Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Following the Flux in diffracted fields – An efficient numerical method for tracing the Eikonal function

We report on our recently developed method for tracing lines of flux in three-dimensional diffracted wavefields using an approach we call ’non-linear ray tracing’ but which can be more accurately described as tracing the lines of flux in the context of the Eikonal function. These ’rays’ navigate through the diffracted field guided by the derivative of the phase at a sequence of successive points. Our approach is based on the Angular Spectrum method, a numerical algorithm that accurately and efficiently calculates diffracted fields for numerical apertures <0.7. This is used to generate a three-dimensional grid of complex wavefield samples in the focal region, followed by tracing the flux through this volume. The ray propagates in a straight line between two consecutive planes within the volume; the phase derivative is calculated at each plane to direct the ray on the next step of its journey. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach by generating results for focused laser beams with TEM00 and TEM01 laser profiles. We also simulate the effects of optical aberrations, described by Zernike polynomials, on the three-dimensional focused wavefield. Our non-linear ray tracing method provides a powerful and efficient approach for tracing lines of flux through complex three-dimensional wavefields, offering an exciting new tool for understanding these complex systems.
Proceedings of the 7 th International Workshop on Biosignal Interpretation ( BSI 2012 ) 267 Is an empty field the best reference to correct vignetting in microscopy ?

The vignetting effect is the radial attenuation of light intensity from the center of optical axis to edges. The most common approach to compensate for vignetting is to build the vignetting curve from an empty scene (empty field). This approach works in case the linearity of the acquisition system is a reliable approximation of reality. This work aims at identifying possible situations where the empty field could not be the best choice. We take into consideration histological samples and cell cultures and measure vignetting correction built from empty field and from the background of each specimen, that in these cases is considered quite homogeneous. We compare the different vignetting curves with the empty field one and measure the differences. Besides, we apply the vignetting correction to build a mosaic and measure which curve yields the best outcome. The experimental results prove that for a wide class of samples small non-linearities hint at using a vignetting function built directly from the specimen itself.
Perceived Roles and Barriers in Delivering Community-Based Care: A Qualitative Study of Health and Social Care Professionals

Introduction: As healthcare systems increasingly embrace population health management, the integration of health and social care to improve the health and well-being of individuals is crucial. Thus, we conducted a qualitative study in Singapore to understand health and social care professionals’ (HCPs and SCPs) perception of the roles they played in delivering community-based care. Methods: A descriptive phenomenological research design was adopted. HCPs and SCPs (n = 53) providing services in community settings were recruited purposefully and interviewed through eleven focus group discussions. Each session was recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was applied. Results: Our results revealed eight themes in three main categories describing the roles played by HCPs and SCPs, including: (1) delivering needs-based care in community settings; (2) activating and empowering clients in health care, and (3) fostering community-based sustainable support networks. Six barriers encountered while performing these roles were also identified. Discussion and Conclusion: Our results highlight that the roles of HCPs and SCPs go beyond the provision of direct medical and social care. They were involved in activating and empowering clients to take care of their health, and importantly, fostering community-based sustainable support networks to better empower individuals in coping with health challenges. The identified barriers shed light on areas for potential improvements for integrated community care.
Identification of Candidate Genes for Economically Important Carcass Cutting in Commercial Pigs through GWAS

Simple Summary Tenderloin and rib weight are important components of the economic value of pig carcasses, and selling them separately after fine segmentation further enhances the economic value of the carcasses. This study represents one of the rare attempts to conduct a genome-wide analysis focused on the economic value of pig carcasses, utilizing post-slaughter carcass phenotype values and genotype data to identify genetic variation regions. Through our investigation, we have identified several promising candidate regions and genes that have the potential to contribute valuable insights for breeding strategies and marker-assisted selection in pig production. Abstract During the process of pork production, the carcasses of pigs are divided and sold, which provides better economic benefits and market competitiveness for pork production than selling the carcass as a whole. Due to the significant cost of post-slaughter phenotypic measurement, the genetic architecture of tenderloin weight (TLNW) and rib weight (RIBW)—important components of pig carcass economic value—remain unknown. In this study, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for TLNW and RIBW traits in a population of 431 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire (DLY) pigs. In our study, the most significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) associated with TLNW was identified as ASGA0085853 (3.28 Mb) on Sus scrofa chromosome 12 (SSC12), while for RIBW, it was Affx-1115046258 (172.45 Mb) on SSC13. Through haplotype block analysis, we discovered a novel quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with TLNW, spanning a 5 kb region on SSC12, and a novel RIBW-associated QTL spanning 1.42 Mb on SSC13. Furthermore, we hypothesized that three candidate genes, TIMP2 and EML1, and SMN1, are associated with TLNW and RIBW, respectively. Our research not only addresses the knowledge gap regarding TLNW, but also serves as a valuable reference for studying RIBW. The identified SNP loci strongly associated with TLNW and RIBW may prove useful for marker-assisted selection in pig breeding programs.
Defect recognition by metal magnetic memory detection of pipelines based on the fuzzy kernel function SVM

In order to solve the limitation problem in identifying pipeline defects by the metal magnetic memory (MMM) method,the present study brought forward a method for defect recognition by Support Vector Machine (SVM) based on the fuzzy kernel function via constructing maximum-minimum similarities of trapezium fuzzy data. According to the construction of recognition functions,the pipeline status could be classified into three levels,including stress concentration,micro defect and macro defect. In the comparison of features between the stress concentration area and the micro-cracking defect,the input vectors for SVM were formed by five feature vectors,including the energy increment of wavelet packet frequency bands,the modified Fourier coefficient,the peak-to-peak value of area signals,the tangential gradient and normal gradient of signal detection. After de-noising of MMM signals,the feature extraction and defect recognition were completed by virtue of experiments. Compared with recognition results of traditional liner kernel and polynomial kernel functions,the new approach can effectively identify cracking defects of pipelines,providing a new method for the pipeline defect recognition with MMM testing.
Leadership styles, organisational rewards and employees’ commitment in academic libraries

This study investigated leadership styles, organisational rewards and employees’ commitment in academic libraries in Nigeria. The descriptive study adopted a total enumeration sampling technique. All of the 218 staff of academic libraries in Ondo State were covered by the study; 153 (70.2%) responded to the study. The Organisational Commitment Questionnaire developed by Allen and Meyer was used for data collection. The study found that the extent of the leadership styles adopted by the heads of libraries was moderate. Heads of libraries and subordinate staff had conflicting opinions about the extent of employees’ commitment and organisational rewards given to employees. The study found a significant relationship between leadership styles and employee commitment, and between organisational rewards and employee commitment in academic libraries in Nigeria. It is recommended that academic libraries should be democratic in their leadership approach and reward employees fairly for their efforts so as to ensure maximum employee commitment.
Consumer behavior and perception of rice flour through sensory methods

The objectives were to identify the perception of Brazilian consumers regarding the consumption of rice flour, as well as to generate information that fosters valorization of the rice production chain. A qualitative research was used, totaling 447 responses, characterizing as a convenience research, was applied via Google docs online form. Steps performed were the sensory analysis of word association, presenting an image of rice flour as a stimulus and application of a closed structured questionnaire containing 18 questions, included questions about consumption and trade of rice flour and sociodemographic information. The volunteers participated by associating four words to the consumption of rice flour, accounting for 782 different words or terms. Eight dimensions were classified with categories related to the words with the greatest impact mentioned during the association. The dimension related to food was the most mentioned by the participants, followed by sensory attributes, curiosities, health, nutritional quality, gluten-free, positive feelings and negative feelings. Of the 18 factors explored by the questionnaire, four of them were identified as responsible for explaining 79.67% of the total common variance of the variables: Health, Attributes, Consumption and Marketing. These four factors are sufficient to develop production and marketing strategies in order to favor the consumption of rice flour. Thus, the methods used were consistent in showing the perception of consumers and potential buyers of rice flour and derived products. There is a strong association with celiac disease and gluten-free diets, suggesting that the consumer market is still mostly restricted to these groups.
The Effect of Irrigation-off at some Growth Stages on Remobilization of Dry Matter and Yield of Corn Hybrids

In order to study the effect of irrigation-off at some growth stages on remobilization of dry matter and yield of corn hybrids, an experiment was conducted in split plot based on the randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications in a farm located in 15 kilometers to Ahvaz during the summer of 2011. In this research irrigation treatments included irrigation during all stages of growth (control), irrigation-off at tasselling stage and irrigation-off at milking stage as the main factors were located in main plots, and second factor included K.S. C. 701 and K.S. C. 704 corn hybrids were located in subplots. The results indicated that the maximum accumulation of dry matter has been at the maturity stages and irrigation treatment in all stages of growth (control) and the maximum mobilization of dry matter to grain has happened in irrigation-off treatment at milking stage. Exerting drought stress in vegetative and reproductive stages led to a significant decrease in biological and grain yields. The results showed that the amount of accumulation of dry matter, mobilization of dry matter to grain, biological and grain yields were more in 701 hybrids. This study showed that 701 hybrid has more endurance to drought stress. Much sensitivity of this hybrid to drought stress in pollination stage led to significant decrease of the number of grains. Also, drought stress after pollination had the most effect on grains weight, and it led to decrease of grain weight through reduction of grain filling period. In sum, the results showed that irrigation-off at any of the growth stages decreases the grain yield significantly. This decrease was more intensive in tasselling stage in which sensitivity to moisture is high. Moreover, 701 and 704 hybrids have high endurance and yield respectively in irrigation-off conditions.
STREETMAPPER MOBILE MAPPING SYSTEM AND APPLICATIONS IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS

Static terrestrial laser scanning and airborne laser scanning from helicopters and fixed wing aircraft are widely used tools for the 3D data capturing of smaller scenes and large areas, respectively. Both methods have their limitations for projects that include the rapid and cost effective capturing of 3D data from larger street sections, especially if these sections include tunnels or if dense point coverage of the facades of the neighboring architecture is required. To extend the applicability of laser scanning to these kinds of projects, terrestrial mobile laser scanning can be used. In this paper the components, the workflow and the performance of the Mobile Mapping system “StreetMapper” are described.
Efficacy and Risks of Different Treatments for Oral Hyperpigmentation: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background: Oral-pigmented lesions have raised aesthetic concerns, leading to multiple depigmentation techniques. This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of different treatments for oral hyperpigmentation. Methods: A computerized search was conducted on Science Direct, Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the relevant keywords. English-language studies published between 2013 and 2023 that focused on patients with oral pigmented lesions subjected to different treatment modalities, such as laser or surgical intervention, were compared to determine their efficacy and safety profile. Data were analyzed using R software, applying frequentist models. Results: A total of 27 studies were included. In contrast to the CO2 laser, Er: YAG laser was linked to a higher risk of bleeding (RR = 2.73, p < 0.01), whereas the diode laser had the most favorable score in minimizing bleeding index (P-score = 0.86). In terms of lower risk and postoperative pain score (RR = 0.01, p < 0.01), the Er,Cr:YSGG laser had the most favorable result (P-score = 1.00). The Er: YAG laser demonstrated the highest probability of preventing recurrence (RR = 0.28, p < 0.01), followed by the diode laser (RR = 0.42, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The choice of treatment for oral pigmentation should be based on individual patient needs and the desired outcomes. The Er: YAG laser seems highly effective in preventing pigment recurrence, the diode laser emerges as a top contender in managing bleeding risks, and the Er,Cr:YSGG laser is particularly efficacious in managing postoperative pain.
Limited Hyperoxia-Induced Proliferative Retinopathy (LHIPR) as a Model of Retinal Fibrosis, Angiogenesis, and Inflammation

The progression to fibrosis and traction in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and other ischemic retinopathies remains an important clinical and surgical challenge, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its pathogenesis. Fibrosis is an unbalanced deposition of extracellular matrix components responsible for scar tissue formation with consequent tissue and organ impairment. Together with retinal traction, it is among the main causes of retinal detachment and vision loss. We capitalize on the Limited Hyperoxia Induced Retinopathy (LHIPR) model, as it reflects the more advanced pathological phenotypes seen in ROP and other ischemic retinopathies. To model LHIPR, we exposed wild-type C57Bl/6J mouse pups to 65% oxygen from P0 to P7. Then, the pups were returned to room air to recover until later endpoints. We performed histological and molecular analysis to evaluate fibrosis progression, angiogenesis, and inflammation at several time points, from 1.5 months to 9 months. In addition, we performed in vivo retinal imaging by optical coherence tomography (OCT) or OCT Angiography (OCTA) to follow the fibrovascular progression in vivo. Although the retinal morphology was relatively preserved, we found a progressive increase in preretinal fibrogenesis over time, up to 9 months of age. We also detected blood vessels in the preretinal space as well as an active inflammatory process, altogether mimicking advanced preretinal fibrovascular disease in humans.
Examination of Secondary School Mathematics Teachers' Digital Literacy Self-Efficacy, E-learning Readiness, Technology Acceptance Levels, and Attitudes Towards Distance Education

In this study, digital literacy self-efficacy, e-learning readiness, technology acceptance levels, and attitudes towards distance education of secondary school mathematics teachers during the pandemic were examined. 108 secondary school mathematics teachers from Uşak province and its districts, affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, selected through a convenient sampling method participated in the study. The data collection tools included a personal information form, a "Digital Literacy Self-Efficacy Scale", the "E-learning Readiness Scale," the "Technology Acceptance Scale for Teachers", and the "Scale of Attitude towards Distance Education". Descriptive statistics for data analysis, t-test for correlational samples, single-factor analysis of variance, and multiple correlation analysis were used in the study. It was concluded in the study that secondary school mathematics teachers' digital literacy self-efficacy levels, e-learning readiness levels, and technology acceptance levels were high and their attitudes towards distance education were moderate. No significant difference was found between the scores of the teachers from the scales and the variables of gender, professional seniority, and education status related to distance education. A positive and high correlation was determined between secondary school mathematics teachers' digital literacy self-efficacy and their e-learning readiness, a moderate positive correlation between their technology acceptance levels, and a low negative correlation between their attitudes towards distance education. Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was found between their e-learning readiness and technology acceptance, while a low positive correlation between their attitudes towards distance education
Learning the histogram sequences of generalized local ternary patterns for blind image quality assessment

The local binary pattern (LBP) has been proved to be significantly useful and competitive in the application of blind image quality assessment (BIQA). However, LBP is short of magnitude information, limiting its performance to some extent. In this paper, we introduce a novel BIQA method, which uses the proposed generalized local ternary pattern (GLTP) to measure structural degradation. By introducing multi-threshold for the gray-level differences, GLTP can provide more discriminative and stable features. Moreover, GLTP contains magnitude information computed by using the magnitudes of horizontal and vertical first-order derivatives. Experimental results on two subject-rated databases demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art BIQA models, as well as several representative full reference image quality assessment methods for various types of distortions.
Growth performance of lesser-known Leucaena species/provenances at Gairo inland plateau, Morogoro, Tanzania

Growth performance and psyllid resistance was studied among nineteen lesser-known Leucaena species/provenances at Gairo inland plateau, Morogoro, Tanzania. Assessment was done at irregular intervals for survival, root collar diameter and diameter at 30 cm above the ground, height, diameter at breast height, multiple stems production, biomass and psyllid resistance. Final assessment of these tree attributes was done at 37 months after planting, while psyllid resistance was assessed at 9 and 37 months after planting. During the final assessment occasion, height ranged from 2.69 m for L. collinsii Ex. Chiapas to 4.87 m for L. diversifolia Ex. Veracruz. Diameter at breast height (Dbh) ranged from 2.26 cm for L. shannonnii Ex. Chiapas to 4.93 cm for L. diversifolia Ex. Veracruz, while multiple stems production ranged from 2709 stems ha−1 for L. pulverulenta Ex. Tamaulipas to 7135 stems ha−1 for L. leucocephala Ex. Morogoro and untransformed survival ranged from 43.75% for L. pulverulenta Ex. Tamaulipas to 100% for L. diversifolia Ex. Veracruz. Total wood biomass production ranged from 3.74 t/ha for L. shannonnii Ex. Chiapas to 15.61 t/ha for L. diversifolia Ex. Veracruz. The study has shown that species/provenances differ significantly in survival, diameter, height growth, psyllid resistance, multiple stem production and biomass production. Based on these findings, provenances L. diversifolia Batch (15551), L. diversifolia Ex. Mexico, L. diversifolia Ex. Veracruz and L. pallida Ex. Oaxaca are recommended for Gairo and similar sites.
Integration of the C++ well logging application based on JNI technology

The integrated network well-log processing and interpretation platform is a novel cross-platform large-scale comprehensive well-log analysis system developed on the basis of Java Language,which is characterized by perfect compatibility with former programs based on Java or any other language,enabling a seamless integration of various programs and sharing resources in a wide scale.Such characteristics are significantly incarnated not only by the designed concept of expansibility and compatibility but also by a future trend of the application and popularization for this system.The C++ language was employed for a major part of the integration programs of the platform.Through extensive laboratory tests and in-depth studies on the JNI technology,an integration mode based on C++ was established,which enabled C++ programs to combine closely with drawing and data from the platform,achieving a seamless integration of the platform with C++ programs.Field tests indicated that this integration mode avoided rewriting codes,shortened the period of module development,dramatically reduced RD expenses,and considerably met the practical need of field applications.