability, (c) the negative effects of labeling, (d) general education teachers’ workload, (e) ambiguity of special education teachers’ role, and (f) poor collaboration between general and special education teachers. The key factors required to switch to the positive cycle were teachers’ responsibility and competence. The action strategies to facilitate the identification and intervention processes were summarized as implementation of: (a) valid and reliable identification procedures, (b) schoolwide preventative intervention system, and (c) comprehensive family support.