Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dual Discriminative Low-Rank Projection Learning for Robust Image Classification

Numerous methods have exploited projection learning to extract low-dimensional features for image classification. Some projection learning methods integrate low-rank matrix recovery into classification models to equip the projection subspace with discrimination and robustness against corruption. However, these methods cannot directly recover “clean” components from the new datum in a low-dimensional subspace. Additionally, they are sensitive to the selection of projection dimensions. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose a dual discriminative low-rank projection learning framework for robust image classification. Specifically, the proposed method learns a low-rank projection and a semi-orthogonal projection to recover “clean” components from the original data and simultaneously obtain a low-dimensional subspace. Thereafter, to preserve discriminative information in the low-dimensional subspace, an $L_{2,1}$ -norm term is constructed by concentrating the projected intra-class samples around their adaptive class centroids. Regression-based terms are appended using the low-dimensional features extracted from the recovered clean data and the class centroids for more accurate classification. Experiments on five public databases with various corruptions demonstrate that the proposed method can robustly classify image data despite a small training sample sizes and gross corruption. The superiority of the proposed method is further verified on the large-scale PubFig83 database, on which it achieves an 87.58% classification accuracy.
Derivation of relativistic SEP properties through neutron monitor data modeling

The Ground Level Enhancement (GLE) data recorded by the worldwide Neutron Monitor (NM) network are useful resources for space weather modeling during solar extreme events. The derivation of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) properties through NM-data modeling is essential for the study of solar-terrestrial physics, providing information that cannot be obtained through the exclusive use of space techniques; an example is the derivation of the higher-energy part of the SEP spectrum. We briefly review how the application of the Neutron Monitor Based Anisotropic GLE Pure Power Law (NMBANGLE PPOLA) model (Plainaki et al. 2010), can provide the characteristics of the relativistic SEP flux, at a selected altitude in the Earth's atmosphere, during a GLE. Technically, the model treats the NM network as an integrated omnidirectional spectrometer and solves the inverse problem of the SEP-GLE coupling. As test cases, we present the results obtained for two different GLEs, namely GLE 60 and GLE 71, occurring at a temporal distance of ∼ 11 years.
Mathematical modelling of the collapse time of an unfolding shelled microbubble

There is considerable interest at the moment on using shelled microbubbles as a transportation mechanism for localised drug delivery, specifically in the treatment of various cancers. In this report a theoretical model is proposed which predicts the collapse time of an unfolding shelled microbubble. A neo-Hookean, compressible strain energy density function is used to model the potential energy per unit volume of the shell. This is achieved by considering a reference configuration (stress free) consisting of a shelled microsphere with a hemispherical cap removed. This is then displaced angularly and radially by applying a stress load to the free edge of the shell. This forms a deformed open sphere possessing a stress. This is then used as an initial condition to model the unfolding of the shell back to its original stress free configuration. Asymptotic expansion along with the conservation of mass and energy are then used to determine the collapse times for the unfolding shell and how the material parameters influence this. The theoretical model is compared to published experimental results.
Effects of the neonicotinoid insecticides thiamethoxam and imidacloprid on metamorphosis of the toad Rhinella arenarum at environmentally-relevant concentrations

ABSTRACT The goal of the present study was to examine the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticides thiamethoxam and imidacloprid on the metamorphosis of the toad Rhinella arenarum. Tadpoles were exposed from stage 27 until completion of metamorphosis to concentrations of thiamethoxam ranging between 1.05 and 1050 µg/L and concentrations of imidacloprid varying between 3.4 and 3400 µg/L. The two neonicotinoids were found to act differently at the range of concentrations tested. Thiamethoxam did not markedly alter the final % tadpoles completing metamorphosis but extended by 6–20 days the time needed for tadpoles to complete metamorphosis. The extra number of days required to reach metamorphosis was concentration-dependent between 1.05 and 100.5 µg/L, and then stable at 20 days between 100.5 and 1005 µg/L. In contrast, imidacloprid did not significantly interfere with the overall time needed to complete metamorphosis but decreased success of metamorphosis at 3400 µg/L, the highest concentration tested. Both neonicotinoid concentrations did not markedly alter body size and weight of the newly metamorphosed toads. With a lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) of 1.05 µg/L, thiamethoxam may be more likely to impact tadpole development in the wild compared to imidacloprid, which was without any apparent effect at concentrations up to 340 µg/L (no-observed effect concentration or NOEC). As the influence of thiamethoxam was triggered after tadpoles had reached Stage 39, when metamorphosis is strictly dependent upon thyroid hormones, this observed effect is attributed to result from actions of this neonicotinoid insecticide on the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.
Stereo-Pair Photographs of Monsoon Clouds

Abstract A technique for viewing stereo-pairs of photographs is described. Stereo-pairs are used to illustrate the slender structure of cumulus clouds generally observed during the Winter and Summer Monsoon Experiments; the visual appearance of “hot towers”; the prevalence of thin stratus layers, including the existence of discontinuities in the vertical through them and the growth of altocumulus from them; and the delicate structure and considerable depth of elements of cirrus.
Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Online Recruitment Processes in the Vietnamese Food and Beverage Industry

This paper examines the effect of CSR perceptions on online recruitment practices and outcomes in the Vietnamese food and beverage sector. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seventeen participants, including CEOs, HR (human resource) staff and store managers. The results show that CSR perception varies and is exemplified through employee-related activities, ethical products, environment, philanthropy, and international standards. The study is novel in establishing that, despite high unemployment in developing economies, CSR communication in online recruitment sites impacts job applicants’ choice of company. While the strategic potency of CSR has been established, this study brings to light its critical significance for human resources processes, particularly online recruitment, in an emerging economy context. The study has considerable implications for practitioners and researchers, suggesting the necessity to strategically manage the interface between CSR and online recruitment.
Impairment of Mesenteric Perfusion as a Marker of Major Bleeding in Trauma Patients

The majority of potentially preventable mortality in trauma patients is related to bleeding; therefore, early recognition and effective treatment of hemorrhagic shock impose a cardinal challenge for trauma teams worldwide. The reduction in mesenteric perfusion (MP) is among the first compensatory responses to blood loss; however, there is no adequate tool for splanchnic hemodynamic monitoring in emergency patient care. In this narrative review, (i) methods based on flowmetry, CT imaging, video microscopy (VM), measurement of laboratory markers, spectroscopy, and tissue capnometry were critically analyzed with respect to their accessibility, and applicability, sensitivity, and specificity. (ii) Then, we demonstrated that derangement of MP is a promising diagnostic indicator of blood loss. (iii) Finally, we discussed a new diagnostic method for the evaluation of hemorrhage based on exhaled methane (CH4) measurement. Conclusions: Monitoring the MP is a feasible option for the evaluation of blood loss. There are a wide range of experimentally used methodologies; however, due to their practical limitations, only a fraction of them could be integrated into routine emergency trauma care. According to our comprehensive review, breath analysis, including exhaled CH4 measurement, would provide the possibility for continuous, non-invasive monitoring of blood loss.
Import Demand Equations: An Application of a Generalized Box-Cox Methodology

Summary In this paper a systematic generalization of the functional form of import demand equations for the Republic of Ireland is undertaken. This is based on the Box & Cox (1964) method of analysis of transformations. The most extensively reported version of the Box-Cox family of transformations is one where the same transformation is applied to all the variables in a model (i.e. a constrained formulation) and the present paper represents an extension of this procedure for an unconstrained or more fully generalized formulation. Computationally this is facilitated by an algorithm developed by one of the authors for the purpose of this paper. The generalization of functional form is found to have a substantial effect on the parameter estimates and the economic implications of the changes in these estimates are examined.
HMGA1 and FOXM1 Cooperate to Promote G2/M Cell Cycle Progression in Cancer Cells

HMGA1 is a chromatin-binding protein and performs its biological function by remodeling chromatin structure or recruiting other transcription factors. However, the role of abnormally high level of HMGA1 in cancer cells and its regulatory mechanism still require further investigation. In this study, we performed a prognostic analysis and showed that high level of either HMGA1 or FOXM1 was associated with poor prognosis in various cancers based on the TCGA database. Furthermore, the expression pattern of HMGA1 and FOXM1 showed a significant strong positive correlation in most type of cancers, especially lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer. Further analysis of the biological effects of their high correlation in cancers suggested that cell cycle was the most significant related pathway commonly regulated by HMGA1 and FOXM1. After knockdown of HMGA1 and FOXM1 by specific siRNAs, an obvious increased G2/M phase was observed in the siHMGA1 and siFOXM1 groups compared to the siNC group. The expression levels of key G2/M phase regulatory genes PLK1 and CCNB1 were significantly downregulated. Importantly, HMGA1 and FOXM1 were identified to form a protein complex and co-located in the nucleus based on co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. Thus, our results provide the basic evidence that HMGA1 and FOXM1 cooperatively accelerate cell cycle progression by up-regulating PLK1 and CCNB1 to promote cancer cell proliferation.
Coordinate representations for rigid parts in multibody dynamics

The paper is concerned with coordinate representations for rigid parts in multibody dynamics. The discussion is based on the general theory of the dynamics of multibody systems under constraints. General configuration coordinates are introduced and the requirement of their regularity is discussed. The use of Euler angles, quaternions and linear coordinates, where quaternions and linear coordinates require constraint conditions, is analysed in detail. These coordinate systems are all shown to be regular. Equations of motion are formulated, using Lagrange’s as well as Euler’s equations, and they are supplemented by the appropriate constraint conditions in the cases of quaternions and linear coordinates. Mass matrices are derived, and in terms of the Euler angles the mass matrix components are products of trigonometric functions whereas in terms of quaternions the matrix components are quadratic polynomials. Using linear coordinates gives rise to a constant mass matrix. Thus, there is a decreasing degree of complexity, regarding mass matrix components, when going from Euler angles to linear coordinates. This is obtained at the expense of an increasing gross number of degrees of freedom and the necessary introduction of constraint conditions. The different equations of motion obtained are compared with respect to their structural complexity. In all representations the components of the angular velocity are explicitly calculated. This is not always the case in previous investigations of this subject. The paper also gives a new proof of the well-known relation between angular velocity and unit quaternions and their time derivative.
Active Micro/Nanoparticles in Colloidal Microswarms

Colloidal microswarms have attracted increasing attention in the last decade due to their unique capabilities in various complex tasks. Thousands or even millions of tiny active agents are gathered with distinctive features and emerging behaviors, demonstrating fascinating equilibrium and non-equilibrium collective states. In recent studies, with the development of materials design, remote control strategies, and the understanding of pair interactions between building blocks, microswarms have shown advantages in manipulation and targeted delivery tasks with high adaptability and on-demand pattern transformation. This review focuses on the recent progress in active micro/nanoparticles (MNPs) in colloidal microswarms under the input of an external field, including the response of MNPs to external fields, MNP–MNP interactions, and MNP–environment interactions. A fundamental understanding of how building blocks behave in a collective system provides the foundation for designing microswarm systems with autonomy and intelligence, aiming for practical application in diverse environments. It is envisioned that colloidal microswarms will significantly impact active delivery and manipulation applications on small scales.
New Design Criteria for Hash Functions and Block Ciphers

Cryptographic primitives, such as hash functions and block ciphers, are integral components in several practical cryptographic schemes. In order to prove security of these schemes, a variety of security assumptions are made on the underlying hash function or block cipher, such as collision-resistance, pseudorandomness etc. In fact, such assumptions are often made without much regard for the actual constructions of these primitives. In this thesis, we address this problem and suggest new, and possibly better, design criteria for hash functions and block ciphers. We start by analyzing the design criteria underlying hash functions. The usual design principle here involves a two-step procedure: First, come up with a heuristically-designed and "hopefully strong'' fixed-length input construction (i.e. the compression function), then use a standard domain extension technique, usually the cascade construction (see figure 3.2), to get a construction that works for variable-length inputs. We investigate this design principle from two perspectives: (a) To instantiate the Random Oracle. We suggest modifications to existing constructions that make the resulting construction secure as a random oracle, with appropriate assumptions on the underlying compression function. (b) In general, we look for "black-box'' fixes to existing hash functions to get secure constructions for each of the common security notions required of hash functions. We also give suggestions for appropriate modes for using existing hash functions along these lines. We next move on to discuss the Feistel network, which is used in the design of several popular block ciphers such as DES, Triple-DES, Blowfish etc. Currently, the celebrated result of Luby-Rackoff [47] (and further extensions) is regarded as the theoretical basis for using this construction in block cipher design, where it was shown that a four-round Feistel network is a (strong) pseudorandom permutation (PRP) if the round functions are independent pseudorandom functions (PRFs). We study the Feistel network from two different perspectives: (a) Is there a weaker security notion for round functions, than pseudorandomness, that suffices to prove security of the Feistel network? (b) Can the Feistel network satisfy a much stronger security notion, i.e. security as an ideal cipher, under appropriate assumptions on the round functions? We give a positive answer to the first question and a partial positive answer to the second question. In the process, we undertake a combinatorial study of the Feistel network, that might be useful in other scenarios as well. We provide several practical applications of our results for the Feistel network.
Flood-Triggering Rainfall and Potential Losses—The Copula-Based Approach on the Example of the Upper Nysa Kłodzka River

Floods are natural phenomena, inextricably related to river regimes, which can threaten human health and life, the environment, cultural heritage, economic activity and infrastructure. The aim of the research is to assess the connection between rainfall and river flood risk. The proposed methodology is presented on the example of the upper Nysa Kłodzka River (NKR) catchment and Kłodzko town located on NKR, which are two of the most flood-prone areas in the Odra River basin. The methodology is based on the well-established methods of potential flood losses (PFL) estimation and the copula-based model, allowing an assessment of connections between rainfall and flood losses in a probabilistic way. The results are presented using the ‘synchronicity’ measure. Seventeen significant summer (rainfall-driven) flood waves were selected, for which PFL were estimated and cumulative rainfall was calculated for 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h preceding the flood peak. It was found that the synchronicity of PFL and the 24 h rainfall was the lowest among the analyzed variants, while for the 48 to 120 h rainfall the highest synchronicity was identified at precipitation gauge Podzamek.
Coexistence of nontrivial solutions of the one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau equation: A computer-assisted proof

In this paper, Chebyshev series and rigorous numerics are combined to compute solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations for the one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau model of superconductivity. The idea is to recast solutions as fixed points of a Newton-like operator defined on a Banach space of rapidly decaying Chebyshev coefficients. Analytic estimates, the radii polynomials and the contraction mapping theorem are combined to show existence of solutions near numerical approximations. Coexistence of as many as seven nontrivial solutions is proved.
Virtual Reality for Upper Extremity Rehabilitation—A Prospective Pilot Study

Applications related to virtual reality are a rapidly growing area. Thus, these technologies are also increasingly used in the field of medicine and rehabilitation. The primary objective of this prospective pilot study was to investigate the feasibility, user experience and acceptance of a virtual-reality-based system for upper extremity rehabilitation. The study was conducted as a single-center trial over 16 weeks. The eligibility criteria included rehabilitants with upper extremity injuries of at least 18 years of age who were fluent in spoken and written German. After detailed instruction, each participant was asked to complete daily 30 min exercises over 15 training sessions with the virtual reality system consisting of three different training modules. Outcomes were assessed pre-study and post-study using standardized clinical measures. In addition, qualitative interviews with rehabilitants as well as therapists regarding user experience and acceptance were conducted. Six participants were recruited for the pilot study, of which five underwent virtual-reality-based rehabilitation. Overall, the clinical measures showed a positive tendency over the course of the study, even if the results were not significant. Furthermore, the virtual-reality-based training was well accepted by the participants as well as therapists. Given these findings, it will be beneficial to evaluate virtual reality for rehabilitation in further research.
Compensation for Cross-Coupled Dynamics of Dual Twisted-String Actuation Systems

Twisted-string actuation devices have been adopted in various robotic systems due to their advantages of compact size and simple structure. To precisely control the displacement of such devices, a dual-direction actuating mechanism, which provides both extension and contraction of two strings simultaneously, must be implemented. Due to the physical properties of twisted string, the actuator has problems of nonlinear length variation and cross-coupled relationships between two strings. In this study, two controllers PID-FC and LQR-FC were synthesized with the consideration of cross-coupling dynamics between the two axes. The experimental results demonstrate the performance of both tracking and synchronization responses of these two types of controllers.
Exploring FeLV-Gag-Based VLPs as a New Vaccine Platform—Analysis of Production and Immunogenicity

Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in domestic cats. Although different commercial vaccines are available, none of them provides full protection. Thus, efforts to design a more efficient vaccine are needed. Our group has successfully engineered HIV-1 Gag-based VLPs that induce a potent and functional immune response against the HIV-1 transmembrane protein gp41. Here, we propose to use this concept to generate FeLV-Gag-based VLPs as a novel vaccine strategy against this retrovirus. By analogy to our HIV-1 platform, a fragment of the FeLV transmembrane p15E protein was exposed on FeLV-Gag-based VLPs. After optimization of Gag sequences, the immunogenicity of the selected candidates was evaluated in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, showing strong cellular and humoral responses to Gag but failing to generate anti-p15E antibodies. Altogether, this study not only tests the versatility of the enveloped VLP-based vaccine platform but also sheds light on FeLV vaccine research.
Survey on Current Trend in Emotion Recognition Techniques Using Deep Learning

Deep learning techniques have been used by many researchers to address various challenges in the field, such as the recognition of subtle and complex emotions, the reduction of subjectivity and inter-annotator variability, and the improvement of recognition accuracy. This research paper provides a comprehensive survey of the current trends in emotion recognition techniques using deep learning. It also addresses the ethical and social challenges, as well as their implications for the creation and deployment of emotion recognition models. The study concludes by summarizing the key findings and providing insights into the future direction of research in emotion recognition using deep learning. The paper suggests that the development of more sophisticated deep learning models, the integration of multiple modalities, and the integration of physiological signals with behavioral signals are promising avenues for future research.