Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Western Disturbances on Wintertime Precipitation Over the Southeastern Tibetan Plateau

In this work, we examine the impacts of wintertime western disturbances (WDs) on precipitation over the southeastern Tibetan Plateau (SETP) during 1979–2017. Most WDs initially formed within the central Himalayas and dissipated over southeastern China and its neighboring seas. All extreme precipitation days over the SETP region during this period were linked to WDs, often when a WD center entered the region about 10° west of the SETP. Significant warm temperature anomalies over the SETP region preceding WD arrival favored moisture accumulation there. During the passage of WDs, both strong updrafts along the eastern edge of the WD and rapid decreases in temperature over the SETP (linked to WD‐associated cold anomalies below 300 hPa) favored the occurrence of wintertime precipitation over the SETP region. WD strength and moist static energy variations over the SETP region were key factors affecting the intensity of WD‐induced precipitation, while the size and latitudinal position of the WD played minor roles. The relatively strong WDs that produced extreme precipitation days over the SETP mainly originated above the eastern Mediterranean Sea, northern Arabian Peninsula, and Iranian Plateau. A distinct transition of the circumglobal teleconnection pattern modulated the generation of strong‐intensity WDs within these major genesis regions, as well as their eastward propagation and the generation of extreme precipitation over the SETP region.
Structure-Based Modeling of the Mechanical Behavior of Cross-Linked Enzyme Crystals

Because of their high volumetric catalytic activity, in addition to their high chemical and thermal resistances, enzymes in the form of protein crystals are an excellent choice for application as immobilized biocatalysts. However, mechanical stability is a requirement for the processability of immobilisates, in addition to the protein crystals retaining their enzymatic activity, and this is closely related to the crystal structure. In this study, the influence of protein engineering on the mechanical stability of cross-linked enzyme crystals (CLECs) was investigated using a genetically modified model protein in which additionally cysteines were introduced on the protein surface for targeted cross-linking. The results showed that the mechanical stability of crystals of the mutant proteins in the native form was decreased compared to native wild-type crystals. However, specific cross-linking of the introduced amino acid residues in the mutant proteins resulted in their increased mechanical stability compared to wild-type CLECs. In order to determine the correlation between the crystal structure and the resulting mechanical properties of CLECs to enable targeted cross-linking, a previously developed model was revised and then used for the two model proteins. This model can explain the mechanically investigated relationships, such as the anisotropic crystal behavior and the influence of a linker or mutation on the micromechanical properties and, hence, can be helpful for the tailor-made production of CLECs.
Optimal Matching Metaheuristic Algorithm for Potential Areas of Agricultural Economic Resources Development Based on Spatial Relationship

The agriculture sector is the backbone of the economies of many Asian countries such as India, China, and Bangladesh. The agriculture sector can contribute a major share to the GDP of such countries where the main occupation of the citizens is agriculture or the dependency of the citizens is mainly on the agricultural productivity. It is important to study the potential areas of agricultural economic resource development. The existing methods are not efficient enough to map the potential areas of agricultural productivity with economic resource development, and hence, it has motivated us to study the aspects which impact the economic resource development based on agricultural productivity. There are numerous factors such as low productivity, high irrigation amount, high labor charges, low proportion of planning optimization, and low crop yield that should be considered to study the correlation between economic development and agricultural productivity. Firstly, the spatial relationship of potential areas of agricultural economic resources development is analyzed in this paper. Secondly, the multiobjective linear programming model is proposed. Based on this multiobjective model, the optimal matching model for potential areas of agricultural economic resource development is constructed, and the improved genetic algorithm is used to solve the model to realize the optimal matching of potential areas of agricultural productivity and economic resource development. The experimental results show that the proposed method has high economic benefit, low irrigation amount, and high proportion of planning optimization with high crop yield.
Multisource Remote Sensing Classification for Coastal Wetland Using Feature Intersecting Learning

Accurate remote sensing monitoring of wetland ground objects is of great significance for ecological protection. In this letter, a convolutional neural network based on feature intersecting learning (FIL-CNN) is designed for wetland classification using multisource remote sensing data. The multi-layer shift feature fusion (MSFF) and attention feature selection (AFS) modules are designed to extract the complementary merits. Specifically, the MSFF is applied to each feature extraction unit, and the asymmetric information fusion is achieved through the spatial position shift of grouped features. Thus, the diversified feature representation is achieved. In the prediction stage, the AFS is executed to explore the channel mutually exclusive relationship between multisource features, resulting in emphasizing the meaningful features and eliminating the unnecessary ones. The experimental results prove the effectiveness and generalization of the proposed FIL-CNN on the wetland datasets.
Design Patterns for Mobile Augmented Reality User Interfaces - An Incremental Review

The virtual enhancement of the physical world through Augmented Reality (AR) has an enormous potential in its application, but faces challenges in its development. The lack of standards and the increased complexity of interaction opportunities complicate the definition of suitable User Interfaces (UIs). Several principles and patterns have been formulated to simplify UI design for AR applications, but their joint contribution to a positive usability as well as the influence of individual patterns remain unclear. In this paper, AR design principles from selected research were reviewed and merged into a comprehensive pattern model within an incremental process. Based on an initial model, we developed ARScribble, a mobile AR application which imitates a physical spray can to virtually sketch within a real environment. In a user-based study, we evaluated the usability of ARScribble as well as the role of individual patterns for the overall usability. We found promising indications that the pattern model implementation is related to a positive usability. The individual pattern analysis showed that AR users particularly desire a consistent and structured UI. A consistent appealing design and multimodal interaction concepts were also found to positively correlate with the overall usability. Based on these results, we included additional related work to refine the initial model into a final pattern model. To evaluate this refinement, the colAR application was developed, which allows real-world colors to be assigned to virtual objects. As a result, we found the consideration of the final pattern model to be related to a positive usability, which was confirmed in an A/B test, in which an application neglecting the pattern model showed a significantly poorer usability.
Current Advances in 3D Bioprinting for Cancer Modeling and Personalized Medicine

Tumor cells evolve in a complex and heterogeneous environment composed of different cell types and an extracellular matrix. Current 2D culture methods are very limited in their ability to mimic the cancer cell environment. In recent years, various 3D models of cancer cells have been developed, notably in the form of spheroids/organoids, using scaffold or cancer-on-chip devices. However, these models have the disadvantage of not being able to precisely control the organization of multiple cell types in complex architecture and are sometimes not very reproducible in their production, and this is especially true for spheroids. Three-dimensional bioprinting can produce complex, multi-cellular, and reproducible constructs in which the matrix composition and rigidity can be adapted locally or globally to the tumor model studied. For these reasons, 3D bioprinting seems to be the technique of choice to mimic the tumor microenvironment in vivo as closely as possible. In this review, we discuss different 3D-bioprinting technologies, including bioinks and crosslinkers that can be used for in vitro cancer models and the techniques used to study cells grown in hydrogels; finally, we provide some applications of bioprinted cancer models.
Mechanisms of deep earthquakes

In most tectonic settings, no earthquakes occur below about 30 km depth. This is because increasing pressure inhibits frictional sliding, whilst increasing temperature promotes ductile deformation. However, in subduction zones, earthquakes are observed to depths approaching 700 km, equivalent to pressures of around 25 GPa. Under such conditions, and according to the most basic principles of rock deformation, brittle failure should be impossible. Yet deep earthquakes are dominated by simple shear and appear similar to shallow earthquakes. Thus, some process must allow unstable sliding at great depth, either by reducing the effective coefficient of friction along the the fault, or by reducing the effective confining pressure. These mechanisms are often linked in the literature to the occurrence of mineral reactions. In this thesis, two dimensional thermal models are calculated for many subduction zones, providing estimates of the temperature distribution in the subducting slab and the surrounding mantle. The slab geotherms are superimposed onto phase diagrams showing the equilibrium pressure—temperature stability fields of hydrous minerals thought to exist in the subduction zone environment, allowing comparison between the predicted positions of dehydration reactions and the observed patterns of seismicity. It is shown that deep seismicity is not directly related to the occurrence of dehydration reactions within the subducting crust. Furthermore, the observed double seismic zone beneath the Eastern Aleutian Islands also cannot be explained as resulting from dehydration reactions. However, the maximum depth of seismicity in all the subduction zones examined is consistent with a constant homologous temperature of approximately 0.4 x the dry peridotite solidus. The locus of this homologous temperature does coincide
Developing Audit Manual Design for Audit of Small and Medium-Sized Entities and Applying Data Sharing in Cloud to Increase Audit Efficiency

This study aims to design a special audit manual for small and medium-sized entities (SME) and the application of the cloud in the audit process to improve the efficiency of financial statement audits by small and medium-sized practitioners (SMP). This qualitative research with a case study approach and data collection from documentation, interviews, and direct observation from a public accounting firm in Indonesia. This study develops a simple audit manual design for audit of SME and applying cloud during audit process. Developing manual audit design refers to the guide to using ISAs in the audit SMEs was prepared by International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and then customize according to Public Accounting Firms needed. The use of the cloud can speed up the audit process through easy data sharing, electronic data archives, and teamwork monitoring. In addition, the scalability of using the cloud can help SMPs increase their productivity, especially during the current pandemic. The research uses a single case study approach due to limited access to key information. The scope of the audit manual design is only at the risk assessment stage. Applying cloud in the audit process only uses the free features of the service provider. The results of the study helped SMPs to implement a simple audit manual and use the cloud to increase the audit efficiency of SME. This study pays high and specific attention to the audit of SME. The majority of the audit research studies concentrate on the big audit firm practices.
Differentially Private Task Allocation Algorithm under Preference Protection

Mobile crowdsensing has been widely applied as a kind of perception paradigm, and task allocation is a fundamental research issue in mobile crowdsensing. Existing task allocation algorithms under differential privacy are not suitable for preference protection scenarios as they may inject too much noise. To this end, in this paper, we propose a differentially private task allocation algorithm with preference protection, referred to as SLEPT. In SLEPT, we divide privacy budget into three parts. Specifically, we first use one part of privacy budget to perturb the location of each worker. Then we use another part of privacy budget to perturb the preference information of him. In particular, to relieve the problem that perturbation may lead to that tasks will not be allocated, we propose a two-phase preference collection mechanism called TPC. Finally, we propose a task allocation sequential updating mechanism TASU using the remaining privacy budget. It aims to reduce the travel distance of workers and improve the success rate of task allocation. Theoretical analysis shows that SLEPT satisfies differential privacy. Time complexity analysis shows that it is linearly related to the number of tasks. The results on two public datasets verify the effectiveness of SLEPT. It is worth noting that although SLEPT is proposed for task allocation, its idea is also applicable to other crowdsensing scenarios, such as high-dimensional data collection.
High power fused pump/signal combiner for reverse pumping of active double clad fibers

We present a new type of combiner based on a fused pump/signal fiber bundle. We obtain a record high signal-to-pump isolation of more than 46dB from a device optimized for high power counter directional pumping of Ytterbium-doped large mode area airclad fibers. The compact device combines more than 100W of light from 14 pcs. of 105μm NA=0.15 fibers into the pump cladding of an airclad fiber with a coupling efficiency of 90%. The signal light is delivered through the center of the combiner ensuring the exceptional isolation. The high level of isolation, measured for a 60W amplifier configuration, is essential to ensure the reliability of the pump diodes in a high power pulsed system. The combiner is compatible with PM and non-PM systems and we demonstrate both a CW and a pulsed configuration.
Loss to long-term follow-up in children with spinal tuberculosis: a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape, South Africa

Introduction children with spinal tuberculosis (TB) are at risk of kyphotic deformity both during and after the active phase of the disease. Management guidelines include follow-up until skeletal maturity. Little is known about adherence to this recommendation. This study aimed to investigate loss to long-term spine clinic follow-up (LTFU) among children with spinal TB at a tertiary hospital in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Methods this retrospective cohort study included all children diagnosed with spinal TB at Tygerberg Hospital between January 2012 and December 2015. Spine clinic follow-up was investigated for five years following diagnosis. Relevant surgical interventions and re-presentation were evaluated until 31st December 2020. Results thirty-two children, median age 6 years (range 1-14 years), were diagnosed with spinal TB and intended for spine clinic follow-up. Twenty-seven (84%) children were LTFU within five years of diagnosis with 16 (50%) LTFU within 10.5 months. Among children in follow-up, one child had further surgery for progression of deformity two years from diagnosis and one child had further surgery for new-onset neurological deficit eight years from diagnosis. Conclusion most children with spinal TB did not receive the recommended follow-up until skeletal maturity. Without further data on these children, the clinical significance of this LTFU could not be evaluated. Further studies are needed to investigate sequelae during skeletal maturation in the context of current management for paediatric spinal TB.
Interactivized: Visual Interaction for Better Decisions with Interactive Multiobjective Optimization

In today’s data-driven world, decision makers are facing many conflicting objectives. Since there is usually no solution that optimizes all objectives simultaneously, the aim is to identify a solution with acceptable trade-offs. Interactive multiobjective optimization methods are iterative processes in which a human decision maker repeatedly provides one’s preferences to request computing new solutions and compares them. With these methods, the decision maker can learn about the problem and its limitations. However, advanced optimization software usually offer simple visualization tools that can be significantly improved. On the other hand, current approaches for multiobjective optimization from the visualization community provide superior visualization tools but lack advanced optimization. In this paper, we introduce a new term, interactivize, for integrating interactive multiobjective optimization and interactive visualization and present an interactivized approach supporting decision makers in visually steering interactive multiobjective optimization methods. We integrate state-of-the-art interactive visualization with the process of interactive multiobjective optimization in a visual analytics solution that significantly improves the analysis workflow of decision makers, like comparing selected solutions and specifying new preferences during the iterative solution process. To realize the new interactivized approach, we combine a coordinated multiple views system with DESDEO, an open-source software framework for interactive multiobjective optimization. We demonstrate our interactivized approach on a river pollution problem.
A Novel SELEX Based on Immobilizing Libraries Enables Screening of Saxitoxin Aptamers for BLI Aptasensor Applications

Saxitoxin (STX) is one of the potent marine biotoxins that has high rate of lethality. However, there are no effective treatments at present, and the existing detection methods need to be further explored because of ethical problems or technical limitations. In this work, oligonucleotide aptamers toward STX were screened based on immobilizing libraries on Immobilized Metal-Chelate (IMC), such as Ni-NTA Sepharose, and the IMC-SELEX was conducted by the G-quadruplex library and the random library, respectively. Aptamer 45e (from the G-quadruplex library) and aptamer 75a were obtained after optimization, and aptamer 45e turned out to have a higher affinity toward STX. Furthermore, it was found that the hydrogen bonding and the van der Waals forces (VDW) played major roles in the high efficiency and specificity between STX and 45e by means of molecular docking and dynamics simulation. Based on this, aptamer 45e-1 with the Kd value of 19 nM was obtained by further optimization, which was then used to construct a simple, label-free and real-time optical BLI aptasensor for the detection of STX. This aptasensor showed good reproducibility and stability. In summary, with the advantages of screening aptamers of high efficiency and specificity toward the targets, the proposed IMC-SELEX provides a promising screening strategy for discovering aptamers, which could be used as the potential molecular recognition elements in the fields of biomedicine, food safety and environmental monitoring.
New Advanced Liquid Crystalline Materials Bearing Bis-Azomethine as Central Spacer

In this study, a homologous series of novel liquid crystalline compounds bearing the bis-azomethine central linkage (–CH=N-N=CH–), namely ((1E,1′E)-hydrazine-1,2-diylidenebis(methanylylidene))bis(4,1-phenylene) dialkanoate (In), was synthesized, and the mesophase and thermal properties were investigated theoretically and experimentally. The molecular structures of the prepared compounds were determined using elemental analysis, NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The mesophase transitions were detected by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the mesophases were identified using polarized optical microscopy (POM). The results indicated that the derivative with the shortest length (I5) was purely nematogenic, while the other homologues (I9 and I15) possessed SmC mesophases. The optimal geometrical structures of the investigated group were derived theoretically. The estimated results demonstrated that all homologues were mesomorphic, and their type depended on the length of the terminal chains. Computations based on density functional theory (DFT) were used to explain the experimental data. The calculated dipole moment, polarizability, thermal energy, and molecular electrostatic potential all showed that it was possible to predict the mesophase type and stability, which varied according to the size of the molecule.
“I Have Grown”: A Case Study of Student-Athlete Career Development at Clemson University

Student-athletes are burdened with demands, expectations, and stressors that pose challenges to their personal development, rendering many student-athletes ill-prepared for career choices outside the sports milieu. Internships are vital to the skill development for all students. Clemson’s University Professional Internship and Co-op Program (UPIC) offers on-campus internship opportunities for qualifying students. Informed by student involvement theory (Astin, 1984), the purpose of this case study was to examine Clemson student-athlete’s perceptions of participating in the UPIC program. Although the student-athletes experienced challenges during their internships, the data revealed that the internship was instrumental in the professional development of the participants, specifically in the areas of communication, collaboration, and work ethic. Overall, 88.89% of student-athletes felt their internship was very relevant to their career goals. This case study provides an example of cross-campus collaborative programming that assisted in the career development of student-athletes and should be implemented at other colleges and universities.
Methods for involvement of patients, public and users in academic nursing education: A scoping review

Involving patients, public and users in health education is currently receiving increased attention. The degree of involvement has changed over time, as have the methods used to involve these groups in nursing education. The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and map available didactic and pedagogical methods for patient, public and user involvement in academic nursing education. Of the initial 9294 articles identified, 21 were included. The PRISMA guideline for scoping reviews was used in the screening process. Data from the included studies were extracted and three thematic categories were identified: 1) Experts by experience, 2) Digital tools and 3) Curriculum planning and development. We identified 16 methods for patient, public and user involvement in nursing education. The findings provide an overview of these methods, which nursing educators may use.