Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Method for Estimating Road Impulse Ahead of Vehicles in Urban Environment with Microelectromechanical System Three-Dimensional Sensor

Most automated vehicles (AVs) are equipped with abundant sensors, which enable AVs to improve ride comfort by sensing road elevation, such as speed bumps. This paper proposes a method for estimating the road impulse features ahead of vehicles in urban environments with microelectromechanical system (MEMS) light detection and ranging (LiDAR). The proposed method deploys a real-time estimation of the vehicle pose to solve the problem of sparse sampling of the LiDAR. Considering the LiDAR error model, the proposed method builds the grid height measurement model by maximum likelihood estimation. Moreover, it incorporates height measurements with the LiDAR error model by the Kalman filter and introduces motion uncertainty to form an elevation weight method by confidence eclipse. In addition, a gate strategy based on the Mahalanobis distance is integrated to handle the sharp changes in elevation. The proposed method is tested in the urban environment. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Time to strategy failure and treatment beyond progression in pretreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients receiving nivolumab: post-hoc analysis of the Meet-URO 15 study

Background Immunotherapies exhibit peculiar cancer response patterns in contrast to chemotherapy and targeted therapy. Some patients experience disease response after initial progression or durable responses after treatment interruption. In clinical practice, immune checkpoint inhibitors may be continued after radiological progression if clinical benefit is observed. As a result, estimating progression-free survival (PFS) based on the first disease progression may not accurately reflect the actual benefit of immunotherapy. Methods The Meet-URO 15 study was a multicenter retrospective analysis of 571 pretreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients receiving nivolumab. Time to strategy failure (TSF) was defined as the interval from the start of immunotherapy to definitive disease progression or death. This post-hoc analysis compared TSF to PFS and assess the response and survival outcomes between patients treatated beyond progression (TBP) and non-TBP. Moreover, we evaluated the prognostic accuracy of the Meet-URO score versus the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium (IMDC) score based on TSF and PFS. Results Overall, 571 mRCC patients were included in the analysis. Median TSF was 8.6 months (95% CI: 7.0 – 10.1), while mPFS was 7.0 months (95% CI: 5.7 – 8.5). TBP patients (N = 93) had significantly longer TSF (16.3 vs 5.5 months; p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (34.8 vs 17.9 months; p < 0.001) but similar PFS compared to non-TBP patients. In TBP patients, a median delay of 9.6 months (range: 6.7-16.3) from the first to the definitive disease progression was observed, whereas non-TBP patients had overlapped median TSF and PFS (5.5 months). Moreover, TBP patients had a trend toward a higher overall response rate (33.3% vs 24.3%; p = 0.075) and disease control rate (61.3% vs 55.5%; p = 0.31). Finally, in the whole population the Meet-URO score outperformed the IMDC score in predicting both TSF (c-index: 0.63 vs 0.59) and PFS (0.62 vs 0.59). Conclusion We found a 2-month difference between mTSF and mPFS in mRCC patients receiving nivolumab. However, TBP patients had better outcomes, including significantly longer TSF and OS than non-TBP patients. The Meet-URO score is a reliable predictor of TSF and PFS.
Salinity change evokes stress and immune responses in Atlantic salmon with microalgae showing limited potential for dietary mitigation

Smoltification was found to impact both immune and stress responses of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), but little is known about how salinity change affects salmon months after completed smoltification. Here, we examined (1) the effect of salinity change from brackish water to seawater on the stress and immune responses in Atlantic salmon and (2) evaluated if functional diets enriched with microalgae can mitigate stress- and immune-related changes. Groups of Atlantic salmon were fed for 8 weeks with different microalgae-enriched diets in brackish water and were then transferred into seawater. Samples of the head kidney, gill, liver and plasma were taken before seawater transfer (SWT), 20 h after SWT, and 2 weeks after SWT for gene-expression analysis, plasma biochemistry and protein quantification. The salmon showed full osmoregulatory ability upon transfer to seawater reflected by high nkaα1b levels in the gill and tight plasma ion regulation. In the gill, one-third of 44 investigated genes were reduced at either 20 h or 2 weeks in seawater, including genes involved in cytokine signaling (il1b) and antiviral defense (isg15, rsad2, ifit5). In contrast, an acute response after 20 h in SW was apparent in the head kidney reflected by increased plasma stress indicators and induced expression of genes involved in acute-phase response (drtp1), antimicrobial defense (camp) and stress response (hspa5). However, after 2 weeks in seawater, the expression of antiviral genes (isg15, rsad2, znfx1) was reduced in the head kidney. Few genes (camp, clra, c1ql2) in the gill were downregulated by a diet with 8% inclusion of Athrospira platensis. The results of the present study indicate that salinity change months after smoltification evokes molecular stress- and immune responses in Atlantic salmon. However, microalgae-enriched functional diets seem to have only limited potential to mitigate the related changes.
Complex Dielectric Permittivity Measurement of 3D Printing Resin FTD Nano Clear in the 1–10 GHz Band

Additive manufacturing became a valuable part of the antennas and RF devices prototyping process. However, the electromagnetic properties of 3D printing resins are usually not provided. This paper presents a complex permittivity determination of a cured high-resolution 3D printing resin, «Fun To Do Nano Clear», in the frequency range from 1 to 10 GHz. Microstrip differential phase, ring resonators and filled rectangular waveguide methods were used to obtain tangent loss and relative dielectric permittivity. Both experimental and electromagnetic simulation results are presented. MATLAB scripts were developed for automated measurement data processing.
Evaluation of the Carbon and Water Cycles and Climate Benefits of Mature Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.)

Evaluation of the Carbon and Water Cycles and Climate Benefits of Mature Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) Elke Eichelmann University of Guelph, 2015 Advisor: Claudia Wagner-Riddle With rising demand for bioenergy feedstock, interest in switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has increased over the past decades. However, data on the carbon exchange dynamics and water budgets of mature switchgrass stands (>5 years) is limited. I conducted eddy covariance measurements of CO2, H2O, and sensible energy fluxes over a 60 ha commercial switchgrass field in its sixth (2012), seventh (2013), and eighth (2014) year since establishment in Southern Ontario, Canada. Measurements from 2014 were compared to a corn field in the same region. Dry matter yield was highest in the dry and warm year of 2012 at 1090 g m-2 and lowest in 2014 at 568±93 g m-2. Considering the carbon removed at harvest, the ecosystem was a carbon source in 2012 (net ecosystem carbon balance, NECB, of 106±45 g C m-2), but a carbon sink in 2013 and 2014 (NECB of −59±45 and −66±59 g C m-2, respectively). These results show that mature switchgrass can vary between being a sink and a source of carbon on an annual basis. Water use efficiency results indicate that the switchgrass crop was able to reduce the water cost of aboveground biomass in 2012 by relocating carbon from belowground structures, but it fixed slightly more atmospheric carbon per unit water evapotranspired in 2013 compared to 2012 and 2014. Corn had less carbon uptake than switchgrass in 2014 making corn a net carbon source (NECB of 328±30 g C m-2 for a scenario where only corn grain is harvested and 634±34 g C m-2 if corn grain and stover are harvested). Switchgrass had, however, a lower yield in that year than either corn scenario (751±40 g m-2 for grain only and 1439±52 g m-2 for grain plus stover). The switchgrass field had a lower albedo than the corn field during spring and fall, resulting in an annual average negative radiative forcing of −4.5 W m-2. The results from this research project suggest that carbon and water cycling of mature switchgrass can differ substantially from young stands and that switchgrass has many potential climate benefits as a biofuel feedstock crop.
Navigating Digital Transformation Challenges: An Exploration of Employee Attitudes, Expectations, and Support

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, digital transformation has become a strategic imperative for organizations seeking to maintain competitiveness. This case study delves into the intricacies of digital transformation, highlighting challenges that can hinder its successful implementation. The central problem explored is the emergence of obstacles during the transformation, stemming from employee attitudes, knowledge, and technical proficiency. This study addresses critical research questions to understand the human dimension of digital transformation. It investigates the relationships between employees’ expectations, well-being aspirations, attitudes toward change, and technical support accessibility. By examining these issues, the study provides valuable insights into the role of human factors in digital transformation. The analysis, conducted using PLS-SEM at an 85% confidence level, reveals a significant connection. Employees’ performance expectations shape their attitudes, influencing their intention to support digital transformation. Qualitative analysis underscores the importance of planning, training, participation, and support in digital transformation. Employees engaged in the process, with a deep understanding and positive performance expectations, exhibit favorable attitudes and are less resistant to change. Overall, this study contributes valuable guidance for organizations embarking on digital transformation journeys, offering strategies to overcome potential obstacles.
Development of an Enhanced Quality Score Calculation Method for Accurate Assessment of Hotel Quality

In this research paper, an enhanced hotel quality scoring method (EHQSM), is presented as a revolutionary way to analyze hotel quality. The EHQSM combines sentiment analysis, HOLSERV Plus dimensions classification, and amenity scores to deliver a more thorough review. The study generates an overall sentiment score by doing sentiment analysis on reviews categorized into HOLSERV Plus dimensions then thoughtfully averaging it using dimensionspecific weights collected from a survey. The availability of necessary amenities is considered when calculating the amenity score. The novel feature of this approach is how the amenity score, and sentiment score are carefully combined and efficiently weighted using values from the survey. The result is an improved quality score that accurately and thoroughly describes the quality of hotel services. With the goal of facilitating informed decisions for both hotel owners and attentive tourists, this technique establishes an updated standard for the evaluation of hospitality quality.
NoSimple: Data Bias Evaluation Metrics

Simple objects are defined as objects invariably correctly classified by all outlier detectors. Its presence impairs performance of binary classifiers such as ROC or F1 score. A large number of simple objects falsely improve performance of binary classifiers when evaluated by ROC or F1 score. This impairs reliability of classifier evaluation. This manuscript proposes evaluation without simple objects (NoSimple). NoSimple preprocesses data to factor in simple objects by removing the simple objects for the evaluation phase. Experiments with 30 realworld datasets demonstrate that NoSimple significantly reduced the average ROC of all classifiers by $0.04 \sim 0.06$. NoSimple is most effective when the percentage of simple objects exceeds $30{\% }$. By introducing a new method to reliably evaluate outlier classifiers, NoSimple has the potential to revolutionize evaluation metrics and has a multitude of applications in data science research.
The Medium- to Long-Term Results of Vascular-Sparing Subcapital Osteotomy (VASSCO) for Pediatric Patients with Chronic Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis

Background: In patients affected by chronic slipped capital femoral epiphysis (C-SCFE), the performance of a subcapital osteotomy is an effective procedure to correct the deformity at the proximal femur. However, the rate of postoperative complications is very high, with iatrogenic avascular necrosis of the femoral head (AVN) being the most bothersome. To overcome the risk of AVN, the modified Dunn procedure according to Ganz and, more recently, the Vascular Sparing Subcapital Osteotomy (VASSCO) technique have been proposed; however, only short-term follow-up studies are available on the latter technique being used. The aim of this study is therefore to show our mid-term clinical and radiological results with the VASSCO technique. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 patients underwent VASSCO for moderate or severe stable C-SCFE between 2012 and April 2016 with an average 10-year follow-up (range 8–12 years). The outcomes was evaluated using the HHS and pre- and postoperative ROM. The radiological outcomes and complications were collected. Results: No major intraoperative complications occurred; three patients reported postoperative transient apraxia of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which completely recovered in six months. All the radiological outcomes showed substantial improvement postoperatively. One case patient developed AVN of the femoral head and required a total hip arthroplasty after 12 years. Conclusions: The current data suggest that VASSCO osteotomy is a reliable technique with very good clinical results at mid-term follow-up; it could be considered a valuable alternative to using more complex techniques to restore the proximal femoral anatomy in moderate to severe C-SCFE.
Improved Canker Processing and Viability Droplet Digital PCR Allow Detection of Erwinia amylovora Viable Nonculturable Cells in Apple Bark

The bacterium Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight and continues to threaten global commercial apple and pear production. Conventional microbiology techniques cannot accurately determine the presence of live pathogen cells in fire blight cankers. Several factors may prevent E. amylovora from growing on solid culture media, including competing microbiota and the release of bacterial-growth-inhibitory compounds by plant material during sample processing. We previously developed a canker processing methodology and a chip-based viability digital PCR (v-dPCR) assay using propidium monoazide (PMA) to bypass these obstacles. However, sample analysis was still time-consuming and physically demanding. In this work, we improved the previous protocol using an automatic tissue homogenizer and transferred the chip-based v-dPCR to the BioRad QX200 droplet dPCR (ddPCR) platform. The improved sample processing method allowed the simultaneous, fast, and effortless processing of up to six samples. Moreover, the transferred v-ddPCR protocol was compatible with the same PMA treatment and showed a similar dynamic range, from 7.2 × 102 to 7.6 × 107 cells mL−1, as the previous v-dPCR. Finally, the improved protocol allowed, for the first time, the detection of E. amylovora viable but nonculturable (VBNC) cells in cankers and bark tissues surrounding cankers. Our v-ddPCR assay will enable new ways to evaluate resistant pome fruit tree germplasm, further dissect the E. amylovora life cycle, and elucidate E. amylovora physiology, epidemiology, and new options for canker management.
PERFORMA KESANTUNAN BERBAHASA INDONESIA DARI SEGI PENGGUNAAN PRINSIP KESANTUNAN WALI KOTA DI SUMATERA BARAT

This study aims to describe the performance of the principles of politeness by the Mayor in West Sumatra. Data are collected in the following manner. (1) downloading a video of a Mayor's speech in West Sumatra either from an official dialogue or when the Mayor went to the field, the researchers collected data from July 4, 2017 to July 18, 2017; (2) transcribes all downloaded videos; (3) observing and determining the data that includes the performance of the use of language-based pronunciation principles. The examination of data validation in this study uses a detailed description technique. After the data collected, then analyzed with the following steps. (1) identify and transcribe data, (2) classify, (3) calculate data using formulas; (4) interpret the data; and infer the data. The conclusion of this research is the performance of language politeness by the Mayor in West Sumatra is very good. This is evidenced from the 275 sentences of speech, found sentence according to the principle of language politeness as much as 259 sentences (94.2%), the corresponding sentence consists of in accordance with the maxim of wisdom, generosity, praise, humility, and inferiority, while the unfit ones is in the use of 16 sentence language (5.8%), the inappropriate sentence consists of the maxim of praise, the maxim of humility and the maxim of agreement.Keywords: politeness, oral communication, mayor
Ligated Pd-Catalyzed Aminations of Aryl/Heteroaryl Halides with Aliphatic Amines under Sustainable Aqueous Micellar Conditions

Sustainable technology for constructing Pd-catalyzed C–N bonds involving aliphatic amines is reported. A catalytic system that relies on low levels of recyclable precious metal, a known and commercially available ligand, and a recyclable aqueous medium are combined, leading to a newly developed procedure. This new technology can be used in ocean water with equal effectiveness. Applications involving highly challenging reaction partners constituting late-stage functionalization are documented, as is a short but efficient synthesis of the drug naftopidil. Comparisons with existing aminations highlight the many advances being offered.
Novel FOXL2 variants in two Chinese families with blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome

Introduction: Blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome (BPES) is a rare inherited disorder. This study was aimed to identify and functionally validate FOXL2 variants in two Chinese families with BPES. Methods: The proband and his family members were subjected to whole-exome sequencing to identify disease-associated variants. Several bioinformatic tools were used to computationally predict altered proteins. In vitro functional assays were conducted by transfecting wild-type and mutant FOXL2 cDNAs into HEK-293 cells, followed by subcellular localization assays, luciferase reporter gene assays, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The clinical features of BPES, including small palpebral fissures, ptosis, telecanthus, and epicanthus inversus, were present in all affected patients. Two novel mutations were detected, c.292T>A and c.383G>T. Whole-exome sequencing analysis and prediction software suggested that these mutations were pathogenic. Functional studies showed that these two point mutations decreased FOXL2 protein expression, resulting in subcellular mislocalization and aberrant transcriptional activity of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein gene promoter. Conclusion: Our results add to the current understanding of known FOXL2 variants in, and our in vitro experiments provide reference data and insights into the etiology of BPES. Further studies are needed to identify the possible mechanisms underlying the action of this mutation on the development of BPES.
Development of 3D Printed pNIPAM-Chitosan Scaffolds for Dentoalveolar Tissue Engineering

While available treatments have addressed a variety of complications in the dentoalveolar region, associated challenges have resulted in exploration of tissue engineering techniques. Often, scaffold biomaterials with specific properties are required for such strategies to be successful, development of which is an active area of research. This study focuses on the development of a copolymer of poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAM) and chitosan, used for 3D printing of scaffolds for dentoalveolar regeneration. The synthesized material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the possibility of printing was evaluated through various printability tests. The rate of degradation and swelling was analyzed through gravimetry, and surface morphology was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Viability of dental pulp stem cells seeded on the scaffolds was evaluated by live/dead analysis and DNA quantification. The results demonstrated successful copolymerization, and three formulations among various synthesized formulations were successfully 3D printed. Up to 35% degradability was confirmed within 7 days, and a maximum swelling of approximately 1200% was achieved. Furthermore, initial assessment of cell viability demonstrated biocompatibility of the developed scaffolds. While further studies are required to achieve the tissue engineering goals, the present results tend to indicate that the proposed hydrogel might be a valid candidate for scaffold fabrication serving dentoalveolar tissue engineering through 3D printing.
Assessment of Postural Control in Children with Movement Disorders by Means of a New Technological Tool: A Pilot Study

Considering the variability and heterogeneity of motor impairment in children with Movement Disorders (MDs), the assessment of postural control becomes essential. For its assessment, only a few tools objectively quantify and recognize the difference among children with MDs. In this study, we use the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) for assessing the postural control in children with MD. Furthermore, 16 children (mean age 10.68 ± 3.62 years, range 4.29–18.22 years) were tested with VRRS by using a stabilometric balance platform. Postural parameters, related to the movements of the Centre of Pressure (COP), were collected and analyzed. Three different MD groups were identified according to the prevalent MD: dystonia, chorea and chorea–dystonia. Statistical analyses tested the differences among MD groups in the VRRS-derived COP variables. The mean distance, root mean square, excursion, velocity and frequency values of the dystonia group showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the chorea group and the chorea–dystonia group. Technology provides quantitative data to support clinical assessment: in this case, the VRRS detected differences among the MD patterns, identifying specific group features. This tool could be useful also for monitoring the longitudinal trajectories and detecting post-treatment changes.