Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parallel Tracking and Mapping for Manipulation Applications with Golem Krang

Implementing a simultaneous localization and mapping system and an image semantic segmentation method on a mobile manipulation. The application of the SLAM is working towards navigating among obstacles in unknown environments. The object detection method will be integrated for future manipulation tasks such as grasping. This work will be demonstrated on a real robotics hardware system in the lab.
Factors that Affect Reattempting the Emergency Medical Technician Cognitive Certification Examination

Certification as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is often the entry point for firefighting careers and is a pre-requisite to enter Advanced EMT or paramedic programs. EMT candidates in most of the United States must pass the National Registry of EMTs cognitive examination (NREMT-C) to be eligible for state licensure. Many candidates who fail their first NREMT-C attempt never take even one of the five additional possible attempts within the specified two-year time frame. Using binary logistic regression with de-identified existing NREMT test data from 2007 though 2012, this research attempted to develop a model to show the relative contribution of previous NREMT-C score, demographic factors, pay status, employment status, and school accreditation to predict candidates’ likelihood of retesting. A literature review suggested that these factors influence candidates’ success on their first exam attempt, however no literature has examined if these factors predict a candidate’s decision to take at least one additional examination attempt. Results showed that the theta score from the prior attempt was a strong predictor of reattempting examinations two through six. Female gender was negatively associated with attempting examinations two through five. Younger candidates were more likely to attempt examinations two through four, whereas at attempt five the odds an older candidate would try again were slightly higher. Military candidates were much more likely to persist through examination attempt three, however this trend reversed at attempts four and five when they were less likely to reattempt. Having someone pay for the prior exam enhanced candidates’ odds of taking the second and third examination. All race and ethnic categories (except Hispanic) were weakly associated with the odds of taking a second examination but not in any subsequent FACTORS THAT AFFECT EMT COGNITIVE EXAM REATTEMPTS iii attempts. Students who attended schools associated with accredited paramedic programs were slightly more likely to persist through exams two through four as were individuals having more education. While this analysis identified some factors related to examination persistence, it produced weak models, suggesting that many more individual variables are associated with the decision to persist after failing the NREMT-C EMT examination than those examined.
Health Technology and U.S. Medicare Policy in the Late 20th Century

Much of the history of the American Social Welfare movement has been directed to the identification and development of entitlement programs needed to strengthen the health and economy of even the neediest members of the society. The emergence of health technologies have precipitated and supported policy advances. The Medicare Act (Title XVIII the United States Social Security Act of 1935) as such an entitlement program, was originally directed to resolving the health coverage concerns of the elderly without families or finances to afford coverage. The program entered crises periods over rising costs and continuity of funding concerns. Many have been assisted, in the U.S., in addition to the aged population, by the development of Medicare entitlements. These entitlements have emerged during periods of social need often accompanied by health technology or service delivery innovation. The program benefits more than its constituents and contributes to the health of the overall society. This paper will provide both a historical overview of the conflicts and uncertainties weathered by the Medicare Act in the later quarter of the 20 Century in the U.S. (United States of America). The paper will also explore the implications of changes in the technology of federal and state funding mechanisms along with demographic changes that offered the greatest challenges to the continuation of the Medicare Act as a mainstay of stable health coverage to millions of needy Americans, into the 21 century.
Effects of a 12-week periodized resistance training program on muscle strength, muscle quality, and physical activity after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery

While several researchers have reported reductions in fat free mass (FFM) and muscular strength following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, changes in muscle and muscular strength following RYGB have received little attention. A lack of understanding about changes in FFM and muscular strength following RYGB is concerning because on average, individuals elect RYGB after they are 40 years of age, a time when loss of muscle and strength begin a natural decline. Since resistive exercise training has been used to mitigate age-related losses in FFM and strength, this study proposes to determine if a periodized, resistance training program following RYGB (a) increases muscle mass as assessed with MRI-derived thigh muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and increases muscle quality (MQ); and (b) increases leg strength leading to more time engaged in physical activity (PA). A convenience sample of women having undergone RYGB were recruited (N = 18) and randomly placed into an intervention group (IG; n = 11) and a control group (CG; n = 7). A total of 16 women completed the study. Body composition was assessed using air displacement plethysmography to determine fat mass (FM), fat free mass (FFM), and percent body fat (%BF). Height was measured to determine body mass index (BMI). Unilateral quadriceps 1Repetition Maximum (RM) strength of the right leg was measured using selecterized leg extension equipment. Bilateral, lower body strength was measured using 3RM, 40 degree leg press. Muscle CSA was measured before and after 12 weeks of resistance training using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Muscle quality was iv calculated by dividing quadriceps strength and lower body strength by quadriceps CSA and whole thigh CSA, respectively. Physical activity (PA) was measured using accelerometers. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze outcomes with significance set at p < 0.05. The 12-week periodized resistance training intervention was shown to significantly increase strength and MQ in the IG. However, no change in quadriceps or whole thigh CSA was observed. Most indices of PA did not change significantly (total steps per day, moderate to vigorous physical activity, and sedentary time), but a significant time and interaction effect was observed for light physical activity (LPA; p < 0.05). Improvements in strength and MQ are important for physical function and quality of life and offer protection against the aging process. Due to the conflicting results for muscle CSA with other research, we recommend additional studies examining muscle CSA in the future. We also suggest additional research employing objective techniques to measures PA in those having undergone RYGB.
A functional ontology for information systems

The ontology of information systems — the way in which knowledge claims, and thus theories, are conceptualised and represented — is of particular importance in the information systems field, due to its reliance on relations between entities. This work proposes, demonstrates, and evaluates an alternative ontology for theory description which is arguably more powerful and more expressive than the dominant ontological model.
Assessment of Quality Challenges of Practice-Based Research Reports: A Case Study-Bachelor of Technology in Graphic Design

The study concerned itself with the exploration of challenges and hidden errors affecting the quality of research reports written by Bachelor of Technology (B-TECH) students from the department of Graphic Design Technology, Faculty of Applies Arts, Takoradi Technical University, in Ghana. The study which is qualitative in nature and specifically an action research sought to identify, describe and analyse the most recurring type of challenges that impact on the quality of students’ theses and proposes effective interventions in addressing the challenges. The study was conducted on twenty-five (25) BTECH research project reports emerging from a Practice-Based research which were purposeful sampled out from 2012/13 to 2017/18academic year collection. The findings of the study revealed essential errors and challenges associated with students’ research reports that largely had impact on the quality. These include inconsistency in the order of arrangement of sections , typographical and grammatical errors, inconsistent use of terms and word processing style, ineffective use of sources and inappropriate use of signal phrase and verbs, incorrect documentation of sources (referencing). Similarly, the results of the study largely confirm students’ inability to provide a comprehensive description and analysis of their new studies and the processes of production. The implication of the study is that, if the most recurring type of challenges or problems associated with students’ write-ups are identified and better understood, the department of Graphic Design Technology in Takoradi Technical University would be better equipped with information and put down effective interventions that will help improve upon thesis/project writing arising from a practice-based research to meet high academic standards.
Historical highlights on cancer invading the portal vein

In the weighty book on the spread of cancer in the human body, Willis went only as far back as to 1876 concerning knowledge of how hepatic cancer often shows gross invasion of the portal vein and its branches. An old paper also cited the above 1876 work. Therefore, let me highlight the associated data actually. Such documentation is recommended concerning present truths. Introduction There is the Standard Textbook on “The Spread of Tumours in the Human Body” published by Willis [1]. He usually takes the trouble to supply historical antecedent. This is a practice favored by Macfarlane Burnet [2]. In particular, as regards the invasion of the portal vein by cancer, 1866 was the earliest date. Therefore, it is of interest that this particular 1867 was the one cited by William Legg [3] in 1876. This was when he himself provided a copious account of this phenomenon. It deserves documentation evidence. Historical abridgements Sussanah K –, aged 78, was admitted into St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, under the care of Dr. Brunton, on August 10th, 1875. She continued to vomit, and no relief to this symptom could be secured. She died on October 28th at nine in the morning. The liver itself weighs 2500 grm. On the surface are many nodules, about twenty, of size varying from a mustard seed to a small apple. Their outline is rounded, color whitish, and some are distinctly umbilicated. On cutting into the liver, however, the nodules are far more numerous within. They are round, white, rather firm, and many show small hæmorrhages. The liver substance between the nodules is natural, save that the centre of the lobule seems darker than natural. The hepatic veins are natural. On dissecting the portal vein within the liver, one of the first divisions of the right branch is found filled by several polypoid bodies. They are smooth and club-shaped at the end, where they project into the free cavity of the vein; above they become slightly adherent to the vein-wall, which appears perfectly natural. They send prolongations up branches of the portal vein above them, where after travelling up some short distance they again end in a bulbous projection. Their origin, however, appears to be in each case in one of the large nodules of the right lobe, to which they are attached by long and narrow pedicles. The polypoid bodies from the portal vein were examined by means of Hartnack’s microscope the same day. The field was flooded with oval nuclei; many large cells, containing abundance of fat, and with these nuclei in them, were likewise seen. The nuclei often contained two or three nucleoli. Acetic acid brought out the nuclei well leaving the fat drops undisturbed. The polypi in the portal vein showed a delicate network supporting cells. The walls of the alveoli were very thin, while the meshes themselves were wide and rounded. The walls were formed of an almost homogeneous material, scarcely fibrous, and showing very Correspondence to: Wilson I. B. Onuigbo, Department of Pathology, Medical Foundation and Clinic, 8 Nsukka Lane, Enugu 400001, Nigeria, E-mail: wilson. onuigbo@gmail.com
Coexistence of Lightning Generated Whistlers, Hiss and Lower Hybrid Noise Observed by e-POP (SWARM-E)–RRI

Whistler mode waves play a major role in regulating the lifetime of trapped electrons in the Earth’s radiation belts. Specifically, interaction with whistler mode hiss waves is one of the mechanisms that maintains the slot region between the inner and outer radiation belts. The generation mechanism of hiss is a topic still under debate with at least three prominent theories present in the literature. Lightning generated whistlers in their ducted or non-ducted modes are considered to be one of the possible sources of hiss. We present a study of new observations from the Radio Receiver Instrument (RRI) on the Enhanced Polar Outflow Probe (ePOP: also known as SWARM-E). RRI consists of two orthogonal dipole antennas, which enables polarization measurements, when the satellite boresight is parallel to the geomagnetic field. Here we present 105 ePOP - RRI events from 2014–2018, in which lightning whistlers(75) and hiss waves(39) were observed. In more than 50% of those whistler observations, hiss found to co-exist. Moreover, the whistler observations are correlated with observations of wave power at the lower-hybrid resonance. The observations and a whistler mode ray-tracing study suggest that multiple-hop lightning induced whistlers can be a source of hiss and plasma instabilities in the magnetosphere.
The Effect of a Powered Drive on Pushing and Pulling Forces When Maneuvering Bariatric Hospital Beds

Powered drives designed to provide assistance moving hospital beds are commercially available but no research has evaluated whether they reduce push and pull forces. This study measured hand forces of 10 caregivers when maneuvering a manual and powered bariatric hospital bed in activities designed to simulate transporting a hospital patient. Compared to the manual bed, powered drive significantly reduced the peak push force required to initiate movement (238N manual, 119N powered) and peak pull force required to stop (155N manual, 8N powered). Powered drive significantly reduced the integral of hand force when maneuvering in tight spaces (847N manual, 557N powered), and was associated with lower subjective ratings of exertion for all tasks. However, powered drive did not affect the force required to sustain movement during straight-line pushing. Bariatric hospital beds with powered drive may reduce the risk of caregiver injury or reduce the number of caregivers needed for transport tasks.
Audience research as a cornerstone of demand management interventions for illegal wildlife products: Demarketing sea turtle meat and eggs

The unsustainable wildmeat trade has been long recognized as a threat to wildlife. Yet, its impact on marine species has been underresearched. Sea turtles have been historically threatened by unsustainable trade, but there are few studies of consumer profile, motivations, and preferences. We conducted a survey in São Tomé Island, Gulf of Guinea, West Africa, including eight rural communities (n = 1,160) and the capital city of São Tomé (n = 628). We estimated prevalence of consumption, preference and availability of sea turtle meat and eggs. About 25% of rural and 32% of urban respondents had consumed meat in the past year. Around 25% of rural respondents were egg consumers, whereas little consumption was found in urban areas. Social norms were a predictor of consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs in rural communities but not in São Tomé city. Regarding influencers, teachers and religious leaders were the most trusted sources in rural communities, while teachers and NGOs were most trusted in São Tomé city. Radio and television were the most trusted channels in rural communities, while urban dwellers trusted radio the most. This research showcases how a structured approach to audience research can obtain behavioral insights that can guide behavior change efforts.
Toward Improved Predictions in Ungauged Basins: Exploiting the Power of Machine Learning

Long short‐term memory (LSTM) networks offer unprecedented accuracy for prediction in ungauged basins. We trained and tested several LSTMs on 531 basins from the CAMELS data set using k‐fold validation, so that predictions were made in basins that supplied no training data. The training and test data set included ∼30 years of daily rainfall‐runoff data from catchments in the United States ranging in size from 4 to 2,000 km2 with aridity index from 0.22 to 5.20, and including 12 of the 13 IGPB vegetated land cover classifications. This effectively “ungauged” model was benchmarked over a 15‐year validation period against the Sacramento Soil Moisture Accounting (SAC‐SMA) model and also against the NOAA National Water Model reanalysis. SAC‐SMA was calibrated separately for each basin using 15 years of daily data. The out‐of‐sample LSTM had higher median Nash‐Sutcliffe Efficiencies across the 531 basins (0.69) than either the calibrated SAC‐SMA (0.64) or the National Water Model (0.58). This indicates that there is (typically) sufficient information in available catchment attributes data about similarities and differences between catchment‐level rainfall‐runoff behaviors to provide out‐of‐sample simulations that are generally more accurate than current models under ideal (i.e., calibrated) conditions. We found evidence that adding physical constraints to the LSTM models might improve simulations, which we suggest motivates future research related to physics‐guided machine learning.
Lightweight Spectral–Spatial Squeeze-and- Excitation Residual Bag-of-Features Learning for Hyperspectral Classification

Of late, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) find great attention in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification since deep CNNs exhibit commendable performance for computer vision-related areas. CNNs have already proved to be very effective feature extractors, especially for the classification of large data sets composed of 2-D images. However, due to the existence of noisy or correlated spectral bands in the spectral domain and nonuniform pixels in the spatial neighborhood, HSI classification results are often degraded and unacceptable. However, the elementary CNN models often find intrinsic representation of pattern directly when employed to explore the HSI in the spectral–spatial domain. In this article, we design an end-to-end spectral–spatial squeeze-and-excitation (SE) residual bag-of-feature (S3EResBoF) learning framework for HSI classification that takes as input raw 3-D image cubes without engineering and builds a codebook representation of transform feature by motivating the feature maps facilitating classification by suppressing useless feature maps based on patterns present in the feature maps. To boost the classification performance and learn the joint spatial–spectral features, every residual block is connected to every other 3-D convolutional layer through an identity mapping followed by an SE block, thereby facilitating the rich gradients through backpropagation. Additionally, we introduce batch normalization on every convolutional layer (ConvBN) to regularize the convergence of the network and scale invariant BoF quantization for the measure of classification. The experiments conducted using three well-known HSI data sets and compared with the state-of-the-art classification methods reveal that S3EResBoF provides competitive performance in terms of both classification and computation time.
Likely and High-End Impacts of Regional Sea-Level Rise on the Shoreline Change of European Sandy Coasts Under a High Greenhouse Gas Emissions Scenario

<p>Sea-level rise (SLR) is a major concern for coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion in the decades to come. Lately, the value of high-end sea-level scenarios (HESs) to inform stakeholders with low-uncertainty tolerance has been increasingly recognized. Here, we provide high-end projections of SLR-induced sandy shoreline retreats for Europe by the end of the 21st century based on the conservative Bruun rule. Our HESs rely on the upper bound of the RCP8.5 scenario &#8220;likely-range&#8221; and on high-end estimates of the different components of sea-level projections provided in recent literature. For both HESs, SLR is projected to be higher than 1 m by 2100 for most European coasts. For the strongest HES, the maximum coastal sea-level change of 1.9 m is projected in the North Sea and Mediterranean areas. This translates into a median pan-European coastline retreat of 140 m for the moderate HES and into more than 200 m for the strongest HES. The magnitude and regional distribution of SLR-induced shoreline change projections, however, utterly depend on the local nearshore slope characteristics and the regional distribution of sea-level changes. For some countries, especially in Northern Europe, the impacts of high-end sea-level scenarios are disproportionally high compared to those of likely scenarios. </p>
The wisdom of stalemates: consensus and clustering as filtering mechanisms for improving collective accuracy

Groups of organisms, from bacteria to fish schools to human societies, depend on their ability to make accurate decisions in an uncertain world. Most models of collective decision-making assume that groups reach a consensus during a decision-making bout, often through simple majority rule. In many natural and sociological systems, however, groups may fail to reach consensus, resulting in stalemates. Here, we build on opinion dynamics and collective wisdom models to examine how stalemates may affect the wisdom of crowds. For simple environments, where individuals have access to independent sources of information, we find that stalemates improve collective accuracy by selectively filtering out incorrect decisions. In complex environments, where individuals have access to both shared and independent information, this effect is even more pronounced, restoring the wisdom of crowds in regions of parameter space where large groups perform poorly when making decisions using majority rule. We identify network properties that tune the system between consensus and accuracy, providing mechanisms by which animals, or evolution, could dynamically adjust the collective decision-making process in response to the reward structure of the possible outcomes. Overall, these results highlight the adaptive potential of stalemale filtering for improving the decision-making abilities of group-living animals.