Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy Logic Based Edge Detection Methods: A Systematic Literature Review

: Edge detection, or the detection of the maximum limit between two regions with different properties, is one of the classic problems in the area of computer vision. The uncertainty associated with the nature of this detection, such as the characteristic fuzzy transition zone resulting from the image discretization processes, or even noise and illumination variations, justifies an approach based on fuzzy logic theory. In order to understand the state of the art in edge detection techniques using fuzzy logic-based methods, this work proposes a systematic review considering two bibliographic sources of scientific literature, Scopus and Web Of Science. In total, 34 works were selected through a systematic literature review, and their methods were summarized and reported in this research. From this analysis, it could be concluded that, in recent years, fuzzy logic has been employed in hybrid methods in order to improve the performance of existing techniques or reduce computational complexity. Studies with interval fuzzy logic of higher order have been employed for its greater flexibility in dealing with the uncertainty associated with the edge detection task.
Leveraging Domain Knowledge to Improve Depression Detection on Chinese Social Media

Depression is a prevalent and severe mental disorder that often goes undetected and untreated, particularly in its early stages. However, social media has emerged as a valuable resource for identifying symptoms of depression and other mental disorders as people are increasingly willing to share their experiences and emotions online. As such, social media-based depression detection has become an important area of research. Unfortunately, despite the growing number of cases in China, there are few Chinese social media-based resources for depression research. To address this gap, this article presents a dataset collected from Sina Weibo and approaches depression detection as a binary classification problem. A depression lexicon is developed based on domain knowledge of depression and the Dalian University of Technology Sentiment Lexicon (DUT-SL), which facilitates better extraction of lexical features related to depression. Then the lexical features are fused using a correlation-based metric. The effectiveness of this approach is verified using five classical machine learning methods and two boosting-based models, both on a public dataset and our dataset. Experimental results indicate that the depression domain lexicon features improve classification performance and fusing these features based on their correlations can further enhance prediction effectiveness. This study provides a method for future research in social media-based depression detection and contributes to the development of Chinese depression detection resources.
Epimedium Aqueous Extract Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Inhibiting ROS/NLRP3-Mediated Pyroptosis

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion causes exacerbated neuronal damage involving excessive neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. ROS is considered a signal molecule to activate NLRP3; thus, the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). Therefore, targeting the inhibition of the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis may be a promising therapeutic tactic for CIRI. Epimedium (EP) contains many active ingredients (ICA, ICS II, and ICT), which have a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, whether EP can protect against CIRI remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we designed to investigate the effect and possible underlying mechanism of EP on CIRI. The results showed that treatment with EP dramatically mitigated brain damage in rats following CIRI, which was achieved by suppressing mitochondrial oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, we identified the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis as a vital process and NLRP3 as a vital target in EP-mediated protection. Most interestingly, the main compounds of EP directly bonded with NLRP3, as reflected by molecular docking, which indicated that NLRP3 might be a promising therapeutic target for EP-elicited cerebral protection. In conclusion, our findings illustrate that ICS II protects against neuron loss and neuroinflammation after CIRI by inhibiting ROS/NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.
Mesoporous Hollow Manganese Doped Ceria Nanoparticle for Effectively Prevention of Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Introduction Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) is the main reason for liver dysfunction or failure after liver resection and liver transplantation. As excess accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the leading factor, ceria nanoparticle, a cyclic reversible antioxidant, is an excellent candidate for HIRI. Methods Manganese doped mesoporous hollow ceria nanoparticles (MnOx-CeO2 NPs) were prepared, and the physicochemical characteristics, such as particle size, morphology, microstructure, etc. were elucidated. The in vivo safety and liver targeting effect were examined after i.v. injection. The anti-HIRI was determined by a mouse HIRI model. Results MnOx-CeO2 NPs with 0.40% Mn doped exhibited the strongest ROS-scavenging capability, which may due to the increased specific surface area and surface oxygen concentration. The nanoparticles accumulated in the liver after i.v. injection and exhibited good biocompatibility. In the HIRI mice model, MnOx-CeO2 NPs significantly reduced the serum ALT and AST level, decreased the MDA level and increased the SOD level in the liver, prevent pathological damages in the liver. Conclusion MnOx-CeO2 NPs were successfully prepared and it could significantly inhibit the HIRI after i.v. injection.
The general theory of canonical correlation and its relation to functional analysis

The classical theory of canonical correlation is concerned with a standard description of the relationship between any linear combination of ρ random variables xs, and any linear combination of q random variables yt insofar as this relation can be described in terms of correlation. Lancaster [1] has extended this theory, for p = q = 1, to include a description of the correlation of any function of a random variable x and any function of a random variable y (both functions having finite variance) for a class of joint distributions of x and y which is very general. It is the purpose of this paper to derive Lancaster's results from general theorems concerning the spectral decomposition of operators on a Hilbert space. These theorems lend themselves easily to the generalisation of the theory to situations where p and q are not finite. In the case of Gaussian, stationary, processes this generalisation is equivalent to the classical spectral theory and corresponds to a canonical reduction of a (finite) sample of data which is basic. The theory also then extends to any number of processes. In the Gaussian case, also, the present discussion-is connected with the results of Gelfand and Yaglom [2] relating to the amount of information in one random process about another.
USING FUZZY SETS TO DETERMINE THE CONTINUITY OF THE VAN HIELE LEVELS

An important problem in the van Hiele level theory of geometric thinking is whether the levels are discontinuous or continuous. The purpose of the present study is to resolve this unsettled question. An index of fuzziness is used to measure the fuzziness of student groups in a three-dimensional geometry test. Participants were 50 students in three groups who had the same mathematical background. The results show high fuzziness of the student groups which implies that the levels are not separate of each other and hence continuous. This work provides indirect support for the strong effect of continuity on student difficulty in geometric tasks because the difficulty increases as the fuzziness
Investigation on the Compressive Behavior of Hybrid Polyurethane(PU)-Foam-Filled Hyperbolic Chiral Lattice Metamaterial

In this study, a novel hybrid metamaterial has been developed via fulfilling hyperbolic chiral lattice with polyurethane (PU) foam. Initially, both the hyperbolic and typical body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices are fabricated by 3D printing technique. These lattices are infiltrated in a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) solution dissolved in 1,4-Dioxane, and then freeze casting technique is applied to achieve the PU-foam-filling. Intermediate (IM) layers possessing irregular pores, are formed neighboring to the lattice-foam interface. While, the foam far from the lattice exhibits a multi-layered structure. The mechanical behavior of the hybrid lattice metamaterials has been investigated by monotonic and cyclic compressive tests. The experimental monotonic tests indicate that, the filling foam is able to soften the BCC lattice but to stiffen the hyperbolic one, further to raise the stress plateau and to accelerate the densification for both lattices. The foam hybridization also benefits the hyperbolic lattice to prohibit the property degradation under the cyclic compression. Furthermore, the failure modes of the hybrid hyperbolic lattice are identified as the interface splitting and foam collapse via microscopic analysis. Finally, a parametric study has been performed to reveal the effects of different parameters on the compressive properties of the hybrid hyperbolic lattice metamaterial.
Retrieval of Atmospheric Optical Depth Profiles from Downward-Looking High-Resolution O2 A-Band Measurements: Optically Thin Conditions

Abstract A quasi-linear retrieval was developed to profile moderately thin atmospheres using a high-resolution O2 A-band spectrometer. The retrieval is explicitly linear with respect to single scattering; the multiple-scattering contribution is treated as a perturbation. The properties of the linear inversion, examined using singular value decomposition of the kernel function, demonstrate the impacts of instrument specifications, such as resolution, out-of-band rejection, and signal-to-noise ratio, on information content. A system with 0.5 cm−1 resolution, signal-to-noise ratio of 100:1, and out-of-band floor of 10−3 has four independent pieces of information. A fast radiative transfer model was developed to compute the multiple-scattering perturbation, in which multiple scattering is calculated at 16 different O2 absorption depths to synthesize the O2 A band. The linear system is then solved using Tikhonov's regularization with inequality constraints. Tests with synthetic data, including noise, of O2 A-b.
Megalin, cubilin, and Dab2 drive endocytic flux in kidney proximal tubule cells

The kidney proximal tubule (PT) elaborates a uniquely high-capacity apical endocytic pathway to retrieve albumin and other proteins that escape the glomerular filtration barrier. Megalin and cubilin/amnionless (CUBAM) receptors engage Dab2 in these cells to mediate clathrin-dependent uptake of filtered ligands. Knockout of megalin or Dab2 profoundly inhibits apical endocytosis and is believed to atrophy the endocytic pathway. We generated CRISPR/Cas9 knockout (KO) clones lacking cubilin, megalin, or Dab2 expression in highly differentiated PT cells and determined the impact on albumin internalization and endocytic pathway function. KO of each component had different effects on the concentration dependence of albumin uptake as well its distribution within PT cells. Reduced uptake of a fluid phase marker was also observed, with megalin KO cells having the most dramatic decline. Surprisingly, protein levels and distribution of key endocytic proteins were preserved in KO PT cell lines and in megalin KO mice, despite the reduced endocytic activity. Our data highlight specific functions of megalin, cubilin, and Dab2 in apical endocytosis and demonstrate that these proteins drive endocytic flux without compromising the physical integrity of the apical endocytic pathway. Our studies suggest a novel model to explain how these components coordinate endocytic uptake in PT cells.
Lithium Niobate for Fast Cycling in Li-ion Batteries: Review and New Experimental Results

Li-Nb-O-based insertion layers between electrodes and electrolytes of Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are known to protect the electrodes and electrolytes from unwanted reactions and to enhance Li transport across interfaces. An improved operation of LIBs, including all-solid-state LIBs, is reached with Li-Nb-O-based insertion layers. This work reviews the suitability of polymorphic Li-Nb-O-based compounds (e.g., crystalline, amorphous, and mesoporous bulk materials and films produced by various methodologies) for LIB operation. The literature survey on the benefits of niobium-oxide-based materials for LIBs, and additional experimental results obtained from neutron scattering and electrochemical experiments on amorphous LiNbO3 films are the focus of the present work. Neutron reflectometry reveals a higher porosity in ion-beam sputtered amorphous LiNbO3 films (22% free volume) than in other metal oxide films such as amorphous LiAlO2 (8% free volume). The higher porosity explains the higher Li diffusivity reported in the literature for amorphous LiNbO3 films compared to other similar Li-metal oxides. The higher porosity is interpreted to be the reason for the better suitability of LiNbO3 compared to other metal oxides for improved LIB operation. New results are presented on gravimetric and volumetric capacity, potential-resolved Li+ uptake and release, pseudo-capacitive fractions, and Li diffusivities determined electrochemically during long-term cycling of LiNbO3 film electrodes with thicknesses between 14 and 150 nm. The films allow long-term cycling even for fast cycling with rates of 240C possessing reversible capacities as high as 600 mAhg−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) shows that the film atomic network is stable during cycling. The Li diffusivity estimated from the rate capability experiments is considerably lower than that obtained by EIS but coincides with that from secondary ion mass spectrometry. The mostly pseudo-capacitive behavior of the LiNbO3 films explains their ability of fast cycling. The results anticipate that amorphous LiNbO3 layers also contribute to the capacity of positive (LiNixMnyCozO2, NMC) and negative LIB electrode materials such as carbon and silicon. As an outlook, in addition to surface-engineering, the bulk-engineering of LIB electrodes may be possible with amorphous and porous LiNbO3 for fast cycling with high reversible capacity.
Differential Anti-Tumor Effects of IFN-Inducible Chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11 on a Mouse Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line

Chemokines are a group of cytokines involved in the mobilization of leukocytes, which play a role in host defense and a variety of pathological conditions, including cancer. Interferon (IFN)-inducible chemokines C-X-C motif ligand 9 (CXCL), CXCL10, and CXCL11 are anti-tumor chemokines; however, the differential anti-tumor effects of IFN-inducible chemokines are not completely understood. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor effects of IFN-inducible chemokines by transferring chemokine expression vectors into a mouse squamous cell carcinoma cell line, SCCVII, to generate a cell line stably expressing chemokines and transplanted it into nude mice. The results showed that CXCL9- and CXCL11-expressing cells markedly inhibited tumor growth, whereas CXCL10-expressing cells did not inhibit growth. The NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of mouse CXCL10 contains a cleavage sequence by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), an enzyme that cleaves the peptide chain of chemokines. IHC staining indicated DPP4 expression in the stromal tissue, suggesting CXCL10 inactivation. These results suggest that the anti-tumor effects of IFN-inducible chemokines are affected by the expression of chemokine-cleaving enzymes in tumor tissues.
Three-dimensional mineral dendrites reveal a nonclassical crystallization pathway

Manganese (Mn) dendrites are a common type of mineral dendrite that typically forms two-dimensional structures on rock surfaces. Three-dimensional (3-D) Mn dendrites in rocks have rarely been reported, and so their growth implications have largely escaped attention. Here, we combined high-resolution X-ray and electron-based data with numerical modeling to give the first detailed description of natural 3-D Mn dendrites (in clinoptilolite tuffs) and elucidate their growth dynamics. Our data show that 3-D dendrite growth occurred by accretion of Mn-oxide nanoparticles formed when Mn-bearing fluids mixed with oxygenated pore water. The geometry of the resulting structures is sensitive to ion concentrations, the volume of infiltrating fluid, and the number of fluid pulses; thus, 3-D dendrites record the hydrogeochemical rock history.
Malnutrition, Frailty, and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Rural Older Adults in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose Rural older adults are more likely to be malnourished than urban older adults, particularly those living in lower-middle-income countries like Vietnam. Therefore, this study aimed to address the prevalence of malnutrition and its association with frailty and health-related quality of life in older rural Vietnamese adults. Participants and Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) living in a rural province in Vietnam. Nutritional status was determined using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form (MNA-SF), and frailty was evaluated using the FRAIL scale. The 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate health-related quality of life. Results Among the 627 participants, 46 (7.3%) were malnourished (MNA-SF score <8), and 315 (50.2%) were at risk of malnutrition (MNA-SF score: 8–11). Individuals with malnutrition had significantly higher rates of impairments in instrumental activities of daily living and activities of daily living than those without malnutrition (47.8% vs 27.4% and 26.1% vs 8.7%, respectively). The prevalence of frailty was 13.5%. Risk of malnutrition and malnutrition were associated with high risks of frailty, with odds ratios of 2.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16–3.93) and 4.78 (1.86−12.32), respectively. Furthermore, the MNA-SF score was positively correlated with eight domains of the health-related quality of life among rural older adults. Conclusion The prevalence rates of malnutrition, risk of malnutrition, and frailty were high among older adults in Vietnam. A strong association was observed between nutritional status and frailty. Therefore, this study reinforces the importance of screening for malnutrition and risk of malnutrition among older rural individuals. Further studies should explore whether early nutritional intervention reduces the risk of frailty among older adults and increase their health-related quality of life in the Vietnamese population.
Sternoclavicular Septic Arthritis: A Case Report

We report a case of a 47-year-old male who presented with concerns for a "mass" on the right side of his chest and low-grade fevers for the last month. The patient was found to have an induration, erythema, and warmth at the right sternoclavicular joint, with tenderness to palpation and pain in the movement of the right arm. The patient was found to have septic arthritis of the sternoclavicular joint based on CT imaging. Sternoclavicular joint septic arthritis is a rare diagnosis and accounts for very few diagnosed septic joints. Most patients have some sort of risk factors, such as diabetes, immunosuppression, rheumatoid arthritis, or intravenous drug use. The most common pathogen is Staphylococcus aureus. Our patient did not consent to joint aspiration for a definitive diagnosis of the causative organism and was therefore empirically treated for S. aureus with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The patient also did not consent to any surgical management. Septic arthritis has been successfully treated with antibiotic therapy alone in the past, and in conjunction with the patient’s choices, this was the treatment plan that was chosen for the patient. The patient responded to antibiotic therapy and followed up with a thoracic surgery clinic outpatient. This case depicts the importance of retaining a high index of suspicion for a rare diagnosis in the emergency department (ED). This case also depicts the successful treatment of sternoclavicular septic arthritis with outpatient oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been done previously.
The motivations for and barriers to academic conference attendance: Insights from an international sport management conference

Abstract Although research exploring the motivations for and barriers to conference attendance is growing, studies in the context of international sport management remain limited. Therefore, this study aims to understand the motivations for and barriers to these conferences. An online survey was delivered through the mailing list of four major sport management associations. A valid response for data analysis was 135 (valid ratio 65.22%). The motivators and barriers were measured using a previously developed scale comprising 26 items. Scale validity and reliability were tested using confirmatory factor analysis and deemed acceptable for both scales. By conducting a t-test and a one-way analysis of variance, the results revealed significant differences in motivation and barriers, varying by occupation, attendance preferences, participants’ residence, and most attended conference. These findings may provide useful empirical evidence to attract more participants from various regions.
Reflection Phase Compensation for Finite Metasurface Using Notches and Slots on the Backing Conductor

This study described a technique to compensate for the difference in reflection phase characteristics yielded by a finite-size metasurface (MS) to render them identical to the reflection characteristics analyzed using the unit cell model corresponding to the infinite MS structure. Thus, an MS with a backing conductor having notches and slots to compensate for the reflection phase affected by the complex diffraction at the edge was proposed. The notches and slots’ mechanisms inducing the inductive reactions were discussed based on the current distributions. The proposed and conventional MSs were fabricated to verify the deterioration and compensation effect; the former was consistent with the designed performance based on the unit cell analysis corresponding to the infinite structure.
Unstable compared to stable core exercises improve muscular endurance in preadolescents and adolescents

Although previous studies have indicated the importance of a core strength and muscular endurance training in preadolescents and adolescents, there is a lack of evidence regarding effects of a long-term core training in unstable conditions. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of core training in stable versus unstable body positions on core and upper body strength and muscular endurance in non-trained children aged 11-14 years. Participants were randomly assigned to either stable (SC, N=569) or unstable (UC, N=633) core-exercise group and assessed at baseline, four, and eight months for sit-ups, dynamic trunk extension, static trunk extension, and push-ups. Repeated measures ANOVA, with time as a within factor, and exercise group, age, and gender as between factors, was employed for data analysis. Post-hoc comparisons showed greater absolute improvements after the eight-month training in UC compared to SC for all measures, age groups, and both genders (p≤.01), and greater relative improvements (differences in Cohen’s d between UC and SC ranged from 0.08 to 1.58), except for static trunk extension in 11- and 12-year-old participants. However, the differences between SC and UC in four-month effects were inconsistent. These results point out that core exercises in unstable compared to stable conditions have a greater capacity for long-term improvement of core and upper body strength and muscular endurance in non-trained preadolescents and adolescents.