Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Importance of Optical Coherence Tomography in the Diagnosis of Atypical or Subclinical Optic Neuritis: A Case Series Study

Background: Optic neuritis (ON) is an inflammatory condition of the optic nerve. ON is associated with development of demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). CNS lesions visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the finding of oligoclonal IgG bands (OB) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are used to stratify the risk of MS after a “first” episode of ON. However, the diagnosis of ON in absence of typical clinical manifestations can be challenging. Methods and Materials: Here we present three cases with changes in the optic nerve and ganglion cell layer in the retina over the disease course. (1) A 34-year-old female with a history of migraine and hypertension had suspect amaurosis fugax (transient vision loss) in the right eye. This patient developed MS four years later. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed dynamic changes of the thickness of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) over time. (2) A 29-year-old male with spastic hemiparesis and lesions in the spinal cord and brainstem. Six years later he showed bilateral subclinical ON identified using OCT, visual evoked potentials (VEP) and MRI. The patient fulfilled diagnosis criteria of seronegative neuromyelitis optica (NMO). (3) A 23-year-old female with overweight and headache had bilateral optic disc swelling. With OCT and lumbar puncture, idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) was excluded. Further investigation showed positive antibody for myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). Conclusions: These three cases illustrate the importance of using OCT to facilitate quick, objective and accurate diagnosis of atypical or subclinical ON, and thus proper therapy.
Procedure for validation of trends in genetic variance

Several reports mention the existence of systematic trends in genetic variances estimated from bull breeding values (e.g., VanDoormaal et al., 1999). Such trends make bull rankings sensitive to the time period of data that is used for sire variance estimation (Miglior et al., 2001), as conversions depend on ratio of sire variances in each country (e.g., Klei et al., 1999). Moreover, trends in genetic variance will lead to suboptimal selection decisions. A greater proportion of animals will be selected from time periods with higher genetic variance (e.g., Vinson, 1987).
The Theory of Trapped-Fetch Waves with Tropical Cyclones—An Operational Perspective

Abstract The majority of high wave events and almost all cases of extreme or phenomenal wave growth are the result of a high degree of synchronicity between moving storms and the waves that they generate. This wave containment or resonance phenomenon, referred to as trapped-fetch waves, has been known for generations, but not always well understood by forecasters. The twofold threat of trapped-fetch waves is that they have the potential for extreme growth, yet are unheralded by leading swell. Conceptual and numerical Lagrangian reference frame experiments on wave containment are presented, illustrating the influence on tropical cyclone ocean waves by three storm parameters: storm speed, wind speed, and fetch length. To further illustrate the concepts and provide real-time application, a simple, desktop Lagrangian trapped-fetch wave model, used for training and operational assessment of trapped-fetch waves, is described in a companion article.
Equilibrium and dynamics of collisionless current sheets

In this thesis examples of translationally invariant one-dimensional (1D) Vlasov-Maxwell (VM) equilibria are investigated. The 1D VM equilibrium equations are equivalent to the motion of a pseudoparticle in a conservative pseudopotential, with the pseudopotential being proportional to one of the diagonal components of the plasma pressure tensor. A necessary condition on the pseudopotential (plasma pressure) to allow for force-free 1D VM equilibria is formulated. It is shown that linear force-free 1D VM solutions correspond to the case where the pseudopotential is an attractive central potential. The pseudopotential for the force-free Harris sheet is found and a Fourier transform method is used to find the corresponding distribution function. The solution is extended to include a family of equilibria that describe the transition between the Harris sheet and the force-free Harris sheet. These equilibria are used in 2.5D particle-in-cell simulations of magnetic reconnection. The structure of the diffusion region is compared for simulations starting from anti-parallel magnetic field configurations with different strengths of guide field and self-consistent linear and non-linear force-free magnetic fields. It is shown that gradients of offdiagonal components of the electron pressure tensor are the dominant terms that give rise to the reconnection electric field. The typical scale length of the electron pressure tensor components in the weak guide field case is of the order of the electron bounce widths in a field reversal. In the strong guide field case the scale length reduces to the electron Larmor radius in the guide magnetic field.
Unified Motion Control for Multilift Unmanned Rotorcraft Systems in Forward Flight

Interest in multilift rotorcraft systems has reemerged in recent years to overcome some of the problems in single unmanned aerial vehicle handling and delivery systems. Using multiple unmanned rotorcrafts (URs), the load weight can be evenly distributed among the vehicles, extending the flight time and therefore increasing the working distance of such systems. Moreover, with a slung-load configuration, bigger size packages with complex shape and equipment that may interfere with the onboard electronics can be carried. In this context, this article presents a payload-based unified motion control that allows any number of URs to cooperatively transport a slung load in forward flight. The motion control comprises path-following and trajectory-tracking algorithms, considers obstacle avoidance, implements a specific strategy for load weight distribution (load equalization) by regulating the relative altitude of each UR, and is robust to disturbances such as wind. In addition, this work shows that load equalization is essential for slung-load cooperative transport, especially in forward flight. The controller’s stability is analytically studied and the good performance of the system is demonstrated through exhaustive simulations using validated dynamic models for mini-helicopters, cables, and payload. Finally, the relation between load weight and number of URs is analyzed by considering several scenarios.
A Case Report of Iliopsoas Abscess Secondary to Small Bowel Fistula

Iliopsoas abscesses (IPAs) are rare infections in the musculature that can be difficult to diagnose due to nonspecific presentations. These abscesses are most commonly caused by either the hematogenous spread of a separate infectious source in the body or secondary to Crohn’s disease and are typically treated with antibiotic therapy and percutaneous drainage. For cases complicated by bowel disease, multiloculated psoas abscess, or gas-forming organisms, surgical drainage may be indicated. We present the case of an 81-year-old female with a history of colon cancer status post-cecum resection who presented with back pain, thigh pain, and constipation. Computerized tomography imaging showed concurrent small bowel obstruction and a right IPA extending down to the right thigh. Laparoscopic exploration revealed a small bowel fistulization to the right iliopsoas as the source of infection. Resection of the small bowel and surgical incision and drainage of the abscess were necessary for her treatment. The patient was discharged with vacuum-assisted closure of her wound after a hospital course complicated with chronic diarrhea. Bowel fistulization should be considered a potential cause of IPAs in patients with a complicated gastrointestinal history.
PENGKLASIFIKASI BERAS MENGGUNAKAN METODE CNN (CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK)

Pemanfaatan Computer Vision yang digunakan untuk pengolahan gambar dan deep learning dalam melakukan proses pembelajaran. Berdasarkan citra image (gambar) beras yang di input, memungkinkan system untuk mengklasifikasikan jenis objek beras. Kemudian, proses deep learning seperti Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). melakukan training pembelajaran dalam memproses gambar yang menjadi data set, dengan melakukan proses learning dalam beberapa jaringan (Network) tersembunyi dan menjadikan gambar yang ingin diuji dapat diklasifikasikan berdasarkan tingkat atau level dari learning (pembelajaran) network itu sendiri. Berdasarkan hasil proses diperoleh, pengklasifikasian beras dengan data yang diambil berupa gambar beras dapat dilakukan dengan melakukan training objek beras yang diujikan. Pengklasifikasian beras dilakukan dengan membedakan 8 (dua) kelas jenis beras yang diambil yaitu beras yang baik dan beras yang jelek. Dengan Metode CNN dapat dihasilkan tingkat keakuratan sampai diatas 90 persen. Sistem pengklasifikasian ini digunakan untuk industri, perusahaan atau stakeholder untuk dimanfaatkan dalam melihat kualitas beras secara lebih cepat, akurat, dan objectif. Kata Kunci : Dataset beras, beras, CNN, Deep Learning
Skin segmentation using multiple thresholding

The segmentation of skin regions in color images is a preliminary step in several applications. Many different methods for discriminating between skin and non-skin pixels are available in the literature. The simplest, and often applied, methods build what is called an "explicit skin cluster" classifier which expressly defines the boundaries of the skin cluster in certain color spaces. These binary methods are very popular as they are easy to implement and do not require a training phase. The main difficulty in achieving high skin recognition rates, and producing the smallest possible number of false positive pixels, is that of defining accurate cluster boundaries through simple, often heuristically chosen, decision rules. In this study we apply a genetic algorithm to determine the boundaries of the skin clusters in multiple color spaces. To quantify the performance of these skin detection methods, we use recall and precision scores. A good classifier should provide both high recall and high precision, but generally, as recall increases, precision decreases. Consequently, we adopt a weighted mean of precision and recall as the fitness function of the genetic algorithm. Keeping in mind that different applications may have sharply different requirements, the weighting coefficients can be chosen to favor either high recall or high precision, or to satisfy a reasonable tradeoff between the two, depending on application demands. To train the genetic algorithm (GA) and test the performance of the classifiers applying the GA suggested boundaries, we use the large and heterogeneous Compaq skin database.
Identification of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro) Cleavage Sites Using Two-Dimensional Electrophoresis and In Silico Cleavage Site Prediction

The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) plays a crucial role in its life cycle. The Mpro-mediated limited proteolysis of the viral polyproteins is necessary for the replication of the virus, and cleavage of the host proteins of the infected cells may also contribute to viral pathogenesis, such as evading the immune responses or triggering cell toxicity. Therefore, the identification of host substrates of the viral protease is of special interest. To identify cleavage sites in cellular substrates of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, we determined changes in the HEK293T cellular proteome upon expression of the Mpro using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The candidate cellular substrates of Mpro were identified by mass spectrometry, and then potential cleavage sites were predicted in silico using NetCorona 1.0 and 3CLP web servers. The existence of the predicted cleavage sites was investigated by in vitro cleavage reactions using recombinant protein substrates containing the candidate target sequences, followed by the determination of cleavage positions using mass spectrometry. Unknown and previously described SARS-CoV-2 Mpro cleavage sites and cellular substrates were also identified. Identification of target sequences is important to understand the specificity of the enzyme, as well as aiding the improvement and development of computational methods for cleavage site prediction.
Robust control of robot manipulators: A survey

This paper presents an overview of robust control schemes for robot manipulators. The survey summarizes the vast literature on the subject. The different modelling assumptions used in current control algorithms are thoroughly reviewed. The survey includes models of actuator dynamics and joint flexibility. The different control schemes are organized in the following six categories: linear schemes, passivity-based schemes, Lyapunov-based schemes, sliding mode control schemes, non-linear H omega schemes and robust adaptive control schemes. Connections and comparisons are made between the various algorithms.
Learning in Tension: A Case Study Examining What Internal Medicine Residents Learn in the Ambulatory Care Setting

Introduction: Medical care of patients with complex conditions has shifted to the ambulatory setting, whereas current knowledge of resident learning is primarily based on studies from inpatient settings. Preparing trainees to adapt to this shift necessitates an understanding of what internal medicine (IM) residents currently learn during ambulatory rotations. The aim of this study is to identify what residents learn during their ambulatory care experience. Methods: Using a qualitative instrumental case study design, the authors conducted separate focus groups with IM trainees (n = 15), supervisors (n = 16), and program directors (n = 5) from two IM programs in New York City, USA in 2019. Participants were invited via email, and focus group sessions were complemented by document analysis of ambulatory syllabi. Results: Based on focus group commentary and document analysis, content learned in the ambulatory setting encompassed three domains; 1) patient needs, 2) the resident’s role within a healthcare team, and 3) health system opportunities and limitations. Residents also learned about tensions within and between these domains including the skills needed to care for patients versus the skills acquired, a desire for ownership of patient care versus fragmented care, and time allotted versus time required. Discussion: This study revealed two outcomes about what residents learn during their ambulatory care experience. First, learning content largely fell into three domains. Second, residents learned about the tensions between ideal care delivery and the realities of practice. These results highlight the imperative to better align curricula with clinical environments to meet the learning needs of residents.
Principle of object support by Rope deformation and its application to Rope climbing by snake robot

This study proposes a principle of object support by rope deformation and demonstrates the application of this principle to the operation of a snake robot that moves up and down on a rope. To realize the object support, the minimum tension required to support the object under deformation of the rope and the principle and effect of rotation of the object's posture are considered. An effective method for winding the rope is additionally examined. For the rope-climbing motion of the snake robot, we designed and fabricated a snake-shaped robot that can apply the principle of object support by rope deformation using multiple joints. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Constraint Handling for Genetic Algorithms in Optimal Remediation Design

There often is difficulty enforcing the given constraints when applying a genetic algorithm (a flexible stochastic search method) to optimal ground-water remediation design problems. This paper compares two methods for constraint handling within the genetic algorithm framework. The first method, the additive penalty method (APM), is a commonly used penalty function approach in which a penalty cost proportional to the total constraints violation is added to the objective function. The second method, the multiplicative penalty method (MPM), multiplies the objective function by a factor proportional to the total constraints violation. The APM and MOM, using constant and generation-varying constraint weights, are applied to two pump-and-treat design examples. Overall, the application of the APM resulted in infeasible solutions with small-to-moderate total constraints violations. With the MPM, a set of feasible and near-optimal policies was readily identified for both examples. Additionally, the MPM converges to the solution faster than the APM. These results demonstrate that the MPM is a robust method, capable of finding feasible and optimal or near-optimal solutions while using a range of weights.
The Effect of Surface Treatments on Zirconia Bond Strength and Durability

To evaluate the effects of airborne particle abrasion (APA) combined with MDP-containing resin cement, a glass-ceramic spray deposition (GCSD) method on the shear bond strengths (SBSs) and durability of 3 mol% yttrium oxide-stabilized zirconia ceramic (3Y-TZP) compared with lithium disilicate glass ceramics (LDGC). 3Y-TZP disks were randomly treated as follows: for Group APA+MDP, 3Y-TZP was abrased using 50 μm Al2O3 particles under 0.1 Mpa and bonded with MDP-containing resin cement; for Group GCSD, 3Y-TZP was treated with the GCSD method, etched by 5% HF for 90 s, silanized and bonded with resin cement without MDP. Group LDGC was bonded as the Group GCSD. X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDX) were used to analyze the surface chemical and micro-morphological changes of the ceramics before bonding. The bonded ceramic specimens were randomly divided into subgroups, and the SBSs were determined before and after 10,000 thermocycling. The SBSs were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA analysis. Failure modes were determined with optical microscopy and SEM. The XRD, ATR-FTIR and XPS results identified the formation of lithium disilicate and zirconium silicate on 3Y-TZP after GCSD. The SEM micrographs revealed that 3Y-TZP surfaces were roughened by APA, while 3Y-TZP with GCSD and LDGC surfaces could be etched by HF to be porous. The APA treatment combined with MDP-containing resin cement produced the high immediate zirconia shear bond strengths (SBSs: 37.41 ± 13.51 Mpa) that was similar to the SBSs of the LDGC (34.87 ± 11.02 Mpa, p > 0.05), but, after thermocycling, the former dramatically decreased (24.00 ± 6.86 Mpa, maximum reduction by 35.85%) and the latter exhibited the highest SBSs (30.72 ± 7.97 Mpa, minimum reduction by 11.9%). The 3Y-TZP with GCSD treatment displayed the lower zirconia SBSs before thermocycling (27.03 ± 9.76 Mpa, p < 0.05), but it was similar to the 3Y-TZP treated with APA and MDP containing resin cement after thermocycling (21.84 ± 7.03 vs. 24.00 ± 6.86 Mpa, p > 0.05). The APA combined with MDP-containing resin cement could achieve the high immediate zirconia SBSs of those of the LDGC, but it decreased significantly after thermocycling. The GCSD technique could yield the immediate zirconia SBSs similar to those of LDGC before thermocycling, and long-term zirconia SBSs were similar to those of 3Y-TZP treated with APA followed by MDP-containing resin cement after thermocycling. Hence, the GCSD technique could enrich zirconia surface treatments and is an alternative to zirconia surface pretreatment for 3Y-TZP bond durability.
The Association Between Sports Participation and Mental Health Across the Lifespan

Context: Mental health problems are extremely common all over the world and contribute significantly to illness and impairments. There is an acknowledged need for interventions that focus on prevention to foster mental health, and to fulfill this need, sports offer a promising way to promote mental health and avoid the beginning of a mental illness. In this study, a literature review is presented about the association between sports participation and mental health across the lifespan. Objectives: To determine the association between sports participation and mental health and get information about the mental health benefits that can be achieved by increased participation in sports, both by the general public and professional athletes at any age. Methods: To conduct the literature review, a search on different databases was carried out for research articles with the key terms "sports participation” and “mental health" to find their association. Results: Participation in sports was found to be positively associated with psychological well-being and connected with fewer mental health problems. Sports participation was associated with higher self-esteem and a lower risk of anxiety, depression, and social-behavioral inhibition in adolescents. Sports participation led to reduced smoking and a type of personality that was resistant to alcohol and drug addiction. Sports club membership, high or moderately frequent sports participation, participation in outdoor sports, team sports, contact sports, and competition were all linked to fewer internalizing problems. Conclusions: Participation in sports is beneficial to the mental health of children, adolescents, and adults. Team sports and sports clubs are especially advantageous for mental health due to social and psychological support. Creating opportunities for sports participation can lead to the promotion of mental health.
Understanding Changes in Social Cannabis Use among Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Social Network Analysis

Introduction. As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused historic morbidity and mortality and disrupted young people’s social relationships, little is known regarding change in young adults’ social cannabis use following social distancing orders, or other factors associated with such changes before and during the pandemic. Methods. 108 young adult cannabis users in Los Angeles reported on their personal (egocentric) social network characteristics, cannabis use, and pandemic-related variables before (July 2019 – March 2020) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020 – August 2021). Multinomial logistic regression identified factors associated with increasing or maintaining the number of network members (alters) participants used cannabis with before and during the pandemic. Multilevel modeling identified ego- and alter-level factors associated with dyadic cannabis use between each ego and alter during the pandemic. Results. Most participants (61%) decreased the number of alters they used cannabis with, 14% maintained, and 25% increased. Larger networks were associated with a lower risk of increasing (vs. decreasing); more supportive cannabis-using alters was associated with a lower risk of maintaining (vs. decreasing); relationship duration was associated with a greater risk of maintaining and increasing (vs. decreasing). During the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020 – August 2021), participants were more likely to use cannabis with alters they also used alcohol with and alters who were perceived to have more positive attitudes towards cannabis. Conclusions. The present study identifies significant factors associated with changes in young adults’ social cannabis use following pandemic-related social distancing. These findings may inform social network interventions for young adults who use cannabis with their network members amid such social restrictions.