Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of intelligent tools for recognizing cockroaches in the forensic entomology context

The study of insects in forensic Entomology is very important for forensic sciences in making certain decisions. The insect identification on forensic Entomology is carried out by the analysis of their taxonomic features. Currently, the insect identification is time-consuming, since it requires specific processes which can be complicated for experts or students who do not have knowledge in Entomology. Developments on computer vision and computational intelligence techniques have facilitated applications of new identification methods based on image processing. Therefore, in this work is proposed a new approach based on extracting features from the images of cockroaches pronotum, such as: texture, color and shape for the classification accuracy of three species of cockroaches — Blattella germanica, Periplaneta Americana, and Arenivaga sp which are common in different areas of Mexico City (Urban and outdoor areas) and due to their relation with humans are important in forensic Entomology cases. The percentage of accuracy of identification using images achieved in this research was 96.2687% using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm. The results obtained for the analysis demonstrate that features extracted are useful for the identification of Cockroaches species used.
Sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors as add‐on therapy to insulin for type 1 diabetes mellitus: Systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

New treatments for type 1 diabetes are an unmet need. We investigated the efficacy and safety of adding sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to insulin for type 1 diabetes by conducting a meta‐analysis of prospective randomized, placebo‐controlled trials. A search of electronic databases up to October 2017 identified 1361 studies, of which 14 were investigated (N = 4591). Meta‐analysis showed that SGLT2 inhibitor therapy significantly reduced glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) concentration by 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35, 0.46; P < .001, I2 = 0%), fasting plasma glucose by 1.14 mmol/L (95% CI 0.8,1.47), body weight by 2.68 kg (95% CI 2.0, 3.36), and systolic blood pressure by 3.37 mmHg (95% CI 1.46, 5.28). In addition, bolus insulin decreased by 3.6 units/day (95% CI 2.0, 5.3), and basal insulin decreased by 4.2 units/day (95% CI 2.2, 6.3). Continuous glucose monitoring showed a decrease in glucose excursions compared with placebo, with reduced variation of mean blood glucose, glucose standard deviation, and mean amplitude of glucose excursion. There was no significant increase in the rate of hypoglycaemia or severe hypoglycaemia; however, SGLT2 inhibitor therapy increased diabetic ketoacidosis (odds ratio [OR] 3.38) and genital tract infection (OR 3.44). Add‐on SGLT2 inhibitor therapy might be advantageous for type 1 diabetes, but its use should be considered carefully.
Transversus Abdominis Plane Block as Analgesic Technique for Postoperative Pain Management After Cesarean Section: No More?

To the Editor: We read with great interest Blanco and colleagues' original article about the effectiveness of the quadratus lumborum block (QLB) for pain relief after cesarean section (CS), enhancing early recovery, ambulation, and breast-feeding. The authors concluded that QLB may provide more effective and long-lasting analgesia than ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block,with significant reduction in demand and consumption of morphine for up to 48 hours after CS. In accordance to Blanco and colleagues' hypothesis, the more
Is There an Immunological Cost to Carotenoid‐Based Ornamental Coloration?

Originally it was proposed that dietary access alone might explain variation in expression of carotenoid pigmentation (Endler 1980; Kodric-Brown 1985; Hill 1990). By this idea, carotenoids are scarce in the environment, and only those individuals in the best condition gain access to sufficient carotenoids for maximum ornament display. To this idea of limited access was added the idea that parasites might negatively impact expression of carotenoid pigmentation (Milinski and Bakker 1990; Houde and Torio 1992; Zuk 1992). Indeed, from studies with poultry it is well established that coccidia (protozoan gut parasites) directly inhibit carotenoid absorption (Ruff et al. 1974; Augustine and Ruff 1983; Allen 1987, 1992; Tyczkowski et al. 1991). In several studies with species that have carotenoid-based ornamental display, it has been shown that parasites, including particularly coccidia, inhibit expression of carotenoid pigmentation (Milinski and Bakker 1990; Houde and Torio 1992; Brawner 1997; Thompson et al. 1997). It seems likely that parasite load and limited access to dietary carotenoids combine to determine color expression in many species of animals (Hill 1999). Carotenoids are used for more than integumentary colorants in animals. Some carotenoids, particularly betacarotene and related molecules, function as vitamin A precursors (Bauernfeind 1972). In addition, a variety of carotenoids, including both carotenoids that serve as vitamin A precursors and carotenoids that do not serve as vitamin A precursors, have been found to reduce the risk of infection in mammals (Bendich 1989, 1993, 1996; Chew 1993) and help prevent the onset of cancer (Peto et al. 1981; Krinsky 1989; Ziegler 1989). Both of these immu-
ON THE DEGREE OF DECOMPOSITION IN LINEAR PROGRAMMING

In the application of Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition to block-angular linear programming problems with R natural blocks. it is possible to have from 1 to R subproblems structurally while solving all R independent subproblems computationally. Early literature on the topic was inconclusive regarding the relative merits of such formulations. This paper attempts clarification by characterizing the significance of the degree of decomposition as well as presenting extensive empirical results.
The Epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: The Impact and Evolution of a Global Menace

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are a serious public health threat. Infections due to these organisms are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Mechanisms of drug resistance in gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are numerous; β-lactamase genes carried on mobile genetic elements are a key mechanism for the rapid spread of antibiotic-resistant GNB worldwide. Transmissible carbapenem-resistance in Enterobacteriaceae has been recognized for the last 2 decades, but global dissemination of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) is a more recent problem that, once initiated, has been occurring at an alarming pace. In this article, we discuss the evolution of CRE, with a focus on the epidemiology of the CPE pandemic; review risk factors for colonization and infection with the most common transmissible CPE worldwide, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae; and present strategies used to halt the striking spread of these deadly pathogens.
Force tracking on unknown surface using impedance control with force sensor filtering

In force tracking task with impedance control, mitigating the influence caused by inevitable noise in force sensor and regulating a proper reference trajectory are the two most crucial problems. In order to mitigate the impact of force sensor noise, we proposed a support vector machine (SVM) based filtering method, which has the ability to recognize noise signals and deal with them in real time. A reference trajectory self-adjusting algorithm is also presented in this paper, the reference trajectory can be regulated online, which is by using by PI control algorithm. The simulation and experiment results reveal that the methods proposed are feasible and well-performed. Compared with the traditional filtering methods, the proposed method can achieve the purpose of filtering without delay. The difficulty in regulating a proper reference trajectory is also solved by the self-adjusting algorithm, and it has the advantage of computationally efficient and well-performed in practice compared with the force tracking methods presented before.
In situ analysis of flow dynamics and deformation fields in cutting and sliding of metals

The flow dynamics, deformation fields and chip-particle formation in cutting and sliding of metals are analysed, in situ, using high-speed imaging and particle image velocimetry. The model system is a brass workpiece loaded against a wedge indenter at low speeds. At large negative rake angles, the flow is steady with a prow of material forming ahead of the indenter. There is no material removal and a uniformly strained layer develops on the workpiece surface—the pure sliding regime. When the rake angle is less negative, the flow becomes unsteady, triggered by formation of a crack on the prow free surface and material removal ensuing—the cutting regime. The strain on the prow surface at crack initiation is found to be constant. Chip morphologies, such as discrete particle, segmented chip and continuous chip with mesoscale roughness, are shown to arise from a universal mechanism involving propagation of the prow crack, but to different distances towards the indenter tip. The simple shear deformation in continuous chip formation shows small-angle oscillations also linked to the prow crack. Implications for material removal processes and ductile failure are discussed.
Viscoelastic Properties of Foamed Thermoplastic Vulcanizates and their Dependence on Void Fraction

Experimental techniques to measure the viscoelastic mechanical properties of foamed elastomers at high frequencies were developed and applied to study foamed thermoplastic vulcanizates. The measurements were performed for foams with a wide range of void fractions such that a transition from a true porous solid to a foam was present. The frequency and time dependence of the dynamic and relaxation moduli, respectively, were measured and were shown to depend on the loss factor of the elastomer. The measured variation of the dynamic and the relaxation moduli with the void fraction did not depend on frequency and time in the frequency and time range of interest. This suggested that the time and frequency dependence of elastic moduli was determined mostly by the void fraction and the corresponding material microstructure. Property measurement results were compared to predictions for porous solids using the Mori-Tanaka method as well as methods for cellular solids.
Examining the Relationships of Component Reading Skills to Reading Comprehension in Struggling Adult Readers

The current study employed a meta-analytic approach to investigate the relative importance of component reading skills to reading comprehension in struggling adult readers. A total of 10 component skills were consistently identified across 16 independent studies and 2,707 participants. Random effects models generated 76 predictor–reading comprehension effect sizes among the 10 constructs. The results indicated that six of the component skills exhibited strong relationships with reading comprehension (average rs ≥ .50): morphological awareness, language comprehension, fluency, oral vocabulary knowledge, real word decoding, and working memory. Three of the component skills yielded moderate relationships with reading comprehension (average rs ≥ .30 and < .50): pseudoword decoding, orthographic knowledge, and phonological awareness. Rapid automatized naming (RAN) was the only component skill that was weakly related to reading comprehension (r = .15). Morphological awareness was a significantly stronger correlate of reading comprehension than phonological awareness and RAN. This study provides the first attempt at a systematic synthesis of the recent research investigating the reading skills of adults with low literacy skills, a historically understudied population. Directions for future research, the relation of our results to the children’s literature, and the implications for researchers and adult basic education programs are discussed.
Effects of ivermectin application on the diversity and function of dung and soil fauna: Regulatory and scientific background information

The application of veterinary medical products to livestock can impact soil organisms in manure‐amended fields or adversely affect organisms that colonize dung pats of treated animals and potentially retard the degradation of dung on pastures. For this reason, the authorization process for veterinary medicinal products in the European Union includes a requirement for higher‐tier tests when adverse effects on dung organisms are observed in single‐species toxicity tests. However, no guidance documents for the performance of higher‐tier tests are available. Hence, an international research project was undertaken to develop and validate a proposed test method under varying field conditions of climate, soil, and endemic coprophilous fauna at Lethbridge (Canada), Montpellier (France), Zurich (Switzerland), and Wageningen (The Netherlands). The specific objectives were to determine if fecal residues of an anthelmintic with known insecticidal activity (ivermectin) showed similar effects across sites on 1) insects breeding in dung of treated animals, 2) coprophilous organisms in the soil beneath the dung, and 3) rates of dung degradation. By evaluating the effects of parasiticides on communities of dung‐breeding insects and soil fauna under field conditions, the test method meets the requirements of a higher‐tier test as mandated by the European Union. The present study provides contextual information on authorization requirements for veterinary medicinal products and on the structure and function of dung and soil organism communities. It also provides a summary of the main findings. Subsequent studies on this issue provide detailed information on different aspects of this overall project. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:1914–1923. © 2015 SETAC
Optical properties of InP/ZnS quantum dots deposited into nanoporous anodic alumina

Spectral characteristics of InP/ZnS core/shell colloidal quantum dots of two different sizes (QD-1 and QD-2) were investigated. Absorption and luminescence spectra were analyzed for a series of solutions with a concentration range from 0.04 to 40 g/l. Energies of the optical transitions are evaluated. The obtained values of 2.60 eV (QD-1) and 2.38 eV (QD-2) correspond to the InP first excitonic transitions while 4.06 (QD-2) and 4.70 eV (QD-1, QD-2) are assumed to be caused by the ZnS shell absorption. Structures based on nanoporous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with the QDs were synthesized via an electrochemical oxidation and ultrasonic-assisted deposition. Chromaticity coordinates and correlated color temperatures for all phosphors under study were calculated. The fabrication possibilities of InP/ZnS@AAO nanostructures with tunable emission color (including the border of white region) were shown.
Slip-band damage and extrusion

Slip-band extrusion was first observed in a fatigued aluminium +4% copper alloy, but has now been found to occur in many other materials. It takes the form of a thin ribbon or scroll of the crystal material projecting as much as 20 μ from the slip band. The thickness of the ribbon varies with different materials and fatigue conditions, that observed on the above alloy being less than 0⋅1 μ. The process of reverse slip which causes slip-band ridges and grooves on the surface of fatigued materials is thought to be the mechanism by which the extrusion occurs. However, the confinement of the slip to a few active planes as occurs in most aluminium alloys is due to some localized softening process. The local softening processes can be identified in some materials as recrystallization, ageing and a combination of both effects. In pure aluminium and some aluminium alloys holes may also be observed along the slip bands. By using silver chloride it has been revealed that both extrusion and crevices may form by what seems to be the same process of reverse slip. In this material, cracks may propagate by the formation of voids ahead of the root of the slip crevice.
Lysosomal acid lipase in mesenchymal stem cell stimulation of tumor growth and metastasis

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are an important participant in the tumor microenvironment, in which they promote tumor growth and progression. Here we report for the first time that depletion of lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) in MSCs impairs their abilities to stimulate tumor growth and metastasis both in allogeneic and syngeneic mouse models. Reduced cell viability was observed in LAL-deficient (lal−/−) MSCs, which was a result of both increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation due to cell cycle arrest. The synthesis and secretion of cytokines and chemokines that are known to mediate MSCs' tumor-stimulating and immunosuppressive effects, i.e., IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-10, were down-regulated in lal−/− MSCs. When tumor cells were treated with the conditioned medium from lal−/− MSCs, decreased proliferation was observed, accompanied by reduced activation of oncogenic intracellular signaling molecules in tumor cells. Co-injection of lal−/− MSCs and B16 melanoma cells into wild type mice not only induced CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, but also decreased accumulation of tumor-promoting Ly6G+CD11b+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which may synergistically contribute to the impairment of tumor progression. Furthermore, lal−/− MSCs showed impaired differentiation towards tumor-associated fibroblasts. In addition, MDSCs facilitated MSC proliferation, which was mediated by MDSC-secreted cytokines and chemokines. Our results indicate that LAL plays a critical role in regulating MSCs' ability to stimulate tumor growth and metastasis, which provides a mechanistic basis for targeting LAL in MSCs to reduce the risk of cancer metastasis.
Mild Acute Intermittent Hypoxia Improves Respiratory Function in Unanesthetized Rats With Midcervical Contusion

Background. Mild intermittent hypoxia has been considered a potential approach to induce respiratory neuroplasticity. Objective. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether mild acute intermittent hypoxia can improve breathing function in a clinically relevant spinal cord injury animal model. Methods. Adult male rats received laminectomy or unilateral contusion at the C3-C4 spinal cord using a MASCIS Impactor (height: 6.25 or 12.5 mm). At 4 weeks postinjury, the breathing patterns of unanesthetized rats were measured by whole body plethysmography before, during and after 10 episodes of 5 minutes of hypoxia (10% O2, 4% CO2, balance N2) with 5 minutes of normoxia intervals. Results. The results demonstrated that cervical contusion resulted in reduction in breathing capacity and number of phrenic motoneurons. Acute hypoxia induced significant increases in frequency and tidal volume in sham surgery and contused animals. In addition, there was a progressive decline in the magnitude of hypoxic ventilatory response during intermittent hypoxia. Further, the tidal volume was significantly enhanced in contused but not sham surgery rats at 15 and 30 minutes postintermittent hypoxia, suggesting intermittent hypoxia can bring about long-term facilitation of tidal volume following cervical spinal contusion. Conclusions. These results suggest that mild acute intermittent hypoxia can elicit differential forms of respiratory plasticity in sham surgery versus contused animals, and may be a promising neurorehabilitation approach to improve respiratory function after cervical spinal cord injury.
ZU-mean: fingerprinting based device localization methods for IoT in the presence of additive and multiplicative noise

This paper proposes Zero-Mean and Unity-Mean (ZU-Mean) features based device localization methods for internet of things (IoT). These features do not depend on the hardwares and/or specifications of the devices being used. Moreover, the zero-mean and unity-mean features mitigate the additive and multiplicative noise, respectively. Extensive real experiments are conducted in two different sites (residential and mall areas) using WiFi received signal strength (RSS) for five weeks. The performance of the proposed methods is better than the absolute RSS based method. We also highlight that the absolute RSS feature cannot be used in calibration-free method and hence, it is not suitable for diverse devices in IoT networks. Additionally, the proposed low-cost method is computationally efficient as compared to the existing methods in the literature.
Jobelyn®, a Sorghum-Based Nutritional Supplement Attenuates Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Memory Deficits in Mice

The ability of an organism to adapt to aversive stressful situations or life challenging circumstances is very crucial to its state of health and survival. However, breakdown in adaptation due to persistent uncontrollable stress, leads to impairment of bodily functions and onset of a variety of pathological disorders especially memory decline. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Jobelyn® (JB), a potent antioxidant sorghum-based food supplement on unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS)-induced memory impairment in mice. Male Swiss mice were given JB (5 - 50 mg/kg, p.o) 30 min prior to exposure to UCMS for 14 consecutive days before testing for memory. Thereafter, the serum corticosterone level was estimated by using ELISA kits. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) as well as acetylcholinesterase activity were estimated in the brain homogenate using spectrophotometer. Histology of the brain tissues and estimation of the populations of viable neurons in the hippocampal region were done after staining with hematoxyline and eosin. Our results showed that JB reversed memory impairment and suppressed corticosterone concentrations induced by UCMS. Moreover, JB reduced oxidative stress in the brain of UCMS-mice as shown by decreased MDA levels and elevated GSH concentrations. It also decreased brain acetylcholinesterase activity when compared with chronic stress group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, JB (5 - 10 mg/kg, p.o) offered significant protection against UCMS-induced degeneration and death of neuronal cells of the cornu ammonis 3 (CA3) of the hippocampal region of the brain indicating neuroprotection. Taken together, these findings suggest that JB attenuates memory deficits induced by UCMS in mice and may be useful therapeutically for stress-related cognitive dysfunctions. The reduction in the levels of serum corticosterone, antioxidation, neuroprotection and inhibition of cholinesterase enzyme might be contributing significantly to the positive effect of JB on memory in mice exposed to unpredictable chronic mild stress.
Bandwidth Compression Method Based on Feed-Forward Control for Co-site Interference Cancellation System

This paper investigates the bandwidth compression method for co-site interference cancellation system (CICS). The CICS has some notch bandwidth, which may attenuate the weak desired signal and influence the reception of desired signal by the receiver. For suppressing the attenuation of CICS to desired signal, the notch bandwidth mechanism was analyzed. According to the notch mechanism, a new bandwidth compression method was put forward. With that method in CICS, the weak desired signal can be protect well and the interference can be canceled effectively. Finally, the validity of the proposed method was verified by the simulation.