Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MSBC-Net: Automatic Rectal Cancer Segmentation from MR Scans

Accurate segmentation of rectal cancer and rectal wall based on high-resolution T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-HRT2) is the basis of rectal cancer staging. However, complex imaging background, highly characteristics variation and poor contrast hindered the research progress of the automatic rectal cancer segmentation. In this study, a multi-task learning network, namely mask segmentation with boundary constraints (MSBC-Net), is proposed to overcome these limitations and to obtain accurate segmentation results by locating and segmenting rectal cancer and rectal wall automatically. Specifically, at first, a region of interest (RoI)-based segmentation strategy is designed to enable end-to-end multi-task training, where a sparse object detection module is used to automatically localize and classify rectal cancer and rectal wall to mitigate the problem of background interference, and a mask and boundary segmentation block is used to finely segment the RoIs; second, a modulated deformable backbone is introduced to handle the variable features of rectal cancer, which effectively improves the detection performance of small objects and adaptability of the proposed model. Moreover, the boundary head is fused into the mask head to segment the ambiguous boundary of the target and constrain the mask head to obtain more refined segmentation results. In total, 592 annotated rectal cancer patients in MRI-HRT2 are enrolled, and the comprehensive results show that the proposed MSBC-Net outperforms state-of-the-art methods with a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 0.801 (95\% CI, 0.791-0.811), which can be well extended to other medical image segmentation tasks with high potential clinical applicability.
Authenticity as an antecedent of brand image in a positive emotional consumer relationship: the case of craft beer brands

PurposeThis study, based on craft beer brands, aims (1) to explain the importance of four brand authenticity dimensions (continuity, originality, reliability and naturalness) in consumers' perceptions of brand image; (2) to verify if the brand–consumer emotional relationship (brand love) is enhanced by the consumer's perceptions of the brand's image; (3) to verify if the consumer's perceptions of the brand's image increase brand satisfaction; and (4) to verify if brand satisfaction increases brand love.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from consumers of different craft beer brands to evaluate the assumptions underlying the proposed conceptual model. In total, 175 questionnaire responses were used, and the model was estimated through structural equation modelling (SEM) with partial least squares (PLS). FindingsThe results confirmed that brand authenticity is a strong antecedent of the brand image of craft beers, and that brand image affects both consumer brand satisfaction and brand love. The effect of brand satisfaction on brand love has also been confirmed. Craft beer brands should aim to attract more fan-consumers, i.e. consumers who seek an emotional relationship that manifests itself in affection, beauty, well-being and long-term commitment. Fan-consumers give their hearts/love and recommend the brand.Originality/valueThe paper tries to fill two gaps in the literature. First, we make the initial empirical application of the Bruhn et al. (2012) scale and verify its adequacy in this context. Second, this is the first time that the model's design has been validated. The results allow us to confirm that authenticity is an antecedent of brand image, and its simultaneous impact on the consumer's brand love for, and satisfaction with, craft beer brands.
Chromatin-Associated Protein Sugp2 Involved in mRNA Alternative Splicing During Mouse Spermatogenesis

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly ordered process that is determined by chromatin-associated moderators which still remain poorly understood. Through a multi-control group proteomics strategy, we confirmed that Sugp2 was a chromatin-associated candidate protein, and its signal arose along spermatogenesis. The expression results showed that Sugp2, which is mainly expressed in the testis, had two transcripts, encoding one protein. During spermatogenesis, Sugp2 was enriched in the nucleus of male germ cells. With the depletion of Sugp2 by CRISPER-Cas9 technology, we found that Sugp2 controlled a network of genes on metal ion and ATP binding, suggesting that alternative splicing regulation by Sugp2 is involved in cellular ion and energy metabolism during spermatogenesis, while it had a little effect on meiotic progression and male fertility. Collectively, these data demonstrated that, as a chromatin-associated protein, Sugp2 mediated the alternative splicing regulatory network during spermatogenesis.
Role of Microalbuminuria and Insulin Resistance as Predictive Biomarkers for Nephropathy in Obese Individuals – A Study Protocol

Background: Obesity is a compounded, multifactorial, and largely curable disease, affecting over a third of the public community today. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared obesity as a global epidemic, also stressing that in many cases it remains an under-recognized problem of the public health agenda. It is a global health concern and a major risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, which may lead to decrease in renal function and ultimately obesity related nephropathy. As per, the epidemiological and experimental data have indicated, microalbuminuria (MAU) is an early marker of target organ damage and is associated with all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) incidence, and progression of nephropathy in non-diabetic subjects. Insulin resistance is present in obese individuals. Obesity related insulin resistance may arise from defects in fatty acid oxidation, and secondary β-cell lipotoxicity. The present study is a Cross-sectional analytical observational study; the study will be carried out in the Dept. of Biochemistry at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, ABV Rural Hospital, Sawangi (M), Wardha. Participants will be outpatients of this institution. Any participant fulfilling the eligibility criteria will be included in the study. Protocol amendments are not expected. However, if necessary, any modification to the protocol will be reported to the entire investigational team through a conference. All changes will be included in the final manuscript prior to submission. Aim and Objectives: Present study is targeted to assess role and correlation of microalbuminuria and insulin resistance as predictive biomarkers for nephropathy in obese subjects. Implications: Present study will be helpful to decrease morbidity and mortality, specifically associated with comprised renal status and prevent nephropathy. The study will be helpful to detect early clinicopathological phase of comprised renal status. Conclusion: The purpose of this study is to investigate role of microalbuminuria and insulin resistance as predictive markers of nephropathy in obese individuals.
ScholarWorks ScholarWorks

-Handwriting is used to distribute information among people. To access this information for further analysis the page needs to be optically scanned and converted to machine recognizable form. Due to unconstrained writing styles along with connected and overlapping characters, handwriting recognition remains a challenging task. Most of the methods in the literature use lexicon-based approaches and train their models on large datasets having near 50K word samples to achieve good results. This results in high computational requirements. While these models use around 50K words in their dictionary when recognizing handwritten English text, the actual number of words in the dictionary is much higher than this. To this end, we propose a handwriting recognition technique to recognize handwritten English text based on a YOLOv3 object recognition model that is lexicon-free and that performs sequential character detection and identification with a low number of training samples (only 1200 word images). This model works well without any dependency on writers’ style of writing. This is tested on the IAM dataset and it is able to achieve 29.21% Word Error Rate (WER) and 9.53% Character Error Rate (CER) without a predefined vocabulary, which is on par with the state-of-the-art lexicon-based word recognition models.
Wage increase and innovation in manufacturing industries: Evidence from China

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between wage increase and innovation and investigates the underlying mechanisms through which wage increase affects innovation. Empirical results, based on the data from 37 two-digit manufacturing industries in China from 2002 to 2019, show that the increases in wages do contribute to innovation in general but their contributions vary across industries and over time. Specifically, the effects of the increasing wages on innovation were insignificant before 2008 but became positively significant after 2008. Moreover, labor productivity acts as a mediating channel between wage increase and innovation while the labor substitution mechanism does not work. The findings in this study offer a new understanding of the effects of the increasing wages on innovation in developing countries.
Uncertainty Makes Me Emotional: Uncertainty as an Elicitor and Modulator of Emotional States

Uncertainty and emotion are an inevitable part of everyday life and play a vital role in mental health. Yet, our understanding of how uncertainty and emotion interact is limited. Here, an online survey was conducted (n = 231) to examine whether uncertainty evokes and modulates a range of negative and positive emotions. The data show that uncertainty is predominantly associated with negative emotional states such as fear/anxiety. However, uncertainty was also found to modulate a variety of other negative (i.e., sadness/upset, anger/frustration, and confusion) and positive (i.e., surprise/interest and excited/enthusiastic) emotional states, depending on the valence of an anticipated outcome (i.e., negative and positive) and the sub parameter of uncertainty (i.e., risk and ambiguity). Uncertainty increased the intensity of negative emotional states and decreased the intensity of positive emotional states. These findings support prior research suggesting that uncertainty is aversive and associated with negative emotional states such as fear and anxiety. However, the findings also revealed that uncertainty is involved in eliciting and modulating a wide array of emotional phenomena beyond fear and anxiety. This study highlights an opportunity for further study of how uncertainty and emotion interactions are conceptualised generally and in relation to mental health.
The Perspective of General Practitioners about Mental Illness: A Cross-sectional Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Centre, Pakistan

Objectives: To assess the general practitioner's perspective on mental illness in a tertiary health care setting. Study Setting and Duration: Online seminar in March 2020, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi. Study Design: Cross-sectional, Observational study Methodology: A total of 152 general practitioners were enrolled in the study. All house officers, psychiatric specialists, staff members, and patients were excluded from the study. An online survey instrument was used to collect data from general practitioners through social media. The questionnaire was related to the biodata of the physicians and their perspective on mental health disorders. Data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 26. Results: A total of 152 general practitioners participated in the study. The mean age of participants was 39.76 (11.540) years. The majority of them were male and married with an average experience of 12.80 (10.90) years. According to the participants, the most common symptoms experienced by patients with mental disorders were loss of appetite, hopelessness, and the loss of interest in day to day activities. The majority of the doctors confessed they find the treatment and management of psychiatric illnesses the hardest. Most of the participants were aware of the diagnostic criteria used for common mental health disorders. Over a hundred (66.4%) participants considered mental health disorders to be a medical disorder while 16 (10.5%) assumed it is the possession by supernatural creatures. 65 (42.7%) of the doctors confessed that they would not feel comfortable having a coworker or befriending a person with a diagnosed mental health issue. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that general physicians had good knowledge about common mental illnesses; however they found the management of these patients difficult. Mental health awareness and training intervention tools are needed to help improve the perspective of health care professionals towards patients with suspected mental illnesses.
The Tempo of Solid Fluids: On River Ice, Permafrost, and Other Melting Matter in the Mackenzie Delta

Seasonal and historical transformations of ice and permafrost suggest that the Mackenzie Delta in Arctic Canada can be understood as a solid fluid. The concerns and practices of delta inhabitants show that fluidity and solidity remain important attributes in a solid fluid delta. They are significant not as exclusive properties, but as relational qualities, in the context of particular human projects and activities. Indigenous philosophies of ‘the land’ and Henri Lefebvre’s notion of ‘tempo’ in Rhythmanalysis: Space, Time and Everyday Life (2004) may help to illustrate the predicament of living in a world that is solid and fluid rhythmically, and in relation to particular practices. Economic, political, sociocultural and physical transformations can all be experienced as both solid and fluid, depending on the degree to which they resonate with people’s purposes. In a world where everything seems to be changed and changing, solidity and fluidity may best be seen as indications of relative differences in tempo.
Subtle Linguistic Cues Affecting Gender In(Equality)

Gender stereotypes and related gender discrimination are encoded in and transmitted through language, contributing to gender inequality. In this article, we review research findings on subtle linguistic means of communicating gender stereotypes and gender hierarchies. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive repository of various instances of subtle linguistic biases potentially useful in creating a text analysis toolbox to quantify gender bias in language. Our focus is predominantly on those areas that have received less attention both in research and in policy making. As gender inequalities are communicated through linguistic practices, attempts to change social reality include changes in language. Therefore, we suggest possible interventions for practices of gender equality in language.
A 54-GHz 23.3%-PAE CMOS power amplifier using dual-gated transistors

A 54-GHz two-stage pseudo-differential common source power amplifier (PA) is implemented using dual-gated transistors (DGT). DGT structure is able to enhance both the linearity and back-off efficiency without consuming extra dc power. The nonlinear characteristics of the transistor can be compensated by adjusting the gate width and overdrive voltage of each transistor in the DGT. Besides, the dc power consumption of the DGT amplifier scales with the amplitude of the input signal, resulting in enhanced PAE at back-off. Fabricated in a 65-nm CMOS process, the measured small-signal gain of the 0.5×0.98 mm 2 PA is 17 dB at 52 GHz while consuming 24 mW from a 1-V supply. The maximum saturated output power is 10.5 dBm with a peak PAE of 23.3% measured at 54 GHz; the measured output power and PAE at 1-dB compression is 7.6 dBm and 17%, respectively.
In vivo Antinociceptive Effect of Methanolic Extract of Ipomoea marginata Desr. in Rodents as well as In silico Molecular Docking of Some Phytoconstituents from the Plant

This research was performed to analyze the antinociceptive task of methanolic extract of Ipomoea marginata in addition to in silico evaluation of the antinociceptive task of the separated constituents from Ipomoea marginata versus cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme together with absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion/toxicity analysis of separated substances. In vivo antinociceptive task of methanolic extract of Ipomoea marginata was examined by acetic acid-induced agonizing, tail immersion and the hot plate on rodents. In silico activity of the isolated substances, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion/toxicity assessment was carried out by Autodock 4.0 and data warrior software applications. The results revealed that methanolic extract of Ipomoea marginata has the greatest possible dose-dependent antinociceptive task at all doses. Amongst the substances, ipalbidine showed the very best docking score of -8.26, which was virtually better than standard diclofenac, i.e., -7.03, guaranteeing good binding compatibility among the ligand and the receptor than the standard and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion/toxicity evaluation using data warrior assures the compound has not breached Lipinski's guideline of five suggesting its safety consumption. To conclude, Ipomoea marginata can be a potent resource of antinociceptive activity and also additional simulation studies are needed to develop the performance of ipalbidine.
Effect of Visual Multimedia as a Counseling Intervention for Improving Classroom Concentration Among Young Students in Northern Nigeria who Survived Kidnapping

Limited literature exists on how to improve classroom concentration (CC) of survivors of kidnapping. The current study extends the literature in this direction through a quasi-experiment involving 470 schoolchildren (SC) who survived kidnapping in the last one year. The result of the study showed that SC who received counseling through a visual multimedia (VM) package reported more CC than their counterparts who received counseling through face-to-face setting. The study concludes that VM is a cost-effective way of improving CC of SC who are survivors of kidnapping.
Decentralized Phase Shedding with Low Power Mode for Multiphase Converter

With a multiphase converter, the phase-shedding function dedicated to maximizing the power efficiency, in a manner that is dependent on the load current, is always provided by a centralized controller that induces a Single Point of Failure (SPOF). The objective of this study is to obtain a decentralized control approach to implement this function by removing any SPOF. The method consists of using identical local controllers, each associated with a converter phase, that communicate with each other in a daisy-chain structure. Instead of measuring the global output current to determine the optimal number of active phases required, each local controller measures its own leg current and takes a local decision based on threshold crossing management and inter-controller communications. Functional simulations are carried out on a 5-leg 12 V/1.2 V 60 W multiphase converter supplying a modern microcontroller. They demonstrate that the number of active phases is well adjusted, in a dynamic manner, depending on the load current level. Specific events such as load current inrush or the start-up sequence are analyzed to guarantee optimal transient responses. A maximum power efficiency tracking ability is also demonstrated. Finally, it is shown that this control strategy allows phase shedding to be implemented using as many phases as desired, in a modular manner, thereby avoiding any centralized processing.
Validity evidence of a Brazilian version of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire

Abstract Morality is a human phenomenon that involves sensitivity and skills developed by the individual throughout their social life. Considering the importance of measuring the moral concerns of adults, this paper sought validity evidence for a Brazilian version of the Moral Foundations Questionnaire. Two studies were conducted, using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In the first study, 341 adults (63% women) responded to the on-line questionnaire translated and adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. The results indicated a two-factor structure, and reduced items. In the second study, 371 adults (61% women) participated. Results confirmed the two-factor structure (binding morality and individualizing morality). We conclude that the QFM has satisfactory psychometric properties for use in research.
Resource Allocation Modeling for Fine-Granular Network Slicing in Beyond 5G Systems

SUMMARY Through the concept of network slicing, a single physi- cal network infrastructure can be split into multiple logically-independent NetworkSlices(NS),eachofwhichiscustomizedfortheneedsofitsrespec-tiveindividualuserorindustrialvertical.Inthebeyond5G(B5G)system,thiscustomizationcanbedoneformanytargetedservices,including,butnotlimitedto,5Gusecasesandbeyond5G.Thenetworkslicesshouldbeoptimizedandcustomizedtostitchasuitableenvironmentfortargetedindustrialservicesandverticals. ThispaperproposesanovelQualityof Service (QoS) framework that optimizes and customizes the network slices to ensure the service level agreement (SLA) in terms of end-to-end reliability, delay, and bandwidth communication. The proposed framework makes use of network softwarization technologies, including software-deﬁned networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV), to preserve the SLA and ensure elasticity in managing the NS. This paper also mathematically models the end-to-end network by considering three parts: radio access network (RAN), transport network (TN), and core network (CN). The network is modeled in an abstract manner based on these three parts. Finally, we develop a prototype system to implement these algorithms using the open network operating system (ONOS) as a SDN controller. Simu- lations are conducted using the Mininet simulator. The results show that our QoS framework and the proposed resource allocation algorithms can eﬀectively schedule network resources for various NS types and provide reliable E2E QoS services to end-users.