Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Age and Growth of the Cape Knifejaw Oplegnathus conwayi, an Endemic South African Teleost

The South African spearfishery targets a variety of data-deficient species, which are consequently poorly managed. This study aimed to describe the age and growth of one of these species, the Cape knifejaw, Oplegnathus conwayi, which is endemic to the southern and eastern coasts of South Africa. Monthly biological samples were collected through research spearfishing (n = 170) and augmented by recreational spearfishers' catches (n = 135). The results indicated that the O. conwayi population sex ratio was skewed towards males (1M:0.6F). The length- and age-frequency distributions were similar between sexes. Oplegnathus conwayi is a relatively slow-growing species, with a maximum-recorded age of 27 years. No significant differences were observed between male and female growth, with the overall population growth curve being best described as L(t) = 697.15(1 – e–0.06(t–6.30)). The slow growth observed in this species is characteristic of a species that is vulnerable to overexploitation, and accordingly a precautionary approach to future management is recommended.
Performance analysis of the toroidal field ITER production conductors

The production of the superconducting cables for the toroidal field (TF) magnets of the ITER machine has recently been completed at the manufacturing companies selected during the previous qualification phase. The quality assurance/quality control programs that have been implemented to ensure production uniformity across numerous suppliers include performance tests of several conductor samples from selected unit lengths. The short full-size samples (4 m long) were subjected to DC and AC tests in the SULTAN facility at CRPP in Villigen, Switzerland. In a previous work the results of the tests of the conductor performance qualification samples were reported. This work reports the analyses of the results of the tests of the production conductor samples. The results reported here concern the values of current sharing temperature, critical current, effective strain and n-value from the DC tests and the energy dissipated per cycle from the AC loss tests. A detailed comparison is also presented between the performance of the conductors and that of their constituting strands.
Solar Sail Attitude Control System for the NASA Near Earth Asteroid Scout Mission

An Attitude Control System (ACS) has been developed for the NASA Near Earth Asteroid (NEA) Scout mission. The NEA Scout spacecraft is a 6U cubesat with an eighty-six square meter solar sail for primary propulsion that will launch as a secondary payload on the Space Launch System (SLS) Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1) and rendezvous with a target asteroid after a two year journey, and will conduct science imagery. The spacecraft ACS consists of three major actuating subsystems: a Reaction Wheel (RW) control system, a Reaction Control System (RCS), and an Active Mass Translator (AMT) system. The reaction wheels allow fine pointing and higher rates with low mass actuators to meet the science, communication, and trajectory guidance requirements. The Momentum Management System (MMS) keeps the speed of the wheels within their operating margins using a combination of solar torque and the RCS. The AMT is used to adjust the sign and magnitude of the solar torque to manage pitch and yaw momentum. The RCS is used for initial de-tumble, performing a Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM), and performing momentum management about the roll axis. The NEA Scout ACS is able to meet all mission requirements including attitude hold, slews, pointing for optical navigation and pointing for science with margin and including flexible body effects. Here we discuss the challenges and solutions of meeting NEA Scout mission requirements for the ACS design, and present a novel implementation of managing the spacecraft Center of Mass (CM) to trim the solar sail disturbance torque. The ACS we have developed has an applicability to a range of potential missions and does so in a much smaller volume than is traditional for deep space missions beyond Earth.
Environmental occurrence and health risk assessment of arsenic in Iran: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Arsenic concentrations in different environmental media (water, soil/sediment, food) in Iran from studies performed 2008-2019 were analyzed, and health risk assessment was conducted to depict the arsenic pollution situation at the national scale. Seventy-one studies comprising 5,007 samples were included in the meta-analysis. The weighted concentrations of arsenic in ‘drinking water/water resources’, ‘soil/sediment’ and ‘Iranian rice/imported rice’ subgroups were ‘9.36, 39.2 µg/L’; ‘8.38, 14.9 mg/kg’ and ‘0.06, 0.112 mg/kg’, respectively. The weighted mean value for arsenic concentration in drinking water group was near the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit (10 μg/L). Mainly, geogenic sources were introduced as the most common sources of high arsenic manifestation in water resources. Regarding the soil and sediment, the maximum mean concentrations recorded in the vicinity of the mining areas (1700 mg/kg and 161 mg/kg, respectively). The average arsenic exposure from imported rice consumption was approximately 2 times higher than Iranian rice; however, the amount of lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) related to arsenic in both rice types was more than 1.0 × 10-4, indicating that consumers in Iran are at threshold carcinogenic risk of arsenic. The lowest and highest values of LTCR were observed at 9.52 × 10−6 for ‘soil’ and 7.52 × 10−4 for ‘water resources’, respectively. It is concluded that part of the Iranian population in specific regions may carry a relatively high risk, while others have a low risk.
Subdimensions of social‐communication behavior in autism—A replication study

Abstract Introduction In order to identify more refined dimensions of social‐communication impairments in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) a previous study applied exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to diagnostic algorithm scores of the autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS), Module 3. A three‐factor model consisting of repetitive behaviors, impairments in ‘Basic Social‐Communication’ and in ‘Interaction quality’ (IQ) was established and confirmed. The current study aimed to replicate this model in an independent sample. To advance our understanding of the latent structure of social communication deficits, previous work was complemented by a probabilistic approach. Methods Participants (N = 1363) included verbally fluent children and young adults, diagnosed as ASD or non‐ASD based on “gold standard” best‐estimate clinical diagnosis. Confirmatory factor analysis examined the factor structure of algorithm items from the ADOS Module 3 and correlations with individual characteristics (cognitive abilities, age) were analyzed. Linear Regressions were used to test the contribution of each latent factor to the prediction of an ASD diagnosis. To tackle large inter‐correlations of the latent factors, a Bayesian exploratory factor analysis (BEFA) was applied. Results Results confirmed the previously reported observation of three latent dimensions in the ADOS algorithm reflecting ‘Restricted, Repetitive Behaviors’, ‘Basic Social‐Communication’ behaviors and ‘Interaction Quality’. All three dimensions contributed independently and additively to the prediction of an ASD diagnosis. Conclusion By replicating previous findings in a large clinical sample our results contribute to further conceptualize the social‐communication impairments in ASD as two dimensional.
Acute venous thromboembolism in acute pancreatitis based on the severity: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract Objective: Acute pancreatitis (AP) results in systemic inflammatory responses and activates coagulation pathways. We intend to investigate the risk and hospital outcomes of acute venous thromboembolisms (VTE) in patients with AP. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients with AP from 2016 to 2019 using the National Inpatient Sample database. Primary outcome was the effect of VTE on the length of stay, inpatient costs, and mortality. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression models were built using univariate screens. Results: The study included 909,354 weighted discharges with AP. 2.1% of cases had an acute VTE. The length of stay was 5.9 days longer in the hospital of AP patients with VTE compared to AP with no VTE (P < 0.001). Total hospital charge per patient was $71,914 in patients with VTE compared to AP with no VTE (P < 0.001). Mortality was higher in AP patients with VTE compared to AP with no VTE (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.4–5.3, P < 0.001). AP was associated with an increased VTE risk during inpatient stay (AOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.1, P < 0.001) There was an increased association of lower and upper extremity deep venous thrombosis with AP without necrosis (AOR 6.9, 95% CI 6.4–7.4, P < 0.001) and AP with infected necrosis (AOR 12.2, 95% CI 10.6–14.1, P < 0.001) but not in AP without necrosis (AOR 0.77, 95% CI 0.74–0.81, P < 0.001). Conclusion: VTE in AP increases length of stay and inpatient costs. The prognosis is poor in such patients, with increased inpatient mortality compared to no VTE. AP with necrosis can increase chances of all VTE subtypes; however, AP without necrosis does not increase upper and lower extremity VTE risk.
Implementação de um centro de serviços compartilhados de recursos humanos: Estratégia de uma multinacional brasileira em contexto de fusão

The aim of this research was to analyze the process of implementation and management of the Shared Services Center for Human Resources, in a multinational company in the context of mergers and acquisitions. The company analyzed was called here Alpha, and is one of the largest food companies in the country that was born of a merger between Beta and Delta in 2008. The CSC may constitute a tool for strategic management of HR that allows repositioning of the role of the area in order to be more strategic at corporate level and more profitable at the operating level. The research was based on a descriptive and exploratory study of qualitative approach. Among the results, there is the fact that shared services were strategic to support, standardize and ensure the expansion of the company. The challenges found were associated with the development of a culture of service and the relationship with users and the definition of HR activities scope. The following management procedures include the adequacy of wage differences between employees, the career path limitation and the need to attract and retain talent and international expansion.
Hepatitis C Virus Elimination Using Direct Acting Antivirals after the Radical Cure of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Suppresses the Recurrence of the Cancer

Simple Summary In patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease, direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) suppress the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it is unclear whether their use after curative HCC treatment suppresses its recurrence in patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver disease. We retrospectively evaluated the inhibitory effect of DAAs on HCC recurrence using propensity score matching. Both the first and second HCC recurrence rates in the DAA-treated group were lower than those in the non-DAA-treated group, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of DAA therapy on HCC recurrence is sustained. Abstract It remains unclear whether hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients can be suppressed by the elimination of the virus using direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) after radical HCC treatment. We evaluated the sustained inhibitory effect of DAAs on HCC recurrence after curative treatment. This multicenter retrospective study included 190 HCV-positive patients after radical treatment for early-stage HCC. Patients were classified into the DAA treatment group (n = 70) and the non-DAA treatment group (n = 120) after HCC treatment. After propensity score matching (PSM), 112 patients were assessed for first and second recurrences using the Kaplan–Meier method and analyzed using a log-rank test. The first recurrence rates at 1 and 3 years were 3.6% and 42.1% in the DAA treatment group and 21.7% and 61.9% in the non-DAA treatment group, respectively (p = 0.0026). Among 85 patients who received radical treatment, the second recurrence rate at 3 years was 2.2% in the DAA treatment group and 33.9% in the non-DAA treatment group (p = 0.0128). In HCV-positive patients with early-stage HCC, the first and second recurrences were suppressed by DAA therapy after radical treatment, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of DAA therapy on HCC recurrence was sustained.
Development of a Passive Damping Tool Holder for the Improvement of Surace Roughness in Turning Operation of Stainless Steel

One special type of passive damping setup has been used to investigate the surface responses with the variation of different process parameters. In this study, a special design capsule type tool holder has been used to investigate the process parameters effect in machining of stainless steel during turning operations under different cutting condition such as-RPM, feed, depth of cut. Inside the capsule high viscous fluid is used as damping materials and its effects has been investigated accordingly. The effect of damping during turning process is investigated by studying generated surface profile for both with and without damping system. It has been observed that surface roughness is better in the newly designed passive damping tool holder compared to normal cutting conditions.
K-band MEMS-based frequency adjustable waveguide filters for mobile back-hauling

This paper presents the first experimental results of a novel MEMS-based waveguide filter for mobile back-hauling at K-band with adjustable center frequency. The tuning concept employs commercial packaged RF MEMS switches, wire-bonded within a rectangular cavity. The switches are used to perturb the current distribution of the TE101 mode so as to tune the resonant frequency of the cavity. A tuning range up to 2% with unloaded Qs of the order of 1000 in K-band can be obtained. A second-order filter prototype employing commercially available MEMS on silicon substrate has been tested. Measurements show a 160 MHz frequency shift (0.7%) and Qs up to 1000 using only one MEMS per resonator. New higher-order prototypes using low-loss substrate MEMS (e.g. quartz) will be fabricated in order to get higher Qs. The concept here present leads to a very simple structure. The number of MEMS per resonator is, in fact, minimized (we use only one MEMS) and the design is simple. On the other hand, the achievable tuning range is lower (<2%) than the other concepts. Higher tuning ranges are achievable using more MEMS, but at the expense of lower Qs of the resonators.
Hierarchical density-based clustering of unknown protocol message

In order to achieve efficient identification of unknown protocol message types without a priori knowledge, this paper proposes a hierarchical density-based clustering method for unknown protocol messages. The method effectively combines the characteristics of the hierarchical density clustering algorithm, which reduces the average time complexity while improving the accuracy of the message clustering results. We conduct experiments using public data sets and compares them with other previous methods. The results show that the proposed method can reduce the time spent on clustering while ensuring the quality of the clustering results, which verifies its effectiveness.
Impact of post-COVID-19 on the hospitality tourism

Within few weeks, when the first reported COVID-19 case in the city of Wuhan, China, the pandemic has spread quickly across nations and tourism has been regarded as the main case in the spread of corona virus worldwide. With no vaccine and limited medical facilities, it plunged the economy into various economic crisis. Both the purchase and production has come to an end due to factory closures; travel bans and border closures. The most severe disruption of the global economy is the national quarantines and unprecedent global restrictions on traveling, bringing international travel to a standstill. As a consequence, tourism operations of many countries have been ceased in March, 2020. According to UNWTO research, 100% UNWTO countries have imposed restrictions on travelling in response to the pandemic and international tourism has completely been closed and the borders were sealed by 72% nations. Due to the cancellation of business trips, holidays, and weekend gateways, tourism industry is heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. So, in this paper we have discussed the impact evaluation of COVID-19 pandemic on tourism industry and its branches. We have reviewed research papers published in 2020, OECD and UNWTO reports.
Strain-induced ultrahigh power conversion efficiency in BP-MoSe2 vdW heterostructure

Photocatalytic water splitting is a promising method for hydrogen production, and the search for efficient photocatalysts has received extensive attention. Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures have recently been considered excellent candidates for photocatalytic water splitting. In this work, a BP-MoSe2 vdW heterostructure composed of a blue phosphorus (BP) and MoSe2 monolayer was studied as a potential photocatalyst for water splitting using first-principles calculations. The results show that the heterostructure has a type-II band structure, and the band edges straddle water redox potentials under biaxial strains from −3% to 2%, satisfying the requirements for photocatalytic water splitting. In addition, the heterostructure has excellent power conversion efficiency (PCE) and strong optical absorption in both visible light and near-ultraviolet region, indicating that it is a very promising candidate for photocatalytic water splitting. Specifically, the PCE was enhanced to ∼20.2% under a tensile strain of 2%. The Gibbs free energy profiles indicate that BP-MoSe2 vdW heterostructure exhibits good catalytic performance in hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. In particular, high carrier mobility implies that the transfer of carriers to reactive sites is easy, and the recombination probability of photogenerated electron–hole pairs is reduced.
Fabrication of suspended plate MEMS resonator by micro-masonry

Lately, transfer printing, a technique that is used to transfer diverse materials such as DNA molecules, photoresist, or semiconductor nanowires, has been proven useful for the fabrication of various static silicon structures under the name micro-masonry. The present study explores the suitability of the micro-masonry technique to fabricate MEMS resonators. To this aim, silicon microplates were transfer-printed by microtip polymer stamps onto dedicated oxide bases with integrated cavities in order to create suspended plate structures. The dynamic behavior of fabricated passive structures was studied under atmospheric pressure and vacuum using both external piezo-actuation and thermomechanical noise. Then, active MEMS resonators with integrated electrostatic actuation and capacitive sensing were fabricated using additional post-processing steps. These devices were fully characterized under atmospheric pressure. The intrinsic Q factor of fabricated devices is in the range of 3000, which is sufficient for practical sensing applications in atmospheric pressure and liquid. We have demonstrated that since the bonding between the plate and the device is rigid enough to prevent mechanical crosstalk between different cavities in the same base, multiple resonators can be conveniently realized in a single printing step. This thesis work shows that micro-masonry is a powerful technique for the simple fabrication of sealed MEMS plate resonators.
Population-Level Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination Program in the United States: Causal Analysis Based on Structural Nested Mean Model

Though COVID-19 vaccines have shown high efficacy, real-world effectiveness at the population level remains unclear. Based on the longitudinal data on vaccination coverage and daily infection cases from fifty states in the United States from March to May 2021, causal analyses were conducted using structural nested mean models to estimate the population-level effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination program against infection with the original strain. We found that in the US, every 1% increase of vaccination coverage rate reduced the weekly growth rate of COVID-19 confirmed cases by 1.02% (95% CI: 0.26%, 1.69%), and the estimated population-level effectiveness of the COVID-19 program was 63.9% (95% CI: 18.0%, 87.5%). In comparison to a no-vaccination scenario, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign averted 8.05 million infections through the study period. Scenario analyses show that a vaccination program with doubled vaccination speed or with more rapid vaccination speed at the early stages of the campaign would avert more infections and increase vaccine effectiveness. The COVID-19 vaccination program demonstrated a high population-level effectiveness and significantly reduced the disease burden in the US. Accelerating vaccine rollout, especially at an early stage of the campaign, is crucial for reducing COVID-19 infections.
Exploring Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mortality Using Weighted Regression Estimation for the Cohort Effect in Taiwan from 1976 to 2015

To estimate the cohort effects that remove the efficacy of age and the period in the age-period statistics of a contingency table, the multiphase method is put forward. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies of the liver. Understanding the predictive effects of age, period, and cohort on HCC mortality trends may help to estimate the future HCC burden, identify etiological factors, and advise public health prevention programs. Estimates of future HCC mortality and the associated health burden were forecast using an age–period–cohort (APC) model of analysis. By running a regression of residuals that were isolated from the median polish stage of cohort classification, the study controlled for HCC mortality confounding variables and interpreted time trends in HCC rates. The literature shows that the weighted mean estimation derived from the confidence interval (CI) is relatively restricted (compared to the equal-weighted evaluation). This study aimed to illustrate the effects of age, period, and cohort on the incidence and mortality rates, along with the weight equivalent to the segment of death number caused by HCC in each cohort. The objective of that work was to evaluate the proposed method for appraising cohort effects within the age-period data of contingency tables. The weighted mean estimate from the regression model was found to be robust and thus warrants consideration in forecasting future HCC mortality trends. The final phase was factored in to calculate the magnitude of cohort effects. In conclusion, owing to the relatively constricted CI and small degree of uncertainty, the weighted mean estimates can be used for projections based on simple linear extrapolation.