Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Use of Radiomic Tools in Renal Mass Characterization

The incidence of renal mass detection has increased during recent decades, with an increased diagnosis of small renal masses, and a final benign diagnosis in some cases. To avoid unnecessary surgeries, there is an increasing interest in using radiomics tools to predict histological results, using radiological features. We performed a narrative review to evaluate the use of radiomics in renal mass characterization. Conventional images, such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR), are the most common diagnostic tools in renal mass characterization. Distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors in small renal masses can be challenging using conventional methods. To improve subjective evaluation, the interest in using radiomics to obtain quantitative parameters from medical images has increased. Several studies have assessed this novel tool for renal mass characterization, comparing its ability to distinguish benign to malign tumors, the results in differentiating renal cell carcinoma subtypes, or the correlation with prognostic features, with other methods. In several studies, radiomic tools have shown a good accuracy in characterizing renal mass lesions. However, due to the heterogeneity in the radiomic model building, prospective and external validated studies are needed.
A Novel Visual SLAM Based on Multiple Deep Neural Networks

The current visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) systems require the use of matched feature point pairs to estimate camera pose and construct environmental maps. Therefore, they suffer from poor performance of the visual feature matchers. To address this problem, a visual SLAM using deep feature matcher is proposed, which is mainly composed of three parallel threads: Visual Odometry, Backend Optimizer and LoopClosing. In the Visual Odometry, the deep feature extractor with convolutional neural networks is utilized for extracting feature points in each image frame. Then, the deep feature matcher is used for obtaining the corresponding feature landmark pairs. Afterwards, a fusion method based on the last and the reference frame is proposed for camera pose estimation. The Backend Optimizer is designed to execute local bundle adjustment for a part of camera poses and landmarks (map points). While LoopClosing, consisting of a lightweight deep loop closure detector and the same matcher as the one used in Visual Odometry is utilized for loop correction based on pose graph. The proposed system has been tested extensively on most of benchmark KITTI odometry dataset. The experimental results show that our system yields better performance than the existing visual SLAM systems. It can not only run in real-time at a speed of 0.08 s per frame, but also reduce estimation error by at least 0.1 m.
CHALLENGES – TOWARDS CONTINUOUS PEER ASSESSMENT IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMING CLASSES

This paper presents a pragmatic approach for stepwise introduction of peer assessment elements in undergraduate programming classes, discusses some lessons learned so far and directions for further work. Students are invited to challenge their peers with their own programming exercises to be submitted through Moodle and evaluated by other students according to a predefined rubric and supervised by teaching assistants. Preliminary results show an increased activation and motivation of students leading to a better performance in the final programming exams.
ECHAM5-Simulated Impacts of Two Types of El Niño on the Winter Precipitation Anomalies in South China

Abstract The authors used an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) of European Centre Hamburg Model (ECHAM5.4) and investigated the possible impacts of eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño on the winter precipitation anomalies in South China. A composite analysis suggested much more rainfall during the mature phase of EP El Niño than in the case of CP El Niño, and their corresponding observed wet centers to be located in the southeast coast and the region to the south of the Yangtze River, respectively. Results obtained on the basis of model-sensitive run imply that the modelsimulated rainfall anomalies agree well with the observation, and the magnitude of simulated rainfall anomalies were found to be reduced when the amplitude of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) forcing of EP and CP El Niño was cut down. These results imply that the rainfall anomaly in South China is very sensitive not only to the type of El Niño but also to its intensity.
The Impact of Type 2 Myocardial Infarction in Acute Pancreatitis: Analysis of 1.1 Million Hospitalizations and Review of the Literature

Introduction Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common inflammatory disorder with acute onset and rapid progression. Studies have reported cardiac injury in patients with AP. It is often thought that stress cardiomyopathy can induce these changes leading to type 2 myocardial infarction (type 2 MI) in AP. Our study aims to assess the prevalence as well as the impact of type 2 MI on outcomes in patients with AP. Methods National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2016-2020 was used to identify adult patients (age>18) with acute pancreatitis. We excluded patients with STEMI, NSTEMI, pancreatic cancer, or chronic pancreatitis. Patients with missing demographics and mortality were also excluded. Patients were stratified into two groups, based on the presence of type 2 MI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the impact of concomitant type 2 MI on mortality, sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI), ICU admission, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) after adjusting for patient demographics, hospital characteristics, etiology of AP and the Elixhauser comorbidities. Results Of the 1.1 million patients in the study population, only 2315 patients had type 2 MI. The majority of the patients in the type 2 MI group were aged >65 years (49.2%, p<0.001), males (54.6%, p=0.63), White (67.6%, p=0.19), had Medicare insurance (55.5%, p<0.001), and were in the lowest income quartile (34.8%, p=0.12). Patients in the type 2 MI group had a higher incidence of mortality (5.4% vs 0.6%, p<0.001), sepsis (7.1% vs 3.7%, p<0.001), shock (9.3% vs 0.9%, p<0.001), AKI (42.9% vs. 11.8%, p<0.001) and ICU admission (12.1% vs 1.4%, p<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, patients in the type 2 MI group were noted to be at higher odds of mortality (aOR=2.4; 95% CI 1.5-3.8, p<0.001). Patients in the type 2 MI group had a longer length of stay (adjusted coefficient=2.1 days; 95% CI 1.4-2.8; p<0.001) and higher total hospitalization charges (adjusted coefficient=$45,088; 95% CI $30,224-$59,952; p<0.001). Conclusion Although the prevalence of type 2 MI in AP is low, the presence of type 2 MI is associated with increased mortality and worse outcomes. Physicians should be aware of this association and these patients should be monitored carefully to prevent worse outcomes.
One more place to call home: the invasive bivalve Mytilopsis leucophaeata reaches the Maricá-Guarapina lagoon system (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

Abstract Mytilopsis leucophaeata is an estuarine bivalve native from the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast USA, and it was introduced in Europe, Asia, Caribbean, South America and Northeast USA, showing massive colonization skills. In Brazil, the single invasion records of M. leucophaeata occur in the city of Rio de Janeiro, i.e., in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and in the Marapendi Lagoon. We conducted a new series of fieldworks in estuaries from the Rio de Janeiro state in order to evaluate the propagation of this invasive bivalve, aiming sites with proper salinities for the establishment of M. leucophaeata. A new record is given for the Maricá-Guarapina lagoon system, where M. leucophaeata mainly colonizes hard substrata (such as piers and rocks), reaching a mean density up to 43,375 specimens/m2; however, aggregates of M. leucophaeata were also observed in the soft substratum. Based on mitochondrial sequences, the taxonomic identification of the invasive bivalve was confirmed. The associated fauna to the agglomerates of M. leucophaeata in the lagoon system comprises amphipods, barnacles, tanaidaceans, isopods, crabs, polychaetes and snails. The expansion of M. leucophaeata requires a continuous investigation due to the great circulation of boats in the littoral of the Rio de Janeiro state and the increased chance of new introductions.
Signatures of prescribed fire in the microbial communities of Cornus florida are largely undetectable five months post-fire

Prescribed burn is a management tool that influences the physical structure and composition of forest plant communities and their associated microorganisms. Plant-associated microorganisms aid in host plant disease tolerance and increase nutrient availability. The effects of prescribed burn on microorganisms associated with native ecologically and economically important tree species, such as Cornus florida L. (flowering dogwood), are not well understood, particularly in aboveground plant tissues (e.g., leaf, stem, and bark tissues). The objective of this study was to use 16S rRNA gene and ITS2 region sequencing to evaluate changes in bacterial and fungal communities of five different flowering dogwood-associated niches (soil, roots, bark, stem, and leaves) five months following a prescribed burn treatment. The alpha- and beta-diversity of root bacterial/archaeal communities differed significantly between prescribed burn and unburned control-treated trees. In these bacterial/archaeal root communities, we also detected a significantly higher relative abundance of sequences identified as Acidothermaceae, a family of thermophilic bacteria. No significant differences were detected between prescribed burn-treated and unburned control trees in bulk soils or bark, stem, or leaf tissues. The findings of our study suggest that prescribed burn does not significantly alter the aboveground plant-associated microbial communities of flowering dogwood trees five months following the prescribed burn application. Further studies are required to better understand the short- and long-term effects of prescribed burns on the microbial communities of forest trees.
The role of FDI in structural transformation in Morocco (1995-2022)

In the general context of Morocco's New Development Model (NDM), where the policy of territorial attractiveness requires all its credentials, and more specifically within the framework of the regional declination of the Industrial Acceleration Plan (IAP), the issue of the structural transformation (ST) of the Moroccan economy is highly topical and of great interest to the Kingdom. This article examines, under external constraints and international openness, ST through the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and the diversification and sophistication of Moroccan exports, over the period from 1995 to 2022. After outlining the theoretical foundations of such a relationship, curiously neglected in the literature, it was specified and estimated by two ARDL (Auto Regressive Distributed Lag) models. The latter, supported by the cointegration bounds test highlighted the existence of a long-term link between FDI and export diversification on the one hand, and export sophistication on the other. However, the results showed a negative influence of FDI on the diversification of Moroccan exports. This negative influence was more significant on export sophistication. Consequently, during the study period, FDI did not play the desired role in the Moroccan economy's ST. It did not contribute to the enhancement of its productive structure, particularly its export structure, which suffered from a chronic double handicap: a low degree of diversification coupled with a lack of sophistication. The Moroccan economy has not reached the level of development required to leverage export diversification and sophistication in its ST.
Pyramiding of transcription factor, PgHSF4, and stress-responsive genes of p68, Pg47, and PsAKR1 impart multiple abiotic stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, and heat stress significantly affect rice crop growth and production. Under uncertain climatic conditions, the concurrent multiple abiotic stresses at different stages of rice production became a major challenge for agriculture. Hence, improving rice’s multiple abiotic stress tolerance is essential to overcome unprecedented challenges under adverse environmental conditions. A significant challenge for rice breeding programs in improving abiotic stress tolerance involves multiple traits and their complexity. Multiple traits must be targeted to improve multiple stress tolerance in rice and uncover the mechanisms. With this hypothesis, in the present study gene stacking approach is used to integrate multiple traits involved in stress tolerance. The multigene transgenics co-expressing Pennisetum glaucum 47 (Pg47), Pea 68 (p68), Pennisetum glaucum Heat Shock Factor 4(PgHSF4), and Pseudomonas Aldo Keto Reductase 1 (PsAKR1) genes in the rice genotype (AC39020) were developed using the in-planta transformation method. The promising transgenic lines maintained higher yields under semi-irrigated aerobic cultivation (moisture stress). These 15 promising transgenic rice seedlings showed improved shoot and root growth traits under salinity, accelerating aging, temperature, and oxidative stress. They showed better physiological characteristics, such as chlorophyll content, membrane stability, and lower accumulation of reactive oxygen species, under multiple abiotic stresses than wild-type. Enhanced expression of transgenes and other stress-responsive downstream genes such as HSP70, SOD, APX, SOS, PP2C, and P5CS in transgenic lines suggest the possible molecular mechanism for imparting the abiotic stress tolerance. This study proved that multiple genes stacking as a novel strategy induce several mechanisms and responsible traits to overcome multiple abiotic stresses. This multigene combination can potentially improve tolerance to multiple abiotic stress conditions and pave the way for developing climate-resilient crops.
MarCoPola Polarimetric SAR Trial: Signatures of Multiple Vessels with Aligned Operating Conditions

Abstract : This memorandum addresses design, experimentation, and data collection components of the MarCoPola Polarimetric Signature trial that was conducted off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, March 22-26, 2004 in conjunction with the CFAV Quest trial Q-281. Four ships participated as maritime targets in the experiments: Quest, CCGS Sir Wilfred Grenfell and CCGC Sambro, and Divecom III. C-band Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery of these targets was collected using the sensor on Environment Canada's CV-580 platform, with a supporting ENVISAT acquisition. A radar calibration site was established at CFB Shearwater, which offered an adequately high TCR environment. The calibration site was composed of four active radar calibrators (ARC), four corner reflectors (CR) and two GPS base stations. Additional ground truthing of targets of opportunity were acquired by a CP-140 through contact tracking and photographs. Fourteen lines of airborne Polarimetric SAR images were successfully collected with the target vessels exhibiting various speeds, incidence angles, aspect angles, and environmental conditions. One line was collected coincident with the ENVISAT acquisition. Four PolSAR lines were collected containing the Shearwater calibration site, also containing urban environments of the greater Halifax area. Seven lines of MTI data were obtained containing the target vessels, and two lines in MTI mode were collected for calibration.
The Making of a Mantra: Americans’ Racial Ideologies in the Era of Black, Blue, and All Lives Matter

Abstract In any racialized social system, a dominant racial ideology will emerge to uphold it, but it is always contested by and in dialog with others. This article leverages conversations around Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and Blue Lives Matter as a site of racetalk. By moving beyond narrow conceptualizations and measures of racial attitudes, this paper pinpoints a myriad of racially based frameworks, or ways of talking and thinking about structural racism, white grievance, state-sanctioned social control, and the matter of Black lives. It analyzes 1,000 Americans’ open-ended responses to a question around these contested mantras with the Fightin’ Words algorithm alongside an inductive analysis to illuminate the use of circulating racial ideologies. In addition to outlining the components of four racial ideologies—colorblind racism, diversity ideology, white protectionism, and anti-racism—the article assesses how they are deployed among Americans to uphold or challenge the racial status quo.
Alternating Least-Squares-Based Microphone Array Parameter Estimation for a Single-Source Reverberant and Noisy Acoustic Scenario

Acoustic-scene-related parameters such as relative transfer functions (RTFs) and power spectral densities (PSDs) of the target source, late reverberation and ambient noise are essential for microphone array signal processing and are challenging to estimate. Existing methods typically only estimate a subset of the parameters by assuming the other parameters are known. This can lead to unmatched scenarios and reduced estimation performance on the parameters of interest. Moreover, many methods process time frames independently, despite they share common information such as the same RTF. In this work, we consider a noisy scenario by modelling the noise component as a spatially homogeneous sound field with a time-invariant spatial coherence matrix and time-varying PSD. We first modify an existing alternating least squares (ALS) method to obtain more accurate estimates using a single time frame. Then, we extend the method to use multiple time frames that share the same RTF. Furthermore, we propose more robust constraints on the PSDs to avoid large estimation errors. We compare our proposed methods to the state-of-the-art simultaneously confirmatory factor analysis (SCFA) method, a joint maximum likelihood estimation (JMLE) method and an existing ALS-based method. The experimental results in terms of estimation accuracy, noise reduction performance, predicted speech quality, and predicted speech intelligibility demonstrate that our proposed methods achieve similar performance compared to the state-of-the-art SCFA method, which outperforms the existing ALS method in all scenarios and outperforms the JMLE method particularly in low SNR scenarios. Moreover, our proposed methods have significantly lower computational complexity than SCFA.
ANALISIS EFISIENSI BIAYA PERSEDIAAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE EOQ (ECONOMIC ORDER QUANTITY) PADA PT. XYZ

Inventory control is one of the important things of working capital in a company. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) could be decided from the safety stock, maximum inventory, and reorder point in a company. The aim of the research was to know the number of stock and inventory cost savings. The research used EOQ method on controlling the packaging cup 240 ml and carton box to know the amount of safety stock, maximum inventory, and reorder point in PT. XYZ. The result showed that the sum of buying the material based on EOQ method in the 2015, 2016 and 2017.In the 2015 the amount f packaging cup 240ml were 1.492. 031 cups, the amount f carton box were 25.164 cartons, in the 2016 the sum of packaging cup 240 ml were 1.492. 084 cups, the sum of cartoon box were 24.697 cartons, while in the 2017 the sum of packaging cup were 240 cups. Using the EOQ method can be known that inventory cost savings as the result of the decreasing of the order. Safety stock were around 447.406 for a 240ml cups and 9.319 for cartons box. Maximum inventory based on EOQ method were around 992.445 for 240 ml cups and 20.549 for cartons. Reorder point based on EOQ method were around 860.066 for a 240ml cups and 17.918 for cartons. Keywords: EOQ, inventory control, maximum inventory, reorder point, safety stock
The Impact of Shared Decision-Making on the Quality of Decision Making in Aortic Dissection: A before-and-after Comparison Study

Background : Complex surgical plans and consideration of risks and benefits often cause decisional conflicts for decision-makers in aortic dissection (AD) surgery, resulting in decision delay. Shared decision-making (SDM) improves decision readiness and reduces decisional conflicts. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of SDM on decision quality in AD. Methods : One hundred and sixty AD decision-makers were divided into two groups: control (n = 80) and intervention (n = 80). The surgical plan for the intervention group was determined using patient decision aids. The primary outcome was decisional conflict. Secondary outcomes included decision preparation, decision satisfaction, surgical method, postoperative complications, actual participation role, and duration of consultation. The data were analyzed with SPSS 26.0 (IBM Corp., Chicago, IL, USA). p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : The decisional conflict score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group ( p < 0.001). The decision preparation and decision satisfaction scores in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group ( p < 0.001). There were more SDM decision-makers in the intervention group (16 [20%] vs. 42 [52.50%]). There was no statistical significance in the choice of surgical, postoperative complications, duration of consultation, and hospital and post-operative intensive care unit stay time ( p = 0.267, p = 0.130, p = 0.070, p = 0.397, p = 0.421, respectively). Income, education level, and residence were the influencing factors of decision-making conflict. Conclusions : SDM can reduce decisional conflict, improve decision preparation and satisfaction, and help decision-makers actively participate in the medical management of patients with AD without affecting the medical outcome.
An Integrated Approach to Scheduling B-CAVs in Container Terminals considering Battery Management

With the aim of promoting environmental sustainability and enhancing transport efficiency, battery-powered connected and automated vehicles (B-CAVs) are employed to replace diesel-powered ones in horizontal transport systems (HTSs) of container terminals. The operational efficiency of an HTS can be increased by the cooperation of B-CAVs. However, it is time-consuming to charge them. Therefore, their battery management becomes a critical issue of a transport schedule. To run container terminals more economically and efficiently, this work proposes an integrated scheduling approach to B-CAVs tasks’ dispatch and route planning, where battery management is taken into account. An integer programming model is constructed with the goal of minimizing the total travel distance. Then, a sustainable charging policy is designed to ensure the consistent transport capacity of an HTS. Furthermore, a congestion-free path plan-based improved genetic algorithm is presented to obtain a near-optimal plan for dispatching B-CAVs to perform transporting and charging operations. A series of experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our approach.