Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Straightforward Bifurcation Pattern-Based Fundus Image Registration Method

Fundus image registration is crucial in eye disease examination, as it enables the alignment of overlapping fundus images, facilitating a comprehensive assessment of conditions like diabetic retinopathy, where a single image’s limited field of view might be insufficient. By combining multiple images, the field of view for retinal analysis is extended, and resolution is enhanced through super-resolution imaging. Moreover, this method facilitates patient follow-up through longitudinal studies. This paper proposes a straightforward method for fundus image registration based on bifurcations, which serve as prominent landmarks. The approach aims to establish a baseline for fundus image registration using these landmarks as feature points, addressing the current challenge of validation in this field. The proposed approach involves the use of a robust vascular tree segmentation method to detect feature points within a specified range. The method involves coarse vessel segmentation to analyze patterns in the skeleton of the segmentation foreground, followed by feature description based on the generation of a histogram of oriented gradients and determination of image relation through a transformation matrix. Image blending produces a seamless registered image. Evaluation on the FIRE dataset using registration error as the key parameter for accuracy demonstrates the method’s effectiveness. The results show the superior performance of the proposed method compared to other techniques using vessel-based feature extraction or partially based on SURF, achieving an area under the curve of 0.526 for the entire FIRE dataset.
Development of a Comprehensive Hydroacoustic Coverage Assessment Model.

Abstract : A model for predicting the detection and localization performance of hydroacoustic monitoring networks has been developed. The model accounts for major factors affecting global-scale acoustic propagation in the ocean, such as horizontal refraction from bathymetric features and horizontal changes in sound speed, travel time variability due to spatial and temporal fluctuations in the ocean, and detailed characteristics of the source. In this report, a summary description of the component submodels, environmental databases and output products is provided. Several studies are presented which investigate the sensitivity of the predictions to the component sub-models and/or databases used. Travel time and travel time variance predictions are compared to measured data. Finally, two example applications of the model are described; a prediction of the coverage of the International Monitoring System, and an analysis of the causes of a gap in the predicted coverage.
Insecticidal Effects of Receptor-Interference Isolated Bioactive Peptides on Fire Ant Colonies

Receptor-interference (Receptor-i) is a novel technology used to identify bioactive peptides as agonists or antagonists against a specific receptor, primarily targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Using Receptor-i methodology, we targeted the pheromone biosynthesis activating neuropeptide receptor (PBAN-R) of the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Based on previous studies, we selected four bioactive peptides cyclized with two cysteines: CVKLGSHFC, CIQQGSHFC, CERVGSHFC, and CMARYMSAC, and we conducted small-scale feeding bioassays, measuring fire ant worker mortality. All peptides reduced ant survival; however, CMARYMSAC (MARY) and CIQQGSHFC (IQQG) were the most effective and were selected for feeding trials against large, fully functional fire ant field colonies containing queen, brood, and up to 8000 workers. At the end of the experiment, day 84, synthetic peptide MARY killed over 80% of the workers and two of four queens. IQQG killed over 70% of the workers and three of four queens. The surviving two MARY queens lost an average of 21% of their starting weight. The surviving IQQG queen lost 31% of its weight. In contrast, control colony queens gained an average of 11% of their starting weight. These results provide proof-of-concept for the Receptor-i technology and will synergize applications to other agricultural and medical pests.
Navstar GPS Space Segment/Navigation User Interfaces (Public Release Version)

Abstract : This Interface Control Document (ICD) defines the functional characteristics required to exist to assure compatibility between the Space Segment (SS) of the Global Positioning System and the Navigation User Segment (US) of the GPS. The exception is that this ICD does not define characteristics of the Selective Availability or Anti-Spoofing features, which are not available to the general public.
Artificial intelligence based prediction on lung cancer risk factors using deep learning

In this proposed work, we identified the significant research issues on lung cancer risk factors. Capturing and defining symptoms at an early stage is one of the most difficult phases for patients. Based on the history of patients records, we reviewed a number of current research studies on lung cancer and its various stages. We identified that lung cancer is one of the significant research issues in predicting the early stages of cancer disease. This research aimed to develop a model that can detect lung cancer with a remarkably high level of accuracy using the deep learning approach (convolution neural network). This method considers and resolves significant gaps in previous studies. We compare the accuracy levels and loss values of our model with VGG16, InceptionV3, and Resnet50. We found that our model achieved an accuracy of 94% and a minimum loss of 0.1%. Hence physicians can use our convolution neural network models for predicting lung cancer risk factors in the real world. Moreover, this investigation reveals that squamous cell carcinoma, normal, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma are the most significant risk factors. In addition, the remaining attributes are also crucial for achieving the best performance.
Fuerzas centrípetas y centrífugas en la red corporativa mexicana (1981-2001)

L OS CONSEJOS DE ADMINISTRACIÓN han sido utilizados en México desde finales del siglo XIX como espacios y expedientes para articular diversos intereses económicos, regionales y políticos (Wasserman, 1987; Cerutti, 1997). Desde entonces los intercambios de Resumen: En este artículo se usa el método posicional con diferentes objetivos. En primer lugar, a fin de examinar los cambios experimentado por las redes corporativas mexicanas de 1981 a 2001, las nuevas tendencias de entrelazamiento corporativo, el papel que desempeñan en la estructuración de la red los bancos, el control familiar, las asociaciones empresariales, las asociaciones y vínculos con las corporaciones transnacionales. En segundo lugar, para interpretar todos estos cambios a la luz de las reformas económicas relacionadas con el Consenso de Washington; en particular, con la privatización de los bancos y la crisis bancaria de 1994-1995. Abstract: This article applies the positional method for several purposes. First, with a view to examine the changes undergone by Mexican corporate networks from 1981 to 2001, new and old trends of corporate interlocking, the structuring role played by the banks, family control, business interest associations, the alliances and links with transnational corporations. Secondly, in order to interpret all these changes in the light of the economic reforms associated to the Washington Consensus; in particular, to the privatization of banks and the banking crisis of 1994-1995.
Ischaemic Stroke After Chronic Subdural Haematoma: An Uncommon Complication in a Common Disease

Background Chronic subdural haematoma (CSDH) is a common neurosurgical disease, particularly among the elderly, especially those on antiplatelet or anticoagulation with trivial trauma. While anticoagulants/antiplatelets increase the chance of rebleeding in cases of CSDH, discontinuation may increase the risk of stroke in these patients. Case Description We report two cases of CSDH in elderly patients with risk factors who suffered from an ischaemic stroke after undergoing surgery. The first case was an elderly gentleman who had a history of percutaneous coronary intervention, presenting with a CSDH. He developed an anterior cerebral artery infarct in the immediate postoperative period. The second was an elderly gentleman with a history of hypertension presenting with a concomitant left thalamic infarct and large left-sided CSDH. He developed a second middle cerebral artery infarct of the opposite side in the immediate postoperative period. Conclusion The medications used for stroke prophylaxis, that is, antiplatelets and anticoagulants are predisposing factors for the development of CSDH. However, the perioperative period of these patients remains vulnerable to the development of new-onset ischaemic stroke.
Evaluation of STEM students' critical thinking in terms of cognitive style through problem-based distance learning

The advent of digital technology has brought about a transformation in the field of education, from traditional face-to-face learning to distance learning. Despite this shift, it is important to prioritize the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) students' critical thinking (CT) abilities as an essential skill for success in the 21st century. The objective of this study is to assess the critical thinking (CT) skills of students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by considering their cognitive styles, namely field-independent and field-dependent, through the implementation of Problem-Based Distance Learning (PBDL). The research follows an evaluative and experimental approach based on the Kirkpatrick four-level model, which was conducted at one of the universities providing STEM education in eastern Indonesia. To evaluate different components of learning, cognitive style, and critical thinking (CT), a wide range of tools with tested psychometric features (validity and reliability) were used. A comprehensive examination using both descriptive and statistical analyses was undertaken to evaluate the outcomes. The results of this study indicate that Problem-Based Distance Learning (PBDL) is a successful approach in enhancing the Critical Thinking (CT) skills of STEM students, irrespective of their cognitive types. The paper provides a detailed discussion of the thorough examination of input, process, output, and outcome factors. This study is very valuable and will contribute to a lot of literature, especially related to the development of distance pedagogy in STEM learning.
Toward Fair Power Grid Control: A Hierarchical Multiobjective Reinforcement Learning Approach

Renewable energy’s inherent randomness and intermittency pose a significant challenge to current grid control and operation as the energy mix transitions to green and clean energy. While a body of reinforcement learning (RL)-based research on automated power grid control has shown great potential and exciting promise for improving grid operations’ economic efficiency and security, little work has focused on fairness issues. To this end, we propose hierarchical multiobjective Markov decision process (HMO-MDP), a power grid control and decision model considering the fairness between the power plants on the energy supply side grounded on a structurally hierarchical multiobjective markov decision process (MO-MDP) we suggested. Specifically, our model: 1) develops an innovative hierarchical multiobjective optimization function and a brand-new reward function to improve the fairness of long-term supply-side gains; 2) introduces the Generalized Gini Index (GGI), a fairness metric based on ranking from economics, to measure the fairness of long-term supply-side gains reasonably; and 3) leverages auto-encoder block to capture the stable representation of the high-dimensional state in low-dimensional space, to reduce the state space and thus enhance generalization of the model. Furthermore, with the proposed model implemented under the A2C framework, we present two algorithms, hierarchical multiobjective A2C (HMO-A2C) and hierarchical multiobjective proximal policy optimization (HMO-PPO), for fair automated power grid control. We comprehensively evaluate our algorithms on the publicly available, data-driven simulator. Experimental results show that our algorithms can effectively promote the fairness of grid control and operation on the supply side, while ensuring security and holding suitable environmental adaptability.
Impact of Nonpharmacologic Interventions Targeting Sleep Disturbances or Disorders in Patients With Inflammatory Arthritis A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Objectives Patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) have a high risk of sleep disturbances and disorders. The objective was to evaluate the evidence of non-pharmacological interventions targeting sleep disturbances or disorders in patients with IA. Methods A systematic search was undertaken from inception to September 8 th , 2020. We included randomized trials concerning non-pharmacological interventions applied in adults with IA and concomitant sleep disturbances or disorders. Primary outcome was the sleep domain while secondary outcomes were core outcome domains for IA trials and harms. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was applied, and the overall quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE. Effect sizes for continuous outcomes were based on the standardized mean difference, combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Results Six trials (308 patients) were included in the quantitative synthesis; three of these reported improvement in sleep in favor of the non-pharmacological intervention(s). The meta-analysis of the sleep domains indicated a large clinical effect of -0.80 (95% CI, -1.33 to -0.28) in favor of non-pharmacological interventions targeting sleep disturbances or disorders. The estimate was rated down twice for risk of bias, and unexplained inconsistency; this was assessed as corresponding to low quality evidence. None of the secondary core outcomes used in contemporary IA trials indicated clinical benefit in favor of non-pharmacological interventions targeting sleep. Conclusion Non-pharmacological interventions targeting sleep disturbances/disorders in patients with IA indicated a promising effect on sleep outcomes, but not yet with convincing evidence.
Ferric iron in chrome-bearing spinels: implications for microprobe correction procedures

Abstract We investigated the compositions of a suite of 361 chrome-bearing spinels from spinel peridotites, ophiolitic mantle chromitites and from layered igneous intrusions in which the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio has been determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. We explore the crystal-chemical controls on the distribution of Fe3+ and on mineral stoichiometry with regard to electron-probe correction procedures for estimating Fe3+ in spinel. We find that chrome-bearing spinels can be subdivided into three groups: a Cr–Al-rich group; a high-Fe group; and a highly oxidised group. Spinels of the Cr–Al group are found in spinel peridotites and ophiolitic mantle chromitites. They are normal spinels with a low Fe3+ content and compositions that are close to stoichiometric. Spinels in the high-Fe group are found in layered igneous intrusions. They are also normal spinels which have higher concentrations of Fe3+ on the octahedrally coordinated site than is found for the Cr–Al group. Stoichiometric calculations tend to overestimate the Fe3+ content and their compositions do not conform to the MgO–cr# correlation found in the Cr–Al group. Spinels in the highly oxidised group are found in layered intrusions and ophiolitic mantle chromitites. They have (Fe3+/ΣFe)Möss > 0.4 and high Cr (cr# > 0.5), but relatively low Fe2+ (fe# 0.24–0.56). Stoichiometric calculations tend to underestimate the Fe3+ content. They represent normal spinels in which tetrahedrally coordinated Fe2+ has been oxidised to Fe3+. Our data show that spinels with greater Cr and Fe are sufficiently different in their crystal chemistry from the aluminous spinels to indicate that the EPMA correction procedures developed for Fe3+ in aluminous spinels on the basis of the Cr/Al ratio, and used in oxy-thermobarometry, are inappropriate for Cr-rich and Fe-rich compositions.
The Global Information Technology Report 2002-2003: Readiness for the Networked World

From the Publisher: "That The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002 received such a notable positive response from a broad range of stakeholders underscores the growing relevance of information technology (IT) in national economies and the continuing need for an assessment of the readiness of countries to participate in the Networked World. Recognizing the relevance of an the rapid changes in information technology, this report is an update to the 2001-2002 Report, which is the first and most comprehensive international assessment of the readiness of countries to capture the benefits of participating in the Networked World. With regional analyses and specific country case studies, essays on a variety of IT-related subjects, detailed country profiles, and country rankings comparing the global IT experience of different nations, this report remains the most authoritative documentation to date of how Its are being used around the world. "
Characterizing Ozone Sensitivity to Urban Greening in Los Angeles Under Current Day and Future Anthropogenic Emissions Scenarios

Cities are simultaneously implementing urban greening and reducing anthropogenic emissions to combat climate change, but these strategies can have complex and potentially counteracting effects on regional atmospheric chemistry. Urban greening can increase emissions of volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), while climate change mitigation strategies reduce co‐emitted pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The nonlinear relationship between ozone (O3) and BVOC and NOx concentrations makes it crucial to investigate potential interactions between urban greening and anthropogenic emissions reductions. Here, we use regional atmospheric chemistry modeling to assess O3 sensitivity to a 50% increase in urban vegetation in the Los Angeles Basin. We evaluated potential interactions between urban greening and climate change mitigation by running urban greening simulations with current day and future anthropogenic emissions that reflect renewable energy adoption and electrification in Los Angeles, CA. Our model results show that urban greening increased daily maximum 8‐hr ozone concentrations with higher increases modeled under current day anthropogenic emissions. Urban greening had complex effects on hourly O3 concentrations, with increased O3 concentrations up to 0.95 ppb during the day following increased biogenic emissions and reduced urban O3 concentrations up to 0.41 ppb at night following reduced ventilation of NOx. Under the future anthropogenic emissions scenario, reductions in NOx somewhat mitigated the daytime O3 penalties of urban greening but also dampened nighttime O3 reductions. Our results suggest that urban greening will likely have regional O3 penalties if new vegetation is high isoprene emitting, even as NOx emissions are drastically reduced following climate change mitigation.
Channel Pruning Via Attention Module And Memory Curve

As an effective pruning method, dynamic pruning introduces gate modules that allow different input data to choose different channels. This shows that the choice of channels strongly depends on data. However, this creates an additional computational burden because of the gate modules. In this paper, we propose a simple, efficient and transferable channel pruning method via attention module and memory curve, dubbed as CPAM, which not only takes advantage of the strong correlation between data and channels, but also does not impose any additional computational burden on the model. Inspired by the memory curve, we use a progressive method without any sparse operation. Moreover, our method has been demonstrated effective for many advanced CNN architectures. Notably, on CIFAR-10, CPAM reduces 50% FLOPs on ResNet-56 with 0.31% relative accuracy improvement, which has advanced the state-of-the-art.
Harvesting impacts on steep slopes in Virginia

Ten tracts in the mountains of western Virginia were intensively sampled to determine the type and extent of soil disturbance from ground-based logging and the attendant erosion risk. Average slopes for the tracts ranged from 21 to 43 percent. Logged slopes exceeded 50 percent. All tracts surveyed were logged prior to the push for voluntary Best Management Practices and had been completed at least three months before the survey was conducted.Two logging methods were observed: skidding overland directlry from stump to roadside, and the use of bladed skid trails.
The prevalence of cardiorenal anemia syndrome among patients with heart failure and its association with all-cause hospitalizations: a retrospective single-center study from the Middle East

Background and aim Little is known about the burden of cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and cardiorenal anemia syndrome (CRAS) in the Middle East Region. Furthermore, whether the occurrence rates of CRAS differ across heart failure (HF) phenotypes is not widely investigated. We aimed to examine the prevalence of CRS and CRAS in patients with HF, compare characteristics of patients with CRAS-HFrEF vs. CRAS-HFpEF, and investigate anemia association with 1-year all-cause hospitalizations. Methods HF patients who visited a multidisciplinary HF clinic at a single center between 10-2015 and 06-2022 (n = 968) were retrospectively included. Differences in rates of CRAS prevalence, and patients’ characteristics of those with CRAS-HFrEF vs. CRAS-HFpEF were determined using appropriate testing methods. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to determine if anemia was associated with higher rates of hospitalization. Results CRS was prevalent in 34.4% of subjects, while 25.3% had CRAS. CRAS prevalence rates among patients with HFpEF vs. HFrEF were comparable (27.2% vs. 24.2%, p = 0.3). Compared to patients with HFrEF-CRAS, those with HFpEF-CRAS were more likely females (p < 0.001), had a higher burden of hypertension (p = 0.01), and lower hemoglobin (p = 0.02). In an adjusted GEE model, anemia was associated with an average increase of 1.8 admissions in CRS patients (p = 0.015). Conclusion In patients with HF, 1 in 3 patients presented with CRS, and 1 in 4 patients had CRAS. The prevalence of CRAS was comparable among those HFpEF and HFrEF. Anemia was associated with an increased rate of 1-year all-cause hospitalization in CRS patients.
Research in the Field of Drug Design and Development

The processes used by academic and industrial scientists to discover new drugs have recently experienced a true renaissance, with many new and exciting techniques being developed over the past 5–10 years alone. Drug design and discovery, and the search for new safe and well-tolerated compounds, as well as the ineffectiveness of existing therapies, and society’s insufficient knowledge concerning the prophylactics and pharmacotherapy of the most common diseases today, comprise a serious challenge. This can influence not only the quality of human life, but also the health of whole societies, which became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, the process of drug development consists of three main stages: drug discovery, preclinical development using cell-based and animal models/tests, clinical trials on humans and, finally, forward moving toward the step of obtaining regulatory approval, in order to market the potential drug. In this review, we will attempt to outline the first three most important consecutive phases in drug design and development, based on the experience of three cooperating and complementary academic centers of the Visegrád group; i.e., Medical University of Lublin, Poland, Masaryk University of Brno, Czech Republic, and Comenius University Bratislava, Slovak Republic.