Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Artistic Exploration of Stop-Motion Animation in Virtual Reality: Spatializing the Analog Techniques of 2D Replacement and Object Animation by Using Digital Cutout and Realtime Rendering

The art-based research project VRinMotion explores the implemen-tation of analog stop-motion animation in virtual reality. ExperiMotion 1, the first of four workshops, focused on 2D replacement and object animation in VR, presenting a unique challenge in creating a 3D virtual space with flat animation techniques. The research team discussed and artistically tested various new ideas and methods focusing, i.a. , on haptic properties and the role of stop-motion loops. Furthermore, it developed frameworks in Unity3D and TouchDe-signer for prototyping and implementing the project requirements. Finally, the team explored how the use of sound may improve spatial perception in VR and how separating the artistic process into dis-tinct modules allows several individuals to collaborate on the same project.
Effect of Devised Simultaneous Physical Function Improvement Training and Posture Learning Exercises on Posture

Poor posture in young adults and middle-aged people is associated with neck and back pain which are among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Training posture maintenance muscles and learning about ideal posture are important for improving poor posture. However, the effect of using both approaches simultaneously has not been verified, and it is unclear how long the effects persist after the intervention. Forty female university students were randomly and evenly assigned to four groups: physical function improvement training, posture learning, combination, and control groups. Four weeks of intervention training was conducted. Postural alignment parameters were obtained, including trunk anteroposterior inclination, pelvic anteroposterior inclination, and vertebral kyphosis angle. Physical function improvement training for improving crossed syndrome included two types of exercises: “wall-side squatting” and “wall-side stretching”. The posture learning intervention consisted of two types of interventions: “standing upright with their back against the wall” and “rolled towel”. A multiple comparison test was performed after analysis of covariance to evaluate the effect of each group’s postural change intervention on postural alignment. Only the combination group showed an effective improvement in all posture alignments. However, it was found that a week after the 4-week intervention, the subjects’ postures returned to their original state.
A heuristic kernel combination approach based on kernel Fisher criterion

Empirical success of kernel-based learning methods is very much dependent on the kernel used. Instead of using a single fixed kernel, Multiple Kernel Learning (MKL) algorithms learn a combination of different kernels in order to better match the underlying problem. In this paper, we propose an effective kernel combination approach that is unified for both binary and multiclass classification problems. The key property of the proposed approach is that it adopts the Kernel Fisher Criterion (KFC) as evaluation criterion to measure the goodness of the base kernel. More specifically, aiming at determining weights for convex combination of multiple kernels, we develop a heuristic rule based on KFC to directly assign a weight to each base kernel. The proposed approach is demonstrated with some UCI machine learning benchmark examples.
Prediction of body weights of Nellore sheep under field condition

Data on 1350 Nellore sheep of 2, 4, 6 and 8-teeth age, reared under field conditions in 12 mandals of Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh were utilized for development of prediction equations and study the phenotypic association among body measurements and body weights. The coefficients of correlation between body weight with the height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length were positive and high in magnitude in both males and females in majority of the age groups studied. Step-down regression equations were fitted to predict the body weight based on biometrical measurements at different ages. The height at withers, chest girth, paunch girth, hip width and body length have contributed significantly to the expression of body weights at the majority of the ages studied. High coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed in males at 6 and 8-teeth age as 88 per cent, while in females 50 per cent at 2-teeth age.
Older Adults’ Perspectives on Screening for Cognitive Impairment Following Critical Illness: Pre-Implementation Qualitative Study

OBJECTIVES: Screening for cognitive impairment following ICU discharge is recommended but not part of routine care. We sought to understand older adults’ perspectives on screening for cognitive impairment following an ICU admission to inform the design and delivery of a cognitive screening intervention. DESIGN: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. SUBJECTS: Adults 60 years and older within 3 months of discharge from an ICU in an academic health system. INTERVENTIONS: Interviews were conducted via telephone, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. All transcripts were coded in duplicate. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Codes were organized into themes and subthemes inductively. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We completed 22 interviews. The mean age of participants was 71 ± 6 years, 14 (63.6%) were men, 16 (72.7%) were White, and 6 (27.3%) were Black. Thematic analysis was organized around four themes: 1) receptivity to screening, 2) communication preferences, 3) information needs, and 4) provider involvement. Most participants were receptive to cognitive screening; this was influenced by trust in their providers and prior experience with cognitive screening and impairment. Participants preferred simple, direct, compassionate communication. They wanted to understand the screening procedure, the rationale for screening, and expectations for recovery. Participants desired input from their primary care provider to have their cognitive screening results placed in the context of their overall health, because they had a trusted relationship, and for convenience. CONCLUSIONS: Participants demonstrated limited understanding of and exposure to cognitive screening but see it as potentially beneficial following an ICU stay. Providers should use simple, straightforward language and place emphasis on expectations. Resources may be needed to assist primary care providers with capacity to provide cognitive screening and interpret results for ICU survivors. Implementation strategies can include educational materials for clinicians and patients on rationale for screening and recovery expectations.
LSTAloc: A Driver-Oriented Incentive Mechanism for Mobility-on-Demand Vehicular Crowdsensing Market

With the popularity of Mobility-on-Demand (MOD) vehicles, a new market called MOD-Vehicular-Crowdsensing (MOVE-CS) was introduced for drivers to earn more by collecting road data. Unfortunately, MOVE-CS failed after two years of operation. To identify the root cause, we survey 581 drivers and reveal its simple incentive model based on blindly competitive rewards. This model brings most drivers few yields, resulting in their withdrawals. In contrast, a similar market termed MOD-Human-Crowdsensing (MOMAN-CS) remains successful thanks to a complex model based on exclusively customized rewards. Hence, we wonder whether MOVE-CS can be resurrected by learning from MOMAN-CS. Despite considerable similarity, we can hardly apply the incentive model of MOMAN-CS to MOVE-CS, since MOD drivers are also concerned with passenger missions that dominate their earnings. To this end, we analyze a large-scale dataset of 12,493 MOD vehicles, finding that drivers have explicit preference for short-term, immediate gains as well as implicit rationality in pursuit of long-term, stable profits. Therefore, we design a novel driver-oriented incentive mechanism for MOVE-CS, called LSTAloc, at the heart of which lies a spatial-temporal differentiation-aware task allocation scheme empowered by submodular optimization. Applied to the dataset, our design would essentially benefit both the drivers and platform to incentivize MOD vehicular crowdsensing efficiently, thus possessing the potential to resurrect MOVE-CS.
Design of an ECG front-end considering ST segment distortion

ECG ST segment should be monitored for my-ocardial ischemia diagnosis. But this information needs a very accurate ECG acquisition. This paper presents the design of a chopper amplifier filtering the baseline wander and minimizing the added electronic noise with an acceptable ST segment distortion. A method is proposed to estimate the ST segment distortion and compare it to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards. The design is achieved using XFAB 180nm technology and validated at transistor-level simulation for typical and worst cases.
Herschel/PACS: Constraining clumping in the intermediate wind region of OB stars

Abstract At present, it is well established that previously accepted mass-loss rates (Ṁ) of luminous OB stars may be overestimated when clumping is neglected. Our Herschel/PACS Far-Infrared (Far-IR) observations of a set of OB stars allow us to improve our knowledge of clumping stratification, constraining clumping properties in intermediate wind regions. In this work, better sampled clumping structure estimates are provided for ι Ori, ε Ori and ξ Per as well as an initial estimate of the clumping properties of the wind from τ Sco. These observations will allow us to obtain reliable mass-loss rates and improve our understanding of the wind physics.
Health literacy assessment of faith-based organizations in Accra, Ghana

Abstract Health literacy is a major determinant of health across space. At different scales, optimal interplay between individual and organizational efforts is required to ensure a health literate population. This is essential because social and environmental determinants of health influence both the individual and populations across the life course. Despite this knowledge, little is known about faith-based organizations’ health literacy assets and gaps. Drawing on the community health literacy assessment framework, health literacy assets and gaps are assessed among 50 faith-based organizations in Accra, Ghana. Specifically, the study assessed (1) how the organizations defined health literacy, (2) the strategies used in identifying health literacy concerns in their organizations, (3) health literacy assets, and (4) health literacy gaps. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants from the organizations. Thematic and summative content analyses were used to appraise, interpret, and quantify the data from the interviews. Results show that while the organizations have varying definitions of health literacy, the most cited meaning of health literacy was right health information. Of the strategies used in identifying health literacy concerns, the most cited strategy was members’ medical status. While the most declared health literacy asset was the health experts of the organizations, the health literacy gap most spoken of was lack or inadequate health information, education, and communication (IEC) materials. An assessment of health literacy of faith-based organizations through a modified framework has illuminated our understanding of health literacy status of organizations and how these organizations may respond to members’ health needs.
A psychophysically justified bit allocation algorithm for subband image coding systems

The authors present a psychophysically justified bit allocation algorithm for use with subband image coding systems. This algorithm is also appropriate for DCT and DFT (discrete cosine and discrete Fourier transform)-based analysis-synthesis systems, as well as many others. The subjective performance of the algorithm was compared with the performance of a related algorithm that seeks to minimize the mean-square coding error. A two-dimensional analysis-synthesis system of J.P. Princen and A.B. Bradley (IEEE Trans. on Acoust. Speech, and Signal Proc., vol.ASSP-34, no.5, p.1153-1161, Oct. 1986) was used for the comparison. It is found that the psychophysically justified algorithm is superior to the minimum-mean-square-error algorithm at low bit rates. <<ETX>>
The single-layer readout electronics design and development for CEPC scintillator analog hadronic calorimeter prototype

With the progress in modern high-energy physics, the Standard Model is constantly being refined. As the last brick of the Standard Model, the Higgs boson was confirmed to be discovered in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in 2012. For the further exploration of the Higgs boson, the Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) is proposed. The baseline detector concept of CEPC is guided by the particle flow principle. The Particle Flow Algorithm (PFA) reconstructs a list of low-level particles and associates every detector hit with these particles. The high granularity hadronic calorimeter (HCAL) represents an essential component of PFA-based detectors. This paper mainly presents the single-layer electronics design and development for the scintillator analog hadronic calorimeter prototype (AHCAL). The single-layer readout electronics consists of front-end electronics board (FEB) and data interface (DIF) board. The FEB carries the silicon photomultipliers (SiPM), plastic scintillators, and the SiPM signal readout circuit. A single SiPM coupled with a scintillator constitute the basic detection unit. The size of scintillator used here is 4 cm×4 cm. A sensitive area of 72×72 cm2 can be covered by the design presented here. 324 SiPMs coupled with scintillators are mounted on each FEB. Besides the huge sensitive area, The AHCAL prototype must also meet strict requirements on the integration and robustness of the electronics. This paper develops a complete single-layer readout electronics design that meets the requirements for use in the AHCAL. The results of beam test shows that the peak of the minimum ionizing particle (MIP) is separated from the pedestal evidently and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is better than 20. The volume required for the electronics is less than 4 cm3 per channel. In addition, the FEB is sufficiently robust to avoid damage during intercontinental transportation. The development of the single-layer electronics represents significant progress in the design of a prototype device that meets the requirement for use in the CEPC.
Accuracy of Computer Vision Hough Line Transform for Water Level Measurement

Floods are natural disasters that often occur in countries with high rainfall, such as Indonesia. Floods occur due to sudden changes in water level; therefore, the dam cannot withstand the increase in water causing water to overflow into the riverbank area. As a result of this issue, a system was created that can be used to provide information about river water levels. This system relies on computer vision to program the camera to monitor the water level through image processing. Image processing allows the camera to process the image of the water surface detected at the ditch’s edge. The edge detection result is used as a water level detector using the Hough line transform, which generates a line to indicate the water level. The height detected by image processing differs from the actual height on the detected surface. The minimum and maximum error reading for both methods recorded in this experiment is 0,8 % and 16,67 %, respectively
Predicting geographic distribution and habitat suitability of Opuntia streptacantha in paleoclimatic, current, and future scenarios in Mexico

Abstract Mexican territory is one of the centers of origin and dispersion of the genus Opuntia, where several of its species have been an important plant resource for people in arid and semiarid zones. Opuntia streptacantha is widely distributed in Mexico; however, precise aspects of its geographic distribution and ecological status are still unknown. Here, we modeled its potential distribution under paleoclimatic, current, and future conditions through maximum entropy and predictions from 824 records and seven environmental variables. Potential distribution of O. streptacantha in the interglacial period was contracted and slightly north than current distribution, with 44,773 km2 of optimal habitat. In other past periods, the central location of potential distribution coincides with the actual current distribution, but the period of the last glacial maximum was characterized by 201 km2 of very suitable habitat, absent in interglacial, current, and future periods. The future model suggests that potential distribution will move toward the south of the Mexican territory. Synthesis and applications. The potential distribution of O. streptacantha can be applied for the conservation and management of the species, and also in the selection of areas with crassicaule scrubs for protection, conservation, and reproduction of species resistant to the hostile conditions of arid and semiarid zones of Mexican territory, where the structure and composition of the vegetation will be affected in the next 100 years.
A Cellular Senescence-Related Signature Predicts Cervical Cancer Patient Outcome and Immunotherapy Sensitivity

Cervical cancer (CC) is among the most prevalent gynaecological malignancy. The rate of mortality and morbidity of patients with CC is high. Cellular senescence is involved in tumorigenesis as well as cancer progression. However, the involvement of cellular senescence in CC development is still unclear and requires further investigation. We retrieved data on cellular senescence-related genes (CSRGs) from the “CellAge” Database. We used TCGA-CESC and the CGCI-HTMCP-CC datasets as the training and validation sets, respectively. Eight CSRGs signatures based on the data extracted from these sets were constructed using “univariate” and “Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression analyses”. Using this model, we calculated the risk scores of all patients in the training and validation cohort and categorised these patients into the low-risk group (LR-G) and the high-risk group (HR-G). Finally, compared to patients in the HR-G, CC patients in the LR-G demonstrated a more positive clinical prognosis; the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) markers and immune cell infiltration was higher, and these patients had more active immune responses. In vitro studies showed increased SERPINE1 and IL-1α ((genes included in the signature) expression in CC cells and tissues. The eight-gene prognostic signatures could modulate the expression of SASP factors and the tumour immune micro-environment (TIME). It could be used as a reliable biomarker for predicting the patient’s prognosis and response to immunotherapy in CC.
Prompt-based Zero-shot Relation Extraction with Semantic Knowledge Augmentation

In relation triplet extraction (RTE), recognizing unseen relations for which there are no training instances is a challenging task. Efforts have been made to recognize unseen relations based on question-answering models or relation descriptions. However, these approaches miss the semantic information about connections between seen and unseen relations. In this paper, We propose a prompt-based model with semantic knowledge augmentation (ZS-SKA) to recognize unseen relations under the zero-shot setting. We present a new word-level analogy-based sentence translation rule and generate augmented instances with unseen relations from instances with seen relations using that new rule. We design prompts with weighted virtual label construction based on an external knowledge graph to integrate semantic knowledge information learned from seen relations. Instead of using the actual label sets in the prompt template, we construct weighted virtual label words. We learn the representations of both seen and unseen relations with augmented instances and prompts. We then calculate the distance between the generated representations using prototypical networks to predict unseen relations. Extensive experiments conducted on three public datasets FewRel, Wiki-ZSL, and NYT, show that ZS-SKA outperforms other methods under zero-shot setting. Results also demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of ZS-SKA.
Generation of long-ranged spin-triplet pairs across a two-dimensional superconductor/helimagnet van der Waals interface

The combination of a superconductor with a magnetically inhomogeneous material has been established as an efficient mechanism for the generation of long-ranged spin-polarized (spin-triplet) Cooper pairs. Evidence for this mechanism, however, has been established based on studies done on three-dimensional systems, where the strong bonds existing at the interface between the superconductor and the magnetic material should in principle enhance proximity effects and strengthen any electronic correlations. Here, we fabricate devices based on van der Waals stacks of flakes of the two-dimensional superconductor NbS2 combined with flakes of Cr1/3NbS2, which has a built-in magnetic inhomogeneity due to its helimagnetic spin texture at low temperatures. We find that the critical temperature of these vdW bilayers is strongly dependent on the magnetic state of Cr1/3NbS2, whose degree of magnetic inhomogeneity can be controlled via an applied magnetic field. Our results demonstrate evidence for the generation of long-ranged spin-triplet pairs across the Cr1/3NbS2/NbS2 vdW interface.
A novel adaptive-impulsive synchronization of fractional-order chaotic systems

A novel adaptive–impulsive scheme is proposed for synchronizing fractional-order chaotic systems without the necessity of knowing the attractors’ bounds in priori. The nonlinear functions in these systems are supposed to satisfy local Lipschitz conditions but which are estimated with adaptive laws. The novelty is that the combination of adaptive control and impulsive control offers a control strategy gathering the advantages of both. In order to guarantee the convergence is no less than an expected exponential rate, a combined feedback strength design is created such that the symmetric axis can shift freely according to the updated transient feedback strength. All of the unknown Lipschitz constants are also updated exponentially in the meantime of achieving synchronization. Two different fractional-order chaotic systems are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the novel adaptive–impulsive control scheme.
Experimental examination of the alleged influence of cultural differences on single-file pedestrian fundamentals

Multiple studies have addressed what influences the fundamental diagram in single-file experiments. Several studies indicate that there are differences by gender when group composition is taken into account. Even for the simplest systems, such as pedestrian flows in corridors, there are still some deficiencies in the detailed understanding of this fundamental relationship. The effect of cultural differences can only be seen in a different density and velocity interval if a comparison is conducted between the two different cultural groups. Our results indicate that the velocities of male and female pedestrians are different. For instance, when N = 20, the velocity is 0.65 to 0.69m/s for Chinese, while for Ghanaians, the velocity is 0.51 to 0.62m/s. Similarly, when the densities change N = 40 in Chinese, they are 0.26 to 0.32m/s, while the Ghanaians are 0.21 to 0.28m/s. In addition, we investigated whether pedestrian behavior, corridor length, body weight, and height between Chinese and Ghanaian pedestrians influence cultural differences in a single-file fundamental diagram. Regression analysis makes it possible to determine whether there is a difference between the two groups.