Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low Subjective Cardiovascular Disease Risk Perceptions among Hypertensive Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Accurate cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk appraisal is essential for hypertensive patients to identify correctly their risk status and take efficient behavioral measures timely to avoid major adverse outcomes. However, hypertensive patients’ risk perceptions of CVD events in Ethiopia are unknown. Thus, the study aimed to compare the subjective CVD risk perception level of patients with the nonlaboratory Framingham Risk Score (nl-FRS). Methods A cross-sectional design was used. The Attitudes and Beliefs about Cardiovascular Disease Risk Questionnaire and the nl-FRS were used to compare subjective versus objective measures of CVD risk. Agreement between participants’ risk perceptions and the nl-FRS were examined using the kappa statistic. Bivariate chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression analyses were run to identify factors associated with risk perceptions. The statistical significance was set at a p-value < 0.05 level. Results Participants (n=377) had a mean age of 53.61 ± 12.80-years, range (18–82 years), 51.2% were males, 42.7% had less than high school education, 45.1% achieved target BP control, and mean HTN duration was 8.01 ± 6.07 years. The majority (58.62%) of the participants had a low subjective risk perception of CVD events (mean 17.79, 95% CI: 17.43–18.15). Approximately three-fourths (72.4%) had a moderate nl-FRS risk calculation (mean, 13.84, 95% CI: 13.36–14.33). Agreement between participants perceived-risk and the nl-FRS was poor (kappa = 0.0002, standard error = 0.023, p =0.99). Participants’ CVD risk-perception inaccuracy was also high (76%) primarily due to underestimation. Hypertension duration, frequency of physician visits, and level of diabetes control were significant predictors of CVD risk underestimation. Conclusion Hypertensive patients had inaccurate and low subjective risk perceptions of CVD events compared to moderate objective risks identified using the nl-FRS. Planned education on HTN and CVD risk factors is essential to improve patients’ CVD risk perception to reduce adverse CVD events.
The Effect of Nano-ZnO on Seeds Germination Parameters of Different Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cultivars

The agriculture sector faces numerous problems. One of the beforementioned problems relates to the proper crop plants’ fertilization. The conventional bulk fertilizers are becoming less effective and have a negative impact on the environment. Nanomaterials such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are widely used in various sectors such as medicine or electronics. Several studies indicate that nano-ZnO may likewise be considered as a potential nanofertilizer. In present research, an attempt was made to study the influence of two different sized ZnO NPs (<50 nm and <100 nm) on the seed germination of chosen tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars. The seeds of three cherry tomato cultivars were placed on a Petri dish with the NPs suspensions (0, 50, 150, and 250 mg/L) in order to examine the influence on germination parameters at a certain size of NPs and at a chosen concentration. In addition, within this study, we verified that the implicated conditions have the exact impact on all three cultivars. The obtained results indicate that all the factors affect the seed sprouting, however, this process mainly depends on the type of tomato cultivar and the size of the used nanoparticles. The parameter of the germination percentage (GP) was the only of the assumed factors that did not influence it significantly. Nevertheless, the values of other examined parameters such as the MGT, GRI, CVG, or VI depend strongly on all assumed features including the type of chosen cultivar. The obtained results vary significantly between all cultivars which indicates that the plants from the same family may require different conditions for optimal growth. In this research the <50 nm ZnO nanoparticles had more beneficial influence on sprouting parameters then parallelly used <100 nm ZnO nanoparticles.
Effective Extracorporeal Photopheresis of Patients with Transplantation Induced Acute Intestinal GvHD and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome

Background: Patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) represent a population with a high need for alternative and effective treatment options. Methods: We report real-life data from 18 patients treated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP). This cohort consisted of nine patients with steroid-refractory intestinal aGvHD and nine patients with BOS. Results: We document partial or complete clinical response and reduction of symptoms in half of the patients with intestinal acute GvHD and patients with BOS treated ECP. Responding patients tended to stay on treatment longer. In patients with BOS, stabilization of lung function and forced expiratory volume was observed, whereas, less abdominal pain, less diarrhea, and a reduction of systemic corticosteroids were seen in patients with intestinal acute GvHD. Conclusions: ECP might not only abrogate symptoms but also reduce mortality caused by complications from high-dose steroid treatment. Taken together, ECP offers a serious treatment avenue for patients with steroid-refractory intestinal acute GvHD and BOS.
Endophytic community of Chaenomeles speciosa fruits: Screening for biodiversity and antifungal activity

Fruit crops of the genus Chaenomeles Lindl are considered today as a superfood due to accumulation of biologically active compounds with antioxidant ability and known health-promoting properties. Successful introduction of this non-traditional culture in the steppe zone of Ukraine characterised by an unfavourable climate suggests the functioning of effective protective mechanisms in plants, including those that can be provided by the influence of endophytic microorganisms. However, there is little information about the endophytic community of Chaenomeles plants. Herein, the current study was aimed to isolate the endophytic fungi from the Ch. speciosa fruits and evaluate their biological activities against the phytopathogens. The study was carried out based on the collection of the Botanical Garden of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Dnipro city, Ukraine). Three media, namely PDA, MPA, and Gause’s medium were used for isolation of endophytic fungi. Colonies of isolates for identification were grown on PDA, Czapek's agar, and Czapek’s yeast autolysate media. Six fungal endophytic isolates derived from both peel and pulp of Ch. speciosa fruits have been morphologically identified using macroscopic and microscopic techniques, and assigned to the genus Penicillium (sections Chrysogena, Penicillium, Viridicata), and genus Talaromyces (section Talaromyces). Species P. expansum, P. viridicatum, and P. hirsutum were identified among the peel isolates, while P. chrysogenum, P. cyclopium, and P. purpurogenum were among the pulp isolates. Antagonistic ability of the endophytic isolates against phytopathogenic fungi was evaluated using the dual culture method. The results showed moderate to high antifungal capacity of the endophytic isolates against the phytopathogenic strains of the Fusarium genus. The growth inhibition of F. culmorum mycelium due to the influence of endophytic isolates was 51.5–81.3%, and the inhibition of the growth of F. oxysporum colonies was in the range of 68.4–86.6% as compared with control. There were no significant differences in the antagonistic ability between endophytic isolates derived from the peel and pulp of the fruit. Taken together, our findings indicated the great potential of the endophytic fungi from Ch. speciosa fruits as a source for the development of biocontrol agents and discovery of new bioactive compounds.
Design and Optimization of PID Controller using Various Algorithms for Micro-Robotics System

Microparticles have the potentials to be used for many medical purposes in-side the human body such as drug delivery and other operations. This paper attempts to provide a thorough comparison between five meta-heuristic search algorithms: Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA), Flower Pollination Algorithm (FPA), Slime Mould Algorithm (SMA), Marine Predator Algorithm (MPA), and Multi-Verse Optimizer (MVO). These approaches were used to calculate the PID controller optimal indicators with the application of different functions, including Integral Absolute Error (IAE), Integral of Time Multiplied by Square Error (ITSE), Integral Square Time multiplied square Error (ISTES), Integral Square Error (ISE), Integral of Square Time multiplied by square Error (ISTSE), and Integral of Time multiplied by Absolute Error (ITAE). Every method of controlling was presented in a MATLAB Simulink numerical model, and LABVIEW software was used to run the experimental tests. It is observed that the MPA technique achieves the highest values of settling error for both simulation and experimental results among other control approaches, while the SSA approach reduces the settling error by 50% compared to former experiments. The results indicate that SSA is the best method among all approaches and that ISTES is the best choice of PID for optimizing the controlling parameters.
Effects of dietary energy density and feeding strategy during the dry period on feed intake, energy balance, milk production, and blood metabolites of Holstein cows

Graphical Abstract Summary: Dietary plane of energy intake during the dry period significantly affected dry matter intake, energy balance, and body weight gain, but did not affect body condition score or its change in cows that were free of displacement of abomasum, retained placenta, metritis, and hypocalcemia. Prepartum energy intake did not affect postpartum intakes of dry matter and energy, milk yield, milk composition, or blood metabolites measured 5 d before through 5 d after calving.
“I’m Not Alone”: A Group Intervention for Grieving Children

Grieving children are at risk for negative outcomes (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2020). This study described a collaboration between a community agency and a large school district to create and implement groups for grieving children. A preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of these groups was conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data from 318 students, 59 group facilitators, and 59 school counselors indicated that the grief group was a promising intervention for diverse students with regard to enhancing awareness about grief, reducing isolation, providing a place to share feelings, and learning coping strategies after the death of a significant person. This research may inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of other important interventions established through community partnerships to prevent negative outcomes associated with unattended grief in childhood.
Olive oil mill wastewater treatment by a combined process of freezing, sweating and thawing

The aim of this work is the treatment of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) by a combined process based on freezing, sweating and thawing. The process consists of two main steps: (i) cooling and freezing at –24°C, and (ii) sweating or fractional melting of ice at room temperature. Five liquid fractions (F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , F 4 and F 5 ) were recovered and analyzed. The effectiveness of treat- ment was evaluated based on physico-chemical parameters such as pH, conductivity, dry matter, organic matter (OM), total phenols, chemical oxygen demand (COD), mineral matter (MM) and elemental mineral composition. UV-Visible and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were also applied for this purpose. Results show that OMW effluent has an acidic pH and is loaded with OM and MM. The best operating conditions for treating OMW by block freezing have been highlighted. The concentration index (CI) of the first cryoconcentrated liquid fraction (F 1 ) is about 3.6 and 1.5 for OM and MM, respectively. This fraction is the most concentrated in phenolic compounds (100.2 g/L). The second cryoconcentrated liquid fraction (F 2 ) has a CI of about 1.7 and 0.6 for OM and MM, respectively. The CI corresponding to F 3 liquid fraction is around 1.2 and 0.5 for OM and MM, respectively. This liquid has physico-chemical characteristics similar to those of raw OMW. The CI corresponding to F 4 liquid fraction decreased to values 0.65 and 0.25 for the same parameters (OM and MM), respectively. The analysis of F 5 fraction shows that sweating step allows a thorough purification of ice block. The CI corresponding to F 5 is about 0.35 for OM, it reflects well COD and total phenols concentrations analyzed. The CI for MM was also signifi- cantly reduced to reach a value of 0.12 which is in agreement with potassium, phosphate, calcium, sulfur, magnesium and sodium concentrations. In general, the results demonstrate the feasibility of the suggested process and give a good idea of the operating conditions that can be employed to cryoconcentrated phenolic compounds in OMW for a possible industrial application.
Revisiting Additive Consistency of Hesitant Fuzzy Linguistic Preference Relations

Consistency has always been a hot topic in the study of decision-making based on preference relations. This paper focuses on the consistency of hesitant fuzzy linguistic preference relations (HFLPRs). Firstly, a new definition of the additive consistency of HFLPRs is given. Secondly, to examine whether an HFLPR is additively consistent, two equivalent programming models are constructed. Thirdly, for inconsistent HFLPRs, the corresponding consistency improvement model is further proposed, where only upper triangular elements in the HFLPRs are considered in view of the symmetry of HFLPRs. Using the consistency improvement model, an inconsistent HFLPR can be adjusted to the consistent one, which retains the original information as much as possible. Fourthly, a hesitant fuzzy linguistic weight vector is introduced and a programming model is constructed to derive the weight vector. Finally, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are illustrated by numerical examples and comparative analysis. This result demonstrates that the consistency model proposed considers each element of HFLPRs such that the consistent HFLPRs derived fully retain the original information. Moreover, only some preference values in the HFLPR are adjusted, and no preference value is out of range of the predefined HFLTSs.
Vital Value of Coriander and Fennel Volatile Oils on Quality Beef Burger During Cryopreservation

Effect of coriander and fennel volatile oils on quality and shelf life of beef burger were investigated. GC/MS was used to chemical components of coriander and fennel. 2-Decenal (E) accounts for 34.69 percent of total chemical components in coriander volatile oil and Estragole (60.59 percent) in fennel volatile oil. DPPH was used to evaluate antioxidant properties of volatile oils derived from fennel and coriander. Two essential oils were tested in this experiment. Fennel and coriander essential oils were examined for their antimicrobial properties against two mould strains and four bacterial strains that are most commonly found in meat and meat products. The two essential oils' inhibitory effects could be arranged as follows: Fennel > coriander essential oils. Obtained essential oils could be used in industrial food as organic antioxidants and antimicrobials. Beef burger was added with 400 ppm coriander and fennel volatile oil. Microbial examination such as total viable count, psychrotrophic counts, lipolytic and proteolytic bacteria counts, coliform group bacteria and yeasts and moulds counts and chemical evaluation namely thiobarbituric acid, total volatile basic nitrogen, and pH value at 4 day intervals throughout 16 day. Beef burger control treatments had least microbial quality and freshness properties loss during the storage period.
Airborne measurements of optical properties of tropospheric aerosols over an urban area

Aircraft measurements of aerosol sizes, intensities of direct-solar and circumsolar (aureole) radiations, and upward and downward fluxes of solar radiation were carried out over Nagoya, a typical urban area in Japan, using an optical particle counter, an aureolemeter and spectral pyranometers, respectively. Vertical profiles of optical thicknesses and volume spectra of aerosols have been successfully retrieved by inverting measured aureole intensities. The obtained values have been utilized to estimate the absorption indices of aerosols from the downward flux measurements. The results are summarized as follows: 1) The concentration and the vertical stratification of tropospheric aerosols vary considerably day by day. 2) Bimodal volume spectra of aerosols with radii smaller and larger than r*0.5 μm generally prevail in the troposphere. The former is more predominant than the latter in the haze layer, and viceversa above that layer. 3) Estimated values of the imaginary index of refraction of tropospheric columnar aerosols are within the range of 0.0050. 014 in the visible region and 0.008*0.020 in the near infrared region. Corresponding values for the haze layer are slightly larger, i. e. 0.007*0.018 and 0.011*0.028 in the visible and near infrared regions, respectively.
Age-Optimal Hybrid Temporal-Spatial Generalized Deduplication and ARQ for Satellite-Integrated Internet of Things

In a typical Satellite-integrated Internet of Things (SIoT), the limited transmission rate of a sensor causes a stale in data freshness due to unavoidable time waiting for transmission. Moreover, due to the high bit error rate (BER) of the satellite-to-ground link, data freshness will be further exacerbated by frequent retransmissions. Generally, this issue is partially solved using a powerful compression scheme that can reduce the data volume. However, conventional compression schemes will necessitate a significant amount of time to accumulate constant data to a certain quantity, posing a difficult challenge. Therefore, this study proposes an age-optimal hybrid temporal-spatial generalized deduplication and automatic repeat request (HARQ-GD) protocol for the high-sampling data collection in SIoT, considering data compression, and transmission collaboratively. A novel Age of Information (AoI) metric is developed for timeliness evaluation over a two-hop end-to-end link of SIoT, which is optimized to design the proposed HARQ-GD protocol by considering the temporal and spatial correlations of sampled data with specific encoding/decoding algorithms and packet formats. The simulation results indicate that the proposed HARQ-GD protocol performs better performance than typical generalized deduplication (GD) and hybrid automatic repeat request with chase combing (HARQ-CC) schemes in reducing AoI, because of its fewer transmission times and higher compression rate.
Improving Federated Learning With Quality-Aware User Incentive and Auto-Weighted Model Aggregation

Federated learning enables distributed model training over various computing nodes, e.g., mobile devices, where instead of sharing raw user data, computing nodes can solely commit model updates without compromising data privacy. The quality of federated learning relies on the model updates contributed by computing nodes training with their local data. However, with various factors (e.g., training data size, mislabeled data samples, skewed data distributions), the model update qualities of computing nodes can vary dramatically, while inclusively aggregating low-quality model updates can deteriorate the global model quality. To achieve efficient federated learning, in this paper, we propose a novel framework named FAIR, i.e., Federated leArning with qualIty awaReness. Particularly, FAIR integrates three major components: 1) learning quality estimation: we adopt the model aggregation weight (learned in the third component) to reversely quantify the individual learning quality of nodes in a privacy-preserving manner, and leverage the historical learning records to infer the next-round learning quality; 2) quality-aware incentive mechanism: within the recruiting budget, we model a reverse auction problem to stimulate the participation of high-quality and low-cost computing nodes, and the method is proved to be truthful, individually rational, and computationally efficient; and 3) auto-weighted model aggregation: based on the gradient descent method, we devise an auto-weighted model aggregation algorithm to automatically learn the optimal aggregation weights to further enhance the global model quality. Based on real-world datasets and learning tasks, extensive experiments are conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of FAIR.
Improved Kernel Correlation Filter Based Moving Target Tracking for Robot Grasping

Tracking and grasping moving objects are hot topics in the field of robots, which provides great potential in the industrial scene and human–computer cooperation. Based on the kernel correlation filter and vision 3-D reconstruction, this article proposes a visual-based tracking and grasping method for moving targets. An improved algorithm based on the kernel correlation filter is proposed for object tracking. A scale pool is constructed, and a scale filter is trained to solve the problem of algorithm scale adaptation. At the same time, the judgment mechanism of tracking results, secondary detection, and modification update mechanisms are added to improve the robustness of the algorithm. Combined with an RGB-D camera, the target is reconstructed to obtain the 3-D pose of the target. The tracking and intercepting strategy is adopted to grasp the moving target. The proposed method is proven to have good performance through dataset comparison tests and experiments on real robot systems.
Uncertainty: Nothing is more certain

This articles discusses the importance and types of uncertainty in environmental science. Uncertainty is categorized into four types, three of which are familiar to statisticians and one of which is introduced by the authors as knowledge uncertainty. The article claims that the Bayesian paradigm is a logically consistent mechanism, and a useful framework for decision makers in environmental science, to manage and quantify the first three types of uncertainty. However knowledge uncertainty, common in environmental sciences, requires more detailed thought and more nuanced management strategies for robust decision making in the environment. The article concludes with the observation that only if we acknowledge the uncertainty inherent in inferring complex quantities from data can we make robust and explainable policy decisions that build trust with the public.
Gauge independence of the fermion pole mass

We study the question of complete gauge independence of the fermion pole mass by choosing a general class of gauge fixing which interpolates between the covariant, the axial and the Coulomb gauges for different values of the gauge fixing parameters. We derive the Nielsen identity describing the gauge parameter variation of the fermion two point function in this general class of gauges. Furthermore, we relate the denominator of the fermion propagator to the two point function. This then allows us to study directly the gauge parameter dependence of the denominator of the propa- gator using the Nielsen identity for the two point function. This leads to a simple proof that, when infrared divergences and mass shell singularities are not present at the pole, the fermion pole mass is gauge independent, in the complete sense, to all orders in perturbation theory. Namely, the pole is not only independent of the gauge fixing parameters, but has also the same value in both covariant and non-covariant gauges.