Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Models of human image discrimination predict object detection in natural backgrounds

Object detection involves looking for one of a large set of object subimages in a large set of background images. Image discrimination models predict the probability that an observer will detect a difference between two images. We find that discrimination models can predict the relative detectability of objects in different images, suggesting that these simpler models may be useful in some object detection applications. Six images of a vehicle in an otherwise natural setting were altered to remove the vehicle and mixed with the original image in various proportions. Nineteen observers rated the 24 images for the presence of a vehicle. The pattern of observer detectabilities for the different images was predicted by three discrimination models. A Cortex transform discrimination model, a contrast sensitivity function filter model, and a root-mean-square difference predictor based on the digital image values gave prediction errors of 15%, 49%, and 46%, respectively. Two observers given the same images repeatedly to make the task a discrimination task rated the images similarly, but had detectabilities a factor of two higher.
Impacts of sibling and gender on supplementary education opportunities in China

Abstract Supplementary education, which is different from the formal education system, is more likely to reflect the other form of inequality in educational opportunities through the process of education. In China, supplementary education is generally divided into two sorts: academic-oriented classes and hobby-oriented classes. Using the dataset of China Family Panel Studies 2018 and analysing with the Logit Regression models (LR), this study analyses how gender and sibling structure impact the students’ supplementary education participation opportunities. Applying the “resource dilution theory” and “budget constraint theory” in Chinese modern families, siblings might have a competitive relationship with each other in obtaining limited family resources, while parents would assess the lifetime cost of raising a child when deciding the investment in supplementary education. According to the results, an increase in sibling numbers and density dilutes the family resources of supplementary education for each child on average. Females have more opportunities to participate in supplementary education than males, especially in hobby-oriented supplementary education. The “female advantage” is significant in the supplementary education opportunity of the first-born child and the “gender minority” child. This study claims that the family allocation of supplementary educational resources is influenced by economic motives. This study supports both the “resource dilution theory” and the “budget constraint theory” in supplementary education in contemporary China, while the issues of gender inequality regarding family resources allocation seem still remain.
Conformal iterated function systems with overlaps

For a conformal iterated function system satisfying the bounded distortion property and the weak separation condition, we prove a formula for the Hausdorff dimension of the attractor, and establish the equality between the Hausdorff dimension and the growth dimension. Furthermore, a relation between the open set condition and the weak separation condition is given.
Ensemble Forecasting at NMC: The Generation of Perturbations

Abstract On 7 December 1992, The National Meteorological Center (NMC) started operational ensemble forecasting. The ensemble forecast configuration implemented provides 14 independent forecasts every day verifying on days 1–10. In this paper we briefly review existing methods for creating perturbations for ensemble forecasting. We point out that a regular analysis cycle is a “breeding ground” for fast-growing modes. Based on this observation, we devise a simple and inexpensive method to generate growing modes of the atmosphere. The new method, “breeding of growing modes”, or BGM, consists of one additional, perturbed short-range forecast, introduced on top of the regular analysis in an analysis cycle. The difference between the control and perturbed six-hour (first guess) forecast is scaled back to the size of the initial perturbation and then reintroduced onto the new atmospheric analysis. Thus, the perturbation evolves along with the time dependent analysis fields, ensuring that after a few days of cycl.
The Influence of Herd Mentality on Rating Bias and Popularity Bias: A Bi-Process Debiasing Recommendation Model Based on Matrix Factorization

To reduce the impact of rating bias and popularity bias in recommender system, and make the recommender system reach a balance between recommendation utility and debias effect at the same time, we propose a bi-process debiasing recommendation model based on matrix factorization. Firstly, considering the problem that the user’s ratings are affected by the herd mentality, which leads to a consistency between the rating and the selection of rating items, resulting in the power-law distribution, the k-times parabolic fuzzy distribution was used to fuse the user’s age to redistribute the ratings. Secondly, the loss function is optimized by the continuously increasing flow and popularity of items. Finally, user emotion and item popularity are combined to construct user psychological tendency, which is divided into three levels: strong, medium and weak, and different levels are given different weights. To verify the performance of the model, the experimental results on real datasets show that the model proposed in this paper not only effectively reduces the recommendation bias but also ensures the recommendation utility.
OpenRST: An Open Platform for Customizable 3D Printed Cable-Driven Robotic Surgical Tools

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery (RMIS) has been shown to be effective in improving surgeon capabilities, providing magnified 3D vision, highly dexterous surgical tools, and intuitive human-robot interfaces for high-precision tool motion control. Robotic surgical tools (RST) are a critical component that defines the performance of an RMIS system. Current RSTs still represent a high cost, with few commercially available options, which limits general access and research on RMIS. We aim to take advantage of recent progress in biocompatible 3D printing and contribute to the development of RMIS technologies, presenting an open platform for low-cost, biocompatible, and customizable RSTs. The proposed design concept consists of a 3-DOF end-effector with a decoupled wrist mechanism, a tool interface module, and a tool drive unit. We validated our end-effector design using Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to confirm that stress generated by high grip forces is maintained below the material yield stress. Validation experiments showed that the proposed RST could provide up to 10N grip forces and up to 3N pulling forces. The proposed control framework exhibited a mean absolute positioning tracking error of approximately 0.1 rad. Finally, we also demonstrated the use of the proposed RST in two surgical training tasks: pick-and-place and stitching. The designs and software control framework are open-access and freely available for customization and fast development at https://github.com/jcolan/OpenRST.
Modelling crash frequencies at signalized intersections with a truncated count data model

Modelling crash frequencies provides comprehensive insights into the safety effects of explanatory variables contributing to crash occurrence, and thus a variety of modelling techniques have been employed depending on what variable is of interest. Since accident frequencies are count data which are discrete and non-negative integers, Poisson and negative binomial regression models are used to fit count data with the entire distribution of counts. However, some of the crash counts might be omitted from a sample due to the limits of observability, hence resulting in the truncation of the sample. Without accounting for truncation, the parameters estimated will be biased and inconsistent, and thus careful attention should be paid to the estimation of count data models when a truncation problem exists. This paper describes the development of a truncated Poisson model with zero-truncated count data and the demonstration of differences in estimation results by comparing the results from truncated and untruncated Poisson models with truncated data. The major difference in estimation results is that significant factors included in the both models are not exactly the same. However, it is found that there is no difference in the directions of associations with safety of the significant variables included in the both models.
Assessment of the Accuracy of Two Different Dynamic Navigation System Registration Methods for Dental Implant Placement in the Posterior Area: An In Vitro Study

Purpose: To compare the U-tube and cusp dynamic navigation system registration methods in the use of dental implant placement, and to assess the influence of the location of missing teeth on these registrations. Methods: 32 resin mandible models and 64 implants were utilized, with implants being placed using one of the two registration methods selected at random. Accuracy was measured through the superimposition of the final and planned implant positions. Angular deviation, 3D entry deviation, and 3D apex deviation were analyzed. Results: The overall mean 3D deviation was 1.089 ± 0.515 mm at the entry point and 1.174 ± 0.531 mm at the apex point, and mean angular deviation was 1.970 ± 1.042 degrees. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed when comparing these two registration methods. However, the U-tube method showed significant difference when assessing the location of missing teeth (without distal-extension absence and distal-extension absence), whereas cusp registration was unaffected. Conclusions: Both the U-tube and cusp dynamic navigation system registration methods are accurate when implemented in vitro. Besides, the cusp registration technique can also overcome several of the limitations of the U-tube approach and the accuracy of it was not influenced by the location of the missing teeth, highlighting it as a method worthy of further clinical research.
The quasi-periodic oscillations and very low frequency noise of Scorpius X-1 as transient chaos - A dripping handrail?

We present evidence that the quasi-periodic oscillations (QPO) and low frequency noise (LFN) characteristic of many accretion sources are different aspects of the same physical process. We analyzed a long, high time resolution EXOSAT observation of Sco X-1. The x-ray luminosity varies stochastically on time scales from milliseconds to hours. The nature of this variability -- as quantified with both power spectrum analysis and new wavelet technique, the {\it scalegram} - agrees well with the {\it dripping handrail} accretion model, a simple dynamical system which exhibits {\it transient chaos}. In this model both the QPO and LFN are produced by radiation from blobs with a wide size distribution, resulting from accretion and subsequent diffusion of hot gas, the density of which is limited by an unspecified instability to lie below a threshold.
Results from the optical replica experiment at Flash

Experimental results from the optical replica synthesizer (ORS) at FLASH (DESY, Hamburg) are presented.The ORS is a novel method to determine the longitudinal structure of sub-ps electron bunches by creating a coherent optical pulse at 775 nm wavelength that has th same shape as the electron bunch and can be analyzed using a FROG (frequency-resolved optical gating) device. The ORS hardware was installed in 2007, comprising a Ti:Sapphire laser system, two undulators and optical equipment. During first experimetns, the spatial and temporal overlap of an uncompressed electron bunch and a 200 fs laser pulse in an undulator was achieved, modulating the electron energy and density. Coherent transition radiation from micro-bunched electrosn was observed varying the timing between electrons and laser pulse and producing two-dimensional images of slices within the electron bunch. In a second experiment, alser pulses were overlapped with compressed electron bunches in the undulator and coherent radiation from a second undulator was observed and analyzed using the FROG device.
Genetic algorithm based design optimization of a permanent magnet brushless dc motor

Genetic algorithm (GA) based design optimization of a permanent magnet brushless dc motor is presented in this paper. A 70 W, 350 rpm, ceiling fan motor with radial-filed configuration is designed by considering the efficiency as the objective function. Temperature-rise and motor weight are the constraints and the slot electric loading, magnet-fraction, slot-fraction, airgap, and airgap flux density are the design variables. The efficiency and the phase-inductance of the motor designed using the developed CAD program are improved by using the GA based optimization technique; from 84.75% and 5.55 mH to 86.06% and 2.4 mH, respectively.
Trilayered Gires–Tournois Resonator with Ultrasensitive Slow-Light Condition for Colorimetric Detection of Bioparticles

Over the past few decades, advances in various nanophotonic structures to enhance light–matter interactions have opened numerous opportunities for biosensing applications. Beyond the successful development of label-free nanophotonic biosensors that utilize plasmon resonances in metals and Mie resonances in dielectrics, simpler structures are required to achieve improved sensor performance and multifunctionality, while enabling cost-effective fabrication. Here, we present a simple and effectual approach to colorimetric biosensing utilizing a trilayered Gires–Tournois (GT) resonator, which provides a sensitive slow-light effect in response to low refractive index (RI) substances and thus enables to distinguish low RI bioparticles from the background with spatially distinct color differences. For low RI sensitivity, by impedance matching based on the transmission line model, trilayer configuration enables the derivation of optimal designs to achieve the unity absorption condition in a low RI medium, which is difficult to obtain with the conventional GT configuration. Compared to conventional bilayered GT resonators, the trilayered GT resonator shows significant sensing performance with linear sensitivity in various situations with low RI substances. For extended applications, several proposed designs of trilayered GT resonators are presented in various material combinations by impedance matching using equivalent transmission line models. Further, comparing the color change of different substrates with low RI NPs using finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations, the proposed GT structure shows surpassing colorimetric detection.
Effects of the Introduction of Modern Immunotherapy on the Outcome of Isolated Limb Perfusion for Melanoma In-Transit Metastases

Simple Summary Melanoma in-transit metastasis has long been effectively treated with isolated limb perfusion (ILP), a procedure where the limb is treated with high concentrations of heated chemotherapy. The recent treatment revolution with the introduction of modern systemic treatments has changed how metastatic melanoma is treated. We analysed patients treated with ILP before the introduction of systemic immunotherapy (2010–2014) and compared them to those treated after (2017–2021). The patient population is largely unchanged, with only a slight increase in age. Importantly, there was no reduced effect of ILP, also in patients that previously had received and failed immunotherapy, showing that ILP is still a valid and important treatment for patients with melanoma in-transit metastasis. Abstract Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is an effective locoregional treatment for melanoma in-transit metastasis, but the advent of modern effective immunotherapy, such as ICI (immune checkpoint inhibitors), has changed the treatment landscape. The primary aims of this study were to compare the characteristics of the patient population receiving ILP before and after the introduction of modern systemic treatments and to assess if outcomes after ILP were influenced by previous immunotherapy treatment. A single-centre analysis of patients that underwent ILP for melanoma in-transit metastasis between 2010 and 2021 was conducted, with patients grouped and compared by treatment time period: pre-ICI era (2010–2014) and ICI era (2017–2021). 218 patients were included. Patients undergoing ILP in the ICI era were slightly older (median age 73 vs. 68 years) compared to the pre-ICI era, with no other difference found. The overall response rate (ORR) was 83% vs. 84% and the complete response (CR) rate was 52% vs. 47% for the pre-ICI era and the ICI era, respectively. For patients that had received and failed immunotherapy prior to ILP (n = 20), the ORR was 75% and the CR rate was 50%. Melanoma-specific survival has improved, with a 3-year survival rate of 54% in the pre-ICI era vs. 86% in the ICI era. The patient population undergoing ILP for in-transit melanoma is largely unchanged in the current era of effective systemic treatments. Response rates have not decreased, and prior ICI treatment did not affect response rates, making ILP still a valid treatment option for this patient group.
Ghana’s Adherence to PASCAR’s 10-Point Action Plan towards Hypertension Control: A Scoping Review

The continuous increase in the prevalence of hypertension in Ghana has led to various interventions aimed at controlling the disease burden. Nonetheless, these interventions have yielded poor health outcomes. Subsequently, the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), established a 10-point action plan for inclusion in policies to aid control of hypertension. This scoping review assessed the adherence of health policies to the 10-point action plan towards hypertension control/reduction in Ghana. Eight health policies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed. The programme evaluation and policy design framework were used for synthesis and analysis of extracted data. Overall, there was poor adherence to hypertension control observed in the policies. Specifically, there were low levels of integrating hypertension control/reduction measures, a poor task-sharing approach, and poor financial resource allocations to tackle hypertension control/reduction in most of the policies. There was also low support for research to produce evidence to guide future interventions. For Ghana to achieve the global target of reducing hypertension by the year 2025, its health policies must adhere to evidence-based interventions in hypertension management/control. The study recommends a follow-up study among hypertension patients and healthcare professionals to evaluate the factors militating against hypertension management/control in Ghana.
Genetic Characteristics of Measles Viruses Isolated in Taiwan between 2015 and 2020

A genetic analysis of circulating measles virus (MeV) provides strong evidence of an interruption in endemic measles and supports the elimination status of this disease. This study investigated 219 MeVs isolated between 2015 and 2020. Based on the 450 nucleotide sequences of the nucleoprotein gene (N-450), three genotypes of the H1, D8 and B3 with 8, 18 and 6 different N-450 sequences, respectively, were identified. The H1 genotype virus has not circulated in Taiwan since 2017, and the D8 and B3 genotype MeVs became dominant between 2018 and 2019. Different D8 genotype variants were imported from neighboring countries, and the majority of MeV variants were detected only for a short period. However, MVs/Gir Somnath.IND/42.16[D8], a named strain designated by the World Health Organization (WHO), was detected over 2 years. To explore whether the endemic transmission of measles has been underestimated, another sequence window of the hypervariable, noncoding regions between the matrix (M) and fusion (F) genes (MF-NCR) was introduced to clarify the transmission chain. From the chronological sequence analysis of MeVs with N-450 and MF-NCR sequence windows, no endemic MeV variants lasted over 4 weeks, providing strong evidence to support the contention that Taiwan has reached the status for measles elimination.
Orthogonal-function-based image filtering and edge detection

Filtering and edge detection are widely used in image processing and computer vision. The following problems are important: computational complexity, precision, possibility to be realized in parallel, and detecting edges with a subpixel precision. By use of orthogonal polynomial theory, we propose in the present paper a new realization of image filters and their derivatives for edge detection, with a reduced and constant complexity and a good precision. In particular, we present the Hermite integration to realize Gaussian filters and the Laguerre integration for Shen-Castan filters. We show that the output of these filters can be calculated by the weighted sum of the signal values at positions determined by the roots of orthogonal polynomials. Generalization to M-D cases and to derivative calculation for edge detection, and the implementation in discrete cases are presented as well. Our method is implemented and tested for computer-generated and real images, the experimental results are satisfactory.
Gender Differences and Cardiometabolic Risk: The Importance of the Risk Factors

Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is a clinical condition characterized by a cluster of major risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes: proatherogenic dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, dysglycemia, and abdominal obesity. Each risk factor has an independent effect, but, when aggregated, they become synergistic, doubling the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and causing a 1.5-fold increase in all-cause mortality. We will highlight gender differences in the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical expression of the aforementioned Mets components. Moreover, we will discuss gender differences in new biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk.
Does Innovative City Pilot Policy Stimulate the Chinese Regional Innovation: An Application of DID Model

Urban innovation has always been a research topic of scholars, but research focusing on the relationship between innovative city pilot policy and regional innovation is still relatively rare. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of the pilot policy on urban innovation convergence based on panel data in China from 2003 to 2016. The difference-in-differences (DID) method was used. First, we find that the pilot policy not only improves the innovation level of cities (basic effect) but also promotes innovation convergence among pilot cities (convergence effect). The convergence of scientific and technological personnel and financial technology investment are potential impact mechanisms. Second, compared with the basic effect, the convergence effect of the pilot policy has a time lag of three to five years. Regarding spatial spillover, the policy convergence effect is slightly smaller than the basic effect radius (although not robust). Finally, while the spillover effect caused by policy increases the innovation growth rate of surrounding cities more significantly, the basic and convergence effects are not significant in the western region. The results reveal the positive impact of the pilot policy on narrowing urban innovation gaps and highlight the risk of further marginalization of some cities. These findings contribute to accurately evaluating the regional innovation differences and provide an important policy implication for development strategy.