Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term Functional and Patient-reported Outcomes Between Intra-corporeal Delta-shaped Gastroduodenostomy and Gastrojejunostomy After Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy

Purpose This study aimed to compare the long-term functional and patient-reported outcomes between intra-corporeal delta-shaped gastroduodenostomy and gastrojejunostomy after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed clinicopathological data from 616 patients who had undergone laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for stage I gastric cancer between January 2015 and September 2020. Among them, 232 patients who had undergone delta-shaped anastomosis and another 232 who had undergone Billroth II anastomosis were matched using propensity scores. Confounding variables included age, sex, body mass index, physical status classification, tumor location, and T classification. Postoperative complications, nutritional outcomes, endoscopic findings, and quality of life (QoL) were compared between the 2 groups. Results No significant differences in postoperative complications or nutritional parameters between the two groups were observed. Annual endoscopic findings revealed more residual food and less bile reflux in the delta group (P<0.001) than in the Billroth II group. Changes of QoL were significantly different regarding emotional function, insomnia, diarrhea, reflux symptoms, and dry mouth (P=0.007, P=0.002, P=0.013, P=0.001, and P=0.03, respectively). Among them, the delta group had worse insomnia, reflux symptoms, and dry mouth within three months postoperatively. Conclusions Long-term nutritional outcomes and QoL were comparable between the delta and Billroth II groups. However, more residual food and worse short-term QoL regarding insomnia, reflux symptoms, and dry mouth were observed in the delta group. Longer fasting time before endoscopic evaluation and short-term symptom management would have been helpful for the delta group.
BOARD CHARACTERISTICS AND PROFITABILITY OF PUBLICLY TRADED BREWERIES COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

: This study tends to determine the influence of board characteristics on the profitability of publicly traded Nigerian brewery companies for 2013 to 2022. Retrospective research design was used for the study alongside agency theory to underpin the study. Secondary data for the study was obtained from audited yearly reports of brewery companies and was analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and a regression model. The empirical finding reveals a significant positive relationship between non-executive board members and Return on Capital employed. A positive non-significant affiliation subsists between board ownership concentration and Return on Capital employed. However, a negative non-significant connection subsists between Executive board member, Chief executive officer Duality, and \Return on capital employed. The study concluded a non-significant impact between board characteristics and the profitability of publicly traded Nigerian brewery companies. The study recommends, among other things, adding more management members to boards of directors to improve company performance .
Occurrence of Tea Grey Spot Disease and Germinating Characteristics of Pestalotiopsis versicolor Conidiospores

The occurrence of tea grey spot disease and the germinating characteristics of the pathogen were studied.The result showed that the occurrence of the disease was popular in tea plantations in southern Henan Province and the disease was more severe in summer and autumn than in spring and winter.The diseased leaf rate and the disease index were related closely to temperature,humidity and illumination etc.The study also showed that the conidium germinating of Pestalotiopsis versicolor started after inoculated for four hours and germinated well at pH5 to pH7.n addition,there was great appetency between the pathogen and the tea trees because the conidia germinated well on tea leaves rather than other habitats obviously.
Novel utilization of deep brain stimulation in the pedunculopontine nucleus with globus pallidus internus for treatment of childhood-onset dystonia

Introduction Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-documented therapy for dystonia utilized in many adult and pediatric movement disorders. Pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) has been investigated as a DBS target primarily in adult patients with dystonia or dyskinesias from Parkinson’s disease, showing improvement in postural instability and gait dysfunction. Due to the difficulty in targeting PPN using standard techniques, it is not commonly chosen as a target for adult or pediatric pathology. There is no current literature describing the targeting of PPN in DBS for childhood-onset dystonia. Methods Two pediatric and one young adult patient with childhood-onset dystonia who underwent DBS implantation at our institution were identified. Patient 1 has Mitochondrial Enoyl CoA Reductase Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (MEPAN) syndrome. Patient 2 has Glutaric Aciduria Type 1 (GA1). Patient 3 has atypical pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN). PPN was identified as a potential target for these patients due to axial or orofacial dystonia. Pre- and post-operative videos taken as part of routine clinical assessments were evaluated and scored on the Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) and Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS). All patients had permanent electrodes placed bilaterally in PPN and globus pallidus internus (GPi). A Likert scale on quality of life was also obtained from the patient/parents as applicable. Results Significant programming was necessary over the first 3–12 months to optimize patients’ response to stimulation. All patients experienced at least a 34% improvement in the BFMDRS score. Patients 2 and 3 also experienced an over 30% improvement in BADS score. All patients/parents appreciated improvement in quality of life postoperatively. Discussion Deep brain stimulation in PPN was safely and successfully used in two pediatric patients and one young adult patient with childhood-onset dystonia. These patients showed clinically significant improvements in BFMDRS scoring post operatively. This represents the first reported DBS targeting of PPN in pediatric patients, and suggests that PPN is a possible target for pediatric-onset dystonia with axial and orofacial symptoms that may be refractory to traditional pallidal stimulation alone.
Assessing the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation phase on rainfall variability in the Gauteng province of South Africa

South Africa is subject to large rainfall variability, with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) being the most important driver across the summer rainfall region. The aim of this study was to relate ENSO phase to historical rainfall variability over the densely populated and economically important Gauteng province of South Africa. Monthly rainfall totals for the period 1960–2021 were used to calculate Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) values at different timescales for five stations. The Oceanic Niño Index (ONI) was used to classify seasons according to ENSO phase. For each station, the number of wet, near-normal or dry seasons falling in a particular ENSO phase was tallied and used to calculate probabilities of occurrence. Results revealed spatial inhomogeneities despite the study area being relatively small. Analysis of 3- and 6-month periods revealed that dry conditions occur more frequently during spring and autumn El Niño events, but are very unlikely during summer and autumn La Niña events. Analysis of 12-month periods revealed that near-normal conditions occur most frequently regardless of ENSO phase, with an increased chance of experiencing wet as opposed to dry conditions under La Niña. This information can aid various decision-makers to make better use of seasonal climate predictions.
Actual Quality Changes in Natural Resource and Gas Grid Use in Prospective Hydrogen Technology Roll-Out in the World and Russia

About 95% of current hydrogen production uses technologies involving primary fossil resources. A minor part is synthesized by low-carbon and close-to-zero-carbon-footprint methods using RESs. The significant expansion of low-carbon hydrogen energy is considered to be a part of the “green transition” policies taking over in technologically leading countries. Projects of hydrogen synthesis from natural gas with carbon capture for subsequent export to European and Asian regions poor in natural resources are considered promising by fossil-rich countries. Quality changes in natural resource use and gas grids will include (1) previously developed scientific groundwork and production facilities for hydrogen energy to stimulate the use of existing natural gas grids for hydrogen energy transport projects; (2) existing infrastructure for gas filling stations in China and Russia to allow the expansion of hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles (HFCVs) using typical “mini-plant” projects of hydrogen synthesis using methane conversion technology; (3) feasibility testing for different hydrogen synthesis plants at medium and large scales using fossil resources (primarily natural gas), water and atomic energy. The results of this study will help focus on the primary tasks for quality changes in natural resource and gas grid use. Investments made and planned in hydrogen energy are assessed.
A Survey on Localization for Autonomous Vehicles

Research on autonomous vehicles has made significant advances in recent years. To operate an autonomous vehicle safely and effectively, precise localization is essential. This study aims to present the state of the art in localization to scientists new to the area. It presents and summarizes works from the field of localization and suggests a classification for the works. Approaches to localization are mainly divided into three categories: conventional localization, machine-learning-based localization, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) localization. Conventional localization primarily depends on high-definition (HD) maps or certain marks, such as landmarks and road marks. Machine-learning-based localization approaches include using neural networks, end-to-end approaches, as well as reinforcement learning for performing or improving localization. Moreover, V2X localization methods localize vehicles by communicating with other vehicles (V2V) or infrastructures (V2I). This study not only presents a bigger picture of the area of localization in autonomous driving but also presents the potentials and drawbacks of different localization methods. At the end of the review, some research areas open for future research are also highlighted.
GENERAL DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH MULTI DEPENDENT PANELS: A STUDY OF PAK-US TRADE

The basic purpose of this study to General Diagnostic test for Sustainable Economic Growth Multi Dependent Panels of Cross Section. The two sample models are using “USA import from Pakistan impact on USA economy” and “Pakistan export to USA impact on Pakistan economy” with multi macroeconomic dependent variables of each country for the period of 2012 to 2021 and examine through a new General Diagnostic test of Cross-section diagnostic test (CSDT) that highly recommended for future examination of research data. The Results showing the high impact “Import on US Macroeconomic variables” and “Export on Pakistan Macroeconomic variables” that influencing the country economy. The Cross-section diagnostic test (CSDT) result also indicates each macroeconomic dependent variable of a country highly influenced by import and export. Like Pakistan face balance of payment issue and export helping indicator and USA shortage of agricultural product, dairy and natural resources production, import strengthen the usage (meet the need), standard living and economy. Research implications are very clear import and export of a country is highly significant that meet the need of financial and usage of a country. This study has two main recommendations. First, strongly recommends for Policy maker more focus on exports with the help of country resources and meet the need of country. Second, the study is strongly recommended to research institution, and research scholar the new General Diagnostic test Multi Dependent Panels of Cross Section (for Sustainable Economic Growth) is suggested to use for future examination of research data.
Hail potential in Europe based on a regional climate model hindcast

Due to the local‐scale nature of hail and a lack of appropriate observation systems, comprehensive, reliable, and consistent information about hail frequency and intensity in Europe is not available. To overcome this constraint, we developed a logistic hail model that quantifies the potential of the atmosphere to form hailstorms. The model is based on a combination of appropriate hail‐relevant meteorological parameters. This paper presents the application of an adjusted version of the logistic model with the objective being to estimate the hail potential across Europe based on dynamically downscaled National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research1 reanalysis over a long‐term period of 60 years (1951–2010). The model output, in terms of the potential hail index (PHI), identified several hot spots that are well known from other observational studies. Time series of the PHI over the 60 year period show a high correlation at different sites across Europe and high annual and multiannual variability, but no overall trend.
MontObEO, Montesinho biodiversity observatory: an Earth observation tool for biodiversity conservation

The Montesinho Natural Park (MNP) is one of the largest protected areas in Portugal, covering an area of 74,225 hectares in the extreme northeast of the country. MNP hosts a wide range of endemic and highly threatened species and priority habitats such as oak forests, meadows, grasslands, and bushlands. However, human activities continue to pose a significant challenge to conservation. To address this challenge, the MontObEO project aims to implement an early warning system to identify changes in habitat suitability and species extinction risk over time and space in the MNP, using a time series of satellite remote sensing data and ecological niche models (SRS-ENMs). Herein, we compiled biodiversity data for five major taxonomic groups (flora-vascular plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) and yearly remote sensing products from MODIS sensors between 2000 and 2021. We conducted all the satellite data processing and modelling procedures in Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform using the MaxEnt algorithm. We measured trends in species’ habitat suitability with the Mann-Kendall test, a non-parametric test for monotonic trend detection in a time series. Those species with stronger decreasing trends will have higher extinction risks. Additionally, we developed a ready-to-use web geographic information system (Web GIS) to map individual species distributions with a high spatial resolution (1 km). This project provides tools for biodiversity conservation in the MNP to help in the decision-making process for conservation planning and could serve as a model for other national or international protected areas.
LIDAR-Based Forest Biomass Remote Sensing: A Review of Metrics, Methods, and Assessment Criteria for the Selection of Allometric Equations

The increasing level of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its effects on our climate system has become a global environment issue. The forest ecosystem is essential for the stability of carbon in the atmosphere as it operates as a carbon sink and provides a habitat for numerous species. Therefore, our understanding of the structural elements of the forest ecosystem is vital for the estimation of forest biomass or terrestrial carbon stocks. Over the last two decades, light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology has significantly revolutionized our understanding of forest structures and enhanced our ability to monitor forest biomass. This paper presents a review of metrics for forest biomass estimation, outlines metrics selection methods for biomass modeling, and addresses various assessment criteria for the selection of allometric equations for the aboveground forest biomass estimations, using LIDAR data. After examining one hundred publications written by different authors between 1999 and 2023, it was observed that LIDAR technology has become a dominant data collection tool for aboveground biomass estimation with most studies focusing on the use of airborne LIDAR data for the plot-level analysis on a local scale. Parametric-based models dominated in most studies with coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) as assessment criteria. In addition, mean top canopy height (MCH) and quadratic mean height (QMH) were reported as strong predictors for aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation. Pixel-based uncertainty analysis was found to be a reliable method for assessing spatial variations in uncertainties.
Detecting Water Stress in Differentially-irrigated Tomato Plants with Infrared Thermometry for Cultivation of High-Brix Fruits

トマト栽培では, 灌水を控え目にした低土壌水分管理によって, 果実の糖度向上を図ることができる。 低土壌水分管理によって, 作物体の水ストレスは高まる。 しかし, 極端に高い水ストレスは障害果の発生を助長する。 したがって, 水ストレスの変化を捉えることは, 低土壌水分管理を的確に行うために重要であるといえる。 しかし, 土壌水分の測定や作物の外観的症状の観察など, 灌水管理の目安として通常用いられてきた方法では, 水ストレスを的確に捉えることは困難である。 水ストレスが増大すると, 作物体の植被温度あるいは葉温が高くなることが知られている。 そこで, 本実験では, 低土壌水分管理が水ストレスに及ぼす影響を, 赤外線放射測温の手法を用いて遠隔的かつ即時的に検出・評価することを試みた。 主要な結果は以下のように要約される。 1) サーモグラフィーによって作物体の植被温度を測定した結果, 灌水量が少なく, したがって, 作物体の水ストレスが高いと考えられた区ほど, 植被温度が高いことが認められた。 2) 赤外線放射測温による葉温と光合成および蒸散速度の推移を晴天日に測定した。 低土壌水分管理下では, 土壌湿潤管理下に比べて, 光合成および蒸散速度とも日中低く推移した。 一方, 葉温は日中高く推移した。 したがって, 水ストレスによる生理的な変化を, 葉温によって捉えることが可能であると考えられる。 また, 強日射かつ天候が安定していた時間帯に, 灌水実施によって葉温が気温に対して相対的に低下した。 したがって, このような環境条件下であれば,〔葉温-気温〕の推移から水ストレスの変化を的確に捉えることができると考えられた。 3) 葉温の定時測定を継続して実施した。 低土壌水分管理を開始すると, 土壌湿潤管理を継続した場合に比べて, 次第に葉温が上昇して気温に接近し,〔葉温-気温〕の値も高くなった。 また, 同じ灌水量で低土壌水分管理を行っても, 生育途中から実施した場合には, 生育初期から実施した場合に比べて, 葉温は高くなり,〔葉温-気温〕の値も高くなった。 したがって, 生育初期から低土壌水分管理を行った結果, 極端に高い水ストレスは生じなかったと考えられた。 以上のことから, 頻繁な灌水を行わなければならない高糖度トマト生産において, 赤外線放射測温は水ストレスを連続的に捉える手法として有効であると考えられた。
Interannual variability of summer monsoon convective and stratiform precipitations in East Asia during 1998–2013

In this paper, interannual variations of convective and stratiform precipitations in summer East Asian monsoon (SEAM) dominion are analysed using 16‐year (1998–2013) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) precipitation radar (PR) rain products (2A25 and 3A25). It is found that the climatological mean patterns of convective and stratiform rain rates (RRs) are generally similar to each other, but the area fraction (AF) of stratiform precipitation can always reach about 80% and dominates in summer East Asia. Nonetheless, convective precipitation produces similar rainfall quantity with stratiform rainfall. For the RR, AF and contribution fraction (CF), their interannual standard deviation and coefficient of variation (CV) spatial patterns are similar between summer convective and stratiform precipitations in East Asia, because of the fact that they are all maybe influenced by SEAM. Differently, only the intensity of interannual variability (i.e. CV) for convective precipitation AF is much greater than that for stratiform precipitation, while CV for both convective and stratiform precipitations RR/CF are similar in most areas. Moreover, the interannual variability of SEAM is more highly correlated with that of RR for convective precipitation than that for stratiform precipitation in most land regions. While the opposite conclusion is found in ocean regions. Generally, the SEAM intensity in the lower troposphere mainly controls interannual variability of the atmospheric stability and both stratiform and convective precipitations RR. Then, atmospheric stability variation further modulates the AF and CF variations of both stratiform and convective precipitations on the interannual scale. This work mainly provides possible evidence of linkage between large‐scale circulation and convective and stratiform precipitations on the interannual scale. It suggests that the possible dominant mechanism should be explored using more observations and together with model simulations in the future work.
EVALUATION OF LIDAR ODOMETRY AND MAPPING BASED ON REFERENCE LASER SCANNING

Abstract. Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is essential for the robot to operate in an unknown, vast environment. LiDAR-based SLAM can be utilizable in environments where other sensors cannot deliver reliable measurements. Providing accurate map results requires particular attention due to deviations originating from the device. This study is aimed to assess LiDAR-based mapping quality in a vast environment. The measurements are conducted on a mobile platform. Accuracy of the map collected with the LeGO-LOAM method was performed by making a comparison to a map gathered with geodetic scanning using ICP. The results provided 60% of fitted points in a distance lower than 5 cm and 80% in a distance lower than 10 cm. The findings prove the mileage of the map created with this method for other tasks, including autonomous driving and semantic segmentation.
Measurement techniques for the high-contrast and in-field stray light performance of OCI

Scheduled for launch in January 2024, the PACE mission represents NASA’s next investment in ocean biology, clouds, and aerosol data records. A key feature of PACE is the inclusion of an advanced satellite radiometer known as the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI), a global mapping radiometer that combines multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing. A critical requirement for OCI is the high-contrast or spatial crosstalk specification (also referred to as in-field stray-light response). The requirement states that for global top-of-atmosphere radiances based on measured MODIS radiances, the global average residual contamination shall be less than 0.4% for 350 nm, 360 nm, 385 nm, 555 nm, 583 nm, 820 nm and 865 nm and less than 0.20% for all other multispectral bands. Accurate resolution of high contrast in TOA radiance images is important to estimate stray light contamination due to clouds, for studying small scale features like ocean fronts and for working in coastal and estuarine areas where the scales are 1km. This occurs in all wavelengths in the spatial direction. Knowledge of high contrast resolution makes up part of the artifact budget. Accurate measurement of the high-contrast performance of OCI requires laboratory Ground Support Equipment (GSE) that projects a scene of sufficient quality that the unwanted stray light of the GSE itself is not confused with the stray light response of the telescope. This paper concerns the development, analyses and test of the GSE to ensure the quality of the projected image is sufficient to verify the OCI requirements. Optical models were developed for both the instrument as well as the GSE and laboratory environment. Simulation of various non-ideal parameters were critical to accurately predict performance. Measurements using COTS cameras and lenses were also made of the projected GSE image to reasonably verify the optical model predictions. Measured and modelled results from OCI are discussed.