Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Rabbit Urine on the Larval Behavior, Larval Mortality, Egg Hatchability, Adult Emergence and Oviposition Preference of the Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith)

The fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) is a major cereal pest threatening food security in Africa. African smallholder farmers apply various indigenous pest management practices, including rabbit urine; however, there is no scientific evidence for its efficacy. The FAW eggs, first, second and third instar larvae and moths were exposed to rabbit urine-treated maize leaves alongside untreated maize leaves (control). More FAW larvae (46.0–70.0%) remained on the untreated leaves than those (27.0–43.0%) on the rabbit urine-treated leaves. Rabbit urine caused 6.4 and 12.8% damage reduction of the second and third instars, respectively, 24 h post-exposure. Rabbit urine significantly reduced the survival of FAW, had a lethal time (LT50) of 5.0, 7.3 and 8.7 days and a lethal dose (LD50) of 48, 94, and 55% for the first, second and third instars, respectively. Egg hatchability and adult emergence were reduced by 55.0 and 13.3%, respectively. The FAW female moths laid more eggs on the rabbit urine-treated plants (647 ± 153 eggs) than they did on the untreated plants (72 ± 64 eggs). This study confirms farmers’ assertions about using rabbit urine to manage FAW. For successful integration into the FAW IPM package, additional studies on the chemistry of rabbit urine, the behavioral response and the field might be required.
Pore‐scale analytic model to calculate the suction stress in partially saturated soils

The expression of effective stress in unsaturated conditions has remained controversial ever since the concept was first proposed in the 1950s by Bishop. In this paper, based on the first law of thermodynamics, a novel approach is proposed to calculate the effective stress in unsaturated soil systems by applying the improved bundled cylindrical capillary model and the probability density function of soil particles. The proposed model provided an expression for Bishop's effective stress model and Bishop's coefficient χ. The basic assumptions of the model are (a) the water in the unsaturated pores can be divided into capillary water and adsorbed water, and (b) the soil pore network is considered as a rigid body, and the particle structure is unchanged with saturation variation. Published experimental data are compared with Lu's effective stress model and our model results. The findings show that the proposed model performs well over a wide range of saturation conditions for nonexpansive soils, such as sand, and the capillary stage for expansive soils, such as silt, and clay materials.
Realization of Multifunctional Metamaterial Structure Based on the Combination of Vanadium Dioxide and Graphene

Combining tunable properties and various functionalities into a single metamaterial structure has become a novel research hotspot and can be used to tackle great challenges. The multifunctional metamaterial structure that combines absorption, linear-to-circular (LTC) polarization conversion, filtering and switching functions into a single metamaterial device was designed and investigated in this study. The switching of different functions can be achieved based on the phase transition of vanadium dioxide (VO2) and change of graphene chemical potential. When VO2 is in a metal state, the multi-frequency absorption and LTC polarization conversion can be achieved with different chemical potentials. When VO2 is in the insulator state and the polarization angle of incident wave is 45°, the device can be used to select or isolate the incident waves with different polarization states in the frequency region of 1.2–1.8 THz. Furthermore, when the chemical potentials are 0.05 eV and 1.2 eV, the corresponding transmissions of the TE-polarized wave demonstrate the opposite results, realizing the switching functions in the frequency region of 0.88–1.34 THz. In the frequency region above 2 THz, the multi-frequency rejection filter can be achieved. The designed switchable multifunctional metamaterial device can be widely implemented in radar monitoring and communication systems.
The Obesity Amelioration Effect in High-Fat-Diet Fed Mice of a Homogeneous Polysaccharide from Codonopsis pilosula

A homogeneous polysaccharide coded as CPP−1 was extracted and purified from the root of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. by water extraction, ethanol precipitation, and column chromatography. Its structure was analyzed by HPGPC-ELSD, HPLC, GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR techniques. The results indicated that CPP−1 was composed of mannose (Man), glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), and arabinose (Ara) at a molar ratio of 5.86 : 51.69 : 34.34 : 8.08. The methylation analysis revealed that the main glycosidic linkage types of CPP−1 were (1→)-linked-Glc residue, (1→3)-linked-Glc residues, (1→4)-linked-Gal residue, (1→2,3,4)-linked-Glc residue, (1→)-linked-Man residue, (1→3,4)-linked-Glc residue, and (1→)-linked-Ara residue. In vivo efficacy trial illustrated that CPP−1 supplements could alleviate HFD-induced mice obesity significantly, as well as improve obesity-induced disorders of glucose metabolism, alleviate insulin resistance, and improve the effects of lipid metabolism. The findings indicate that this polysaccharide has the potential for the treatment of obesity.
Cognitive Variation: The Philosophical Landscape

: We do not all make choices, reason, interpret our experience, or respond to our environment in the same way. A recent surge of scientific interest has thrust these individual differences into the spotlight: researchers in cognitive psychology and neuroscience are now devoting increasing attention to cognitive variation. The philosophical dimensions of this research, however, have yet to be systematically explored. Here I make an initial foray by considering how cognitive variation is characterized . I present a central dilemma facing descriptions of individual differences, discuss several distinctions used to categorize variation, and show that these distinctions require further elaboration. Finally, by canvassing several philosophical topics for which the characterization of cognitive variation may have significant implications, I argue that philosophers should take note of how and why our minds differ.
Job commitment, total quality management, information communication technology adoption and work-related stressors: A conceptual framework for student satisfaction

This paper aim to examine the direct effect of job commitment (JCT) on student satisfaction (SST), exploring the mediating roles of total quality management (TQM) and information communication technology adoption (ADT), and moderating roles of work-related stressors: toxic leadership (TLE) and job demands (JDD). The paper develops a conceptual framework along with postulations by combining both empirical and theoretical literature multidisciplinary fields. This paper proposes that JCT will be positively related to SST, and this positive relationship will be mediated by TQM and ADT. Additionally, work-related stressors: TLE and JDD will moderate the direct positive effect of JCT on SST. This paper provides implications for both researchers and practitioners in the areas of strategic decision-making and stress management in educational institutions for enhancing SST by applying JCT, TQM and ADT as strategic tools, while keeping work-related stressors: TLE and JDD under control. It lays the foundation for upcoming researchers to empirically test this conceptual framework in different educational settings. By boosting employees’ JCT, educational institutions stand the chance of improving SST via TQM and ADT. Additionally, JCT can foster SST under a working environment where work-related stressors: TLE and JDD are kept low. The paper offers unique insights into how TQM and ADT connect JCT to SST, and how JCT relates to SST under work-related stressors: TLE and JDD. It also highlights the theoretical contributions of the resource-based theory of a firm, affective events theory, and activation theory.
Analysis of the Diagnosis of Burkitt-Like Lymphoma in a Patient With Atypical Cytogenetics and Molecular Markers

The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for diagnosis of hematopoietic and lymphoid cancers serve as a useful tool for distinguishing between malignant conditions based on phenotypic, morphologic, and/or cytogenetic presentations, but their utility is limited in patients whose diseases contain elements of multiple diagnoses. We present a case of a 59-year-old male with enlargement of muscular and soft tissues of the left hip and an intraconal soft tissue mass surrounding the left optic nerve, who was treated for Burkitt-like lymphoma (BLL). Cytogenetics revealed the absence of an MYC rearrangement involving chromosomes 2, 14, or 22, normally found in Burkitt lymphoma, or the classic telomeric losses and proximal gains observed in BLL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) and high-grade B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (HGBL, NOS) were also considered as possible diagnoses. The persistence of ambiguous lymphoma diagnoses demonstrates the need for both continued research in the area and regular revision of the WHO criteria. Physicians working with patients with poorly defined lymphomas should defer to diagnostic algorithms where applicable, many of which have been proposed in the literature.
Design for Motivation: Evaluation of a Design Tool

Design for motivation constitutes a design practice that focuses on the activation of human motives to perform an action. There is an increasing need to design motivational and engaging mechanisms for voluntary systems, such as innovation platforms, where user participation is a key target. When designing for motivation, a challenge of the early design phases is the selection of appropriate design tool and strategy. The current work presents a design tool, namely DEMO (DEsign for MOtivation), and evaluates its design process. The tool provides multidisciplinary teams with a user-centred, structured method to ideate and ultimately develop a consistent design plan to engage the users of innovation platforms. The evaluation study analysed the tool’s contribution to the design of motivational innovation platforms, utilising three data collection methods: a protocol analysis, interviews and questionnaires. The results discuss the experiences of 32 users with the development of motivation concepts, the group and the user activities, as well as their creativity aspects. Structured processes and the use of artefacts were found to be productive practices in the early design phases. The results also highlight the importance of multidisciplinary and user-centred teams that can enhance collaboration and communication during the design processes.
Access to finance and women entrepreneurship development in the Kigezi subregion, Uganda

ABSTRACT Women entrepreneurs are challenged by access to finance in their quest to start any entrepreneurial activity. Global business failures have not spared women entrepreneurs; hence, this study is very significant, as it may direct the path to new business venture creation by women entrepreneurs. The provision of financial support to a business enterprise does not guarantee its success or growth. The study explored the role access to finance plays in entrepreneurship development, the strategies that stimulate women’s entrepreneurship, and the relationship between access to finance and entrepreneurship development. We used beta coefficients to quantify the effects of access to finance on entrepreneurship development. The findings revealed that women entrepreneurs find it difficult to access cheap and adequate financial services. The study recommends increased funding, development of good policies, and entrepreneurship training and education for women-owned businesses in order to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship development.
Fast Lamp Pairing–based Vehicle Detection Robust to Atypical and Turn Signal Lamps at Night

Automatic vehicle detection is a very important function for autonomous vehicles. Conventional vehicle detection approaches are based on visible-light images obtained from cameras mounted on a vehicle in the daytime. However, unlike daytime, a visible-light image is generally dark at night, and the contrast is low, which makes it difficult to recognize a vehicle. As a feature point that can be used even in the low light conditions of nighttime, the rear lamp is virtually unique. However, conventional rear lamp–based detection methods seldom cope with atypical lamps, such as LED lamps, or flashing turn signals. In this paper, we detect atypical lamps by blurring the lamp area with a low pass filter (LPF) to make out the lamp shape. We also propose to detect flickering of the turn signal lamp in a manner such that the lamp area is vertically projected, and the maximum difference of two paired lamps is examined. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has a higher F-measure value of 0.24 than the conventional lamp pairing–based detection methods, on average. In addition, the proposed algorithm shows a fast processing time of 6.4 ㎳ per frame, which verifies real-time performance of the proposed algorithm.
A Multitimescale Kalman Filter-Based Estimator of Li-Ion Battery Parameters Including Adaptive Coupling of State-of-Charge and Capacity Estimation

This article deals with coupled, state, and parameter estimation for lithium-ion batteries described by an equivalent circuit model, including polarization dynamics. Since the model parameters depend on the battery state-of-charge (SoC) and temperature operating point, as well as on the battery state-of-health, all states and parameters need to be estimated simultaneously for an accurate overall estimation during the battery lifetime. The proposed estimation algorithm is structured in two timescales: 1) slow-scale, sigma-point Kalman filter (KF)-based estimation of battery capacity and 2) fast-scale, dual-extended KF-based estimation of SoC and model parameters. A particular emphasis is on the adaptive parameterization of SoC and capacity estimators, which provides robust coupling between two timescales and ensures favorable convergence and robust capacity tracking in conditions of SoC and model parameters’ estimation errors. In support of estimation accuracy analysis, an algebraic observability analysis of impedance parameters is conducted. Also, by introducing an observability index calculated in each simulation timestep, a comparison of degrees of observability of different impedance parameter subsets is allowed for. The proposed estimation algorithm is verified both by simulation and experimentally for an electric scooter Li-NMC battery pack.
Relational Risk: How Relationships Shape Personal Assessments of Risk and Mitigation

Objects of risk mitigation are typically viewed as neutral items that limit exposure to an established hazard. However, people may refuse to adopt such tools, even when they feel vulnerable. This article explores how people assess their personal risk and mitigation options by examining PrEP use for HIV prevention. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 40 Black and Latino gay, bisexual, and queer men, I argue PrEP uptake is a socially contextualized decision influenced by relational concerns. I develop the concept of relational inoculation, wherein individuals enact a sense of protection against harm through relational work. As individuals consider PrEP, they also contemplate how it may bolster or undermine intimacy they value for reducing interpersonal HIV exposure, as well as dispelling stigmatized notions of riskiness held by their intersecting ethno-racial and sexual minority communities. I develop testable propositions about how respondents’ HIV risk assessments and PrEP use are enmeshed in a societal context of surveillance, in ongoing relations with intimate partners and socially significant others, and in navigation of community belonging within this milieu of risk. This article contributes to sociological research at the nexus of race, sexuality, and health, and offers health policy insight.
Levels of Galectin-3 in Chronic Heart Failure: A Case-Control Study

Introduction Heart failure (HF) is a progressive clinical syndrome resulting from various cardiac disorders. Galectin-3 promotes adverse cardiac remodeling leading to chronic heart failure (CHF). Aim To estimate the levels of galectin-3 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and controls and to determine the association between galectin-3 levels with age, gender, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Materials and methods The levels of plasma galectin-3 were estimated in CHF patients from January 2013 to October 2013 at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The study was a case-control study. A total of 55 CHF patients were recruited as cases, and 55 controls were enrolled for the study. Participants' profiles were documented, and 5 mL of blood sample was collected. Galectin-3 levels in plasma were estimated by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 version. Mean, SD, and percentages were used to compare the characteristics of the two groups. The student's t-test was used to compare galectin-3 levels between CHF patients and the controls. ANOVA was employed to compare galectin-3 levels in the different age groups, gender, and LVEF. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for plasma galectin-3 in CHF. Results In the present study, the mean age of CHF patients was 55.9±8.1 years and 54.1±9.4 years for controls. Males constituted 63.6% (n=35) and females were 36.4% (n=20) in the CHF group while 67.3% (n=37) were males and 32.7% (n=18) were females in the control group. The mean and SD for plasma galectin-3 was 9.95±2.8 ng/mL among CHF patients, while it was 4.08±1.3 ng/mL among controls (p<0.0001). As the age increased, levels of plasma galectin-3 increased in CHF patients and controls (p<0.00001). However, there was no statistical significance (p >0.05) for levels of galectin-3 among males and females in both groups. There was a highly significant difference in galectin-3 levels among cases and controls when classified into sub-groups based on their LVEF (p<0.0001). At the cut-off level of 8 ng/mL, plasma galectin-3 had a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 71% in predicting CHF. Conclusion Galectin-3 helps in identifying CHF due to maladaptive remodeling of the heart. The present study concludes that estimating the plasma levels of galectin-3 is useful in diagnosing CHF.
Technology Use and Technological Self-Efficacy Among Undergraduate Nursing Faculty

AIM This study explored faculty responses to a survey about using technology to teach undergraduate nursing students. BACKGROUND Little is known regarding faculty confidence, technology use, or supports for integrating technology into nursing education. METHOD A descriptive correlational design was utilized to explore the relationship between technology use and technological self-efficacy in faculty (N = 272) who teach at Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education–accredited nursing programs. Instruments used were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Roney Technology Use Scale, and the Technology Self-Efficacy Scale. RESULTS Participants who taught didactic content had moderate technology use as compared to those teaching didactic and clinical/laboratory who reported high levels of technology use. A weak relationship between age and technological self-efficacy (&rgr; = .127, p < .05) was also found. CONLUSION This research was an initial step in understanding levels of technology use and responses to this challenge by undergraduate nursing faculty.
Defense against adversarial attack by feature distillation and metric learning

In recent years, deep neural networks have achieved high accuracy in many classification tasks, including speech recognition, object detection, and image classification. Although the deep neural network is robust to random noise, when some special disturbances that cannot be detected by the human eye are added to the neural network input, these special disturbances will still cause the deep neural network model to output wrong predictions. For the defense method against adversarial samples, we propose an adversarial training method based on the combination of feature distillation and metric learning. This method is to pretrain a fixed teacher network training method and use clean sample training. The student network uses adversarial samples for adversarial training. During the training process, the clean samples are used in the middle layer features of the teacher network to guide the adversarial samples in the middle layer features of the student network, and the middle layer features of the adversarial samples are repaired in the student network to achieve good results. At the same time, considering the relationship between adversarial samples and clean samples in the student network, a metric learning loss is introduced in1 the middle layer features of the student network, so that the distance between the adversarial samples and the clean samples is closer than that between the adversarial samples and the confused samples. This makes the deep neural network model more robust. Finally, we perform gray-box, white-box and black-box attacks to verify the effectiveness of our method. Our algorithm significantly outperforms state-of-the-art adversarial training algorithms.
Expression Analysis of ZPB2a and Its Regulatory Role in Sperm-Binding in Viviparous Teleost Black Rockfish

Black rockfish is a viviparous teleost whose sperm could be stored in the female ovary for five months. We previously proposed that zona pellucida (ZP) proteins of black rockfish play a similar sperm-binding role as in mammals. In this study, SsZPB2a and SsZPB2c were identified as the most similar genes with human ZPA, ZPB1 and ZPB2 by Blastp method. Immunohistochemistry showed that ovary-specific SsZPB2a was initially expressed in the cytoplasm of oocytes at stage III. Then it gradually transferred to the region close to the cell membrane and zona pellucida of oocytes at stage IV. The most obvious protein signal was observed at the zona pellucida region of oocytes at stage V. Furthermore, we found that the recombinant prokaryotic proteins rSsZPB2a and rSsZPB2c could bind with the posterior end of sperm head and rSsZPB2a was able to facilitate the sperm survival in vitro. After knocking down Sszpb2a in ovarian tissues cultivated in vitro, the expressions of sperm-specific genes were down-regulated (p < 0.05). These results illustrated the regulatory role of ZP protein to the sperm in viviparous teleost for the first time, which could advance our understanding about the biological function of ZP proteins in the teleost.
A traffic detection method of ROP attack based on image representation

The use of malicious loading like ROP to carry out remote vulnerability attacks has become a severe concern to computer systems. It is critical to reliably detect ROP assaults in traffic and to successfully detect and block remote attacks before they have an impact on the attack target. Existing traffic-based detection approaches, on the other hand, rely on searching for particular bytes in the traffic, which has a low detection efficiency and a significant cost. This study proposes a lightweight ROP attacktraffic detection approach based on image representation, which can identify the ROP chain's image representation from network traffic and therefore complete the detection. We extract gadget fragments from network traffic using ROP gadgets of genuine attacks and randomly mix them with regular traffic to create a training dataset. The inputs are then fed into a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Our tests demonstrate that our accuracy reaches 99.7%.