Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Red panda fine‐scale habitat selection along a Central Himalayan longitudinal gradient

Abstract Red panda Ailurus fulgens, an endangered habitat specialist, inhabits a narrow distribution range in bamboo abundance forests along mountain slopes in the Himalaya and Hengduan Mountains. However, their habitat use may be different in places with different longitudinal environmental gradients, climatic regimes, and microclimate. This study aimed to determine the habitat variables affecting red panda distribution across different longitudinal gradients through a multivariate analysis. We studied habitat selection patterns along the longitudinal gradient in Nepal's Himalaya which is grouped into the eastern, central, and western complexes. We collected data on red panda presence and habitat variables (e.g., tree richness, canopy cover, bamboo abundance, water availability, tree diameter, tree height) by surveys along transects throughout the species’ potential range. We used a multimodal inference approach with a generalized linear model to test the relative importance of environmental variables. Although the study showed that bamboo abundance had a major influence, habitat selection was different across longitudinal zones. Both canopy cover and species richness were unimportant in eastern Nepal, but their influence increased progressively toward the west. Conversely, tree height showed a decreasing influence on habitat selection from Eastern to Western Nepal. Red panda's habitat selection revealed in this study corresponds to the uneven distribution of vegetation assemblages and the dry climatic gradient along the eastern‐western Himalayas which could be related to a need to conserve energy and thermoregulate. This study has further highlighted the need of importance of bamboo conservation and site‐specific conservation planning to ensure long‐term red panda conservation.
A HIERARCHICAL SFS ALGORITHM BASED ON ILLUMINANT PARAMETERS AND SURFACE ALBEDO

This paper proposes a robust algorithm to recover shape from shading information. This algorithm can estimate effectively illuminant direction, surface albedo, the azimuth of the illuminant and recover shape using shading information along image contours. The elevation of the illuminant and surface albedo are estimated from image statistics, taking into consideration the effect of self shading. With the estimated reflectance map parameters, we compute the surface shape using a new procedure that implements the smoothness constraint by making the gradients of reconstructed intensity close to the gradients of the input image. The new algorithm is data driven, stable, and updates surface slope and height maps simultaneously, and significantly reduces the residual errors in irradiance and integral terms. Finaly a hierarchical implementation of the SFS algorithm is presented.
Dissolution effects on foraminiferal Mg/Ca records of sea surface temperature in the western equatorial Pacific

[1] Mg sea surface temperature (SST) records from different planktonic foraminifera (G. sacculifer and G. ruber), size fractions, and core depths (1600 and 2600 m) suggest similar amplitudes of cyclic change over the last 425 kyr. However, there are significant differences in the detail recorded by different size fractions and between cores in close geographic proximity. These differences may be induced by dissolution, but artifacts resulting from divergent cleaning protocols and a dependency of the magnitude of these on preservation status cannot be ruled out. These and issues such as reproducibility require greater scrutiny for the true significance and credibility of down core Mg SST variability to be established.
Water sanitation and nutritional status of young children in Sri Lanka.

Findings on the effects of water and sanitation on nutritional health in Sri Lanka in 1987 are presented. Comparisons are made between whether the water supply was improved (piped to the premise public tap or protected well) or unimproved (unprotected well river lake or rainwater). Further differentiation was made between whether water was piped to the premises or taken from the public supply. Sanitation was contrasted in similar ways such as: having or not having a toilet facility and having a flush toilet vs. a pit latrine and bucket. The nationally representative sample of ever-married women provided data on 2005 children between 3-36 months: length/age weight/age and weight/length Z scores. The sample was stratified by geographic area: rural urban and estate sectors. Multivariate analysis was conducted controlling for confounding factors i.e. mothers education soap on the premises tile or cement floor electricity increasing age of the child twins a household a >5 people and whether the household seemed poor. The findings suggest that access to piped water close to home improves nutritional status to a greater extent than public water supplies. In urban areas improved water and sanitation had minimal effect perhaps due to 90% already having improved water supplies and 96% having improved sanitation. Only length/age were related to improved water supply. Improved sanitation was insignificant. In rural areas improved water supplies has a positive effect on length/age (.248) and weight/age (.494) at the . 05 level. Compared with a public water supply water piped onto the premises was related to better nutritional status for length/age (.303) weight/age (.398) and weight/length (.268). Higher Z scores for weight/length (.139) and weight/age (.133) were associated with improved sanitation. There was a similar effect for flush toilets and pit latrines. Other factors associated with improvements were having electricity a tile floor and an educated mother which had the greatest effect. Negative factors were household member >5 increasing age of the child twins and a poor household. An incremental improvement in sanitation was not related to an incremental improvement in length/age Z scores. In estate areas which comprised a small sample (n=252) length/age (.662) and weight/age (.406) were associated with water on the premises. The negative relationship between public water supplies and nutritional status may reflect supply problems. It is suggested that rural and estate areas have improved piped to the house water supplies but any improvement in sanitation is acceptable. Improved living conditions and increasing child spacing will increase child nutritional status.
Proposed Methods To Prevent SQL Injection

In the last decade, the web has rapidly become an attractive platform, and an indispensable part of our lives. Unfortunately, as our dependency on the web increases so programmers focus more on functionality and appearance than security, has resulted in the interest of attackers in exploiting serious security problems that target web applications and web-based information systems e.g. through an SQL injection attack. SQL injection in simple terms, is the process of passing SQL code into interactive web applications that employ database services such applications accept user input such as form and then include this input in database requests, typically SQL statements in a way that was not intended or anticipated by the application developer that attempts to subvert the relationship between a webpage and its supporting database, in order to trick the database into executing malicious code due to the poor design of the application. The proposed system is based on protection website at run time, before inclusion of user input with database by validating, encoding, filtering the content, escaping single quotes, limiting the input character length, and ﬁltering the exception messages. The proposed solution is effectiveness and scalability in addition it is easily adopted by application programmers. For empirical analysis, we provide a case study of our solution and implement in Html, PHP, MySql , Apache Server and Jmeter application.
Performance Analysis of a Cascaded Bidirectional DC-DC Converter for High Current Applications

In this paper, a high-current DC-DC converter with bidirectional capability is presented. The proposed converter topology combines a series capacitor bidirectional converter and a conventional bidirectional converter in a cascaded manner, thus achieving a quadratic voltage gain. The proposed topology is compared with other contemporary high current topologies in terms of voltage gains, component count and conversion efficiency. Furthermore, the converter performance is validated using the Simscape SimPowerSystems toolbox of MATLAB Simulink. It is determined that this topology demonstrated a conversion efficiency of 96% and 98% in step-up and step-down mode respectively, for a 250 W load. Moreover, a current gain of 12.5 was observed in step down mode for a switch duty cycle of 0.4. Lastly, current sharing between inductors and low current ripples were also demonstrated.
First impressions: A prospective evaluation of patient–physician concordance and satisfaction following the initial medical oncology consultation

An especially significant event in the patient–oncologist relationship is the initial consultation, where many complex topics—diagnosis, treatment intent, and often, prognosis—are discussed in a relatively short period of time. This study aimed to measure patients' understanding of the information discussed during their first medical oncology visit and their satisfaction with the communication from medical oncologists.
Clinical Characteristics of Cytomegalovirus Disease of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: A 10-Year Multicenter Retrospective Study

Objectives: Gastrointestinal cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is a major contributor to mortality in immunocompromised patients. Few studies have discussed upper gastrointestinal CMV (UGICMV) disease in immunocompetent patients. We compared the clinical outcomes of UGI-CMV between immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.Methods: This retrospective study included patients with UGI-CMV disease from five tertiary hospitals across Korea (2010– 2022). Patients’ clinical data and outcomes were recorded.Results: UGI-CMV was diagnosed in 54 patients; 27 (50.0%) had esophageal, 24 (44.4%) had gastric, and 3 patients (5.6%) had duodenal involvement. Patients’ median age was 64 years (interquartile range 53–75 years), and the most common comorbidities included hypertension (57.4%) and diabetes (38.9%). The predominant symptom was abdominal pain (46.3%), and the most common endoscopic finding was ulcers (70.4%). Antiviral treatment was administered to 31 patients, and 23 patients underwent observation without treatment. We investigated 32 immunocompromised (59.3%) and 22 immunocompetent (40.7%) patients and observed no intergroup differences in comorbidities and in laboratory and endoscopic findings. Immunocompromised patients had longer length of hospitalization (median 46.2 days vs. 20.0 days, p=0.001). However, treatment outcomes, including the need for intensive care unit admission and mortality did not significantly differ. The overall mortality rate was 13.0%; one patient from the immunocompromised group died of UGI-CMV disease. The treatment success rate was higher in immunocompromised patients who received antiviral therapy (p=0.011). Conclusions: UGI-CMV disease is not uncommon in immunocompetent patients, although symptoms are milder than those in immunocompromised patients. Our findings emphasize the importance of clinical vigilance for accurate diagnosis of CMV infection, particularly in susceptible symptomatic patients and highlight the need for active antiviral treatment for management of immunocompromised patients.
Improving the Effectiveness of E-learning Videos by leveraging Eye-gaze Data

Recent advances in technology strengthen remote and lifelong learning by integrating e-videos into teaching-learning pedagogy. Therefore, educational content developers are tasked with creating engaging and qualitative e-content. The shift in paradigm from offline to online teaching brings forth several issues regarding the quality of online learning materials and the missing dynamic interaction between instructors and learners. Leveraging contemporary artificial intelligence techniques to provide insights into methods for developing quality e-content is the need of the hour. This study showed that the pattern and duration of the eye gaze of the learner on the text, image, or instructor in the video reveal valuable insights, not only regarding the comprehension of the learner but also giving suggestions to improve video lectures. The results show that learners perform better when they spend more time looking at the instructor compared to the image and text on a frame. Therefore, just like classroom teaching, the presence of the instructor in the video is vital, as looking directly at the instructor while they are delivering the lecture encourages comprehension. Furthermore, by applying classification techniques to learner eye gaze data, it was possible to predict with 97% confidence whether the learner would answer the post-quiz correctly or not.
Investigating the Human Intestinal DNA Virome and Predicting Disease-Associated Virus–Host Interactions in Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)

Understanding how the human virome, and which of its constituents, contributes to health or disease states is reliant on obtaining comprehensive virome profiles. By combining DNA viromes from isolated virus-like particles (VLPs) and whole metagenomes from the same faecal sample of a small cohort of healthy individuals and patients with severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), we have obtained a more inclusive profile of the human intestinal DNA virome. Key features are the identification of a core virome comprising tailed phages of the class Caudoviricetes, and a greater diversity of DNA viruses including extracellular phages and integrated prophages. Using an in silico approach, we predicted interactions between members of the Anaerotruncus genus and unique viruses present in ME/CFS microbiomes. This study therefore provides a framework and rationale for studies of larger cohorts of patients to further investigate disease-associated interactions between the intestinal virome and the bacteriome.
Do underwriting profit factors affect general insurance firms’ profitability in South Africa?

This research paper examines the correlation between underwriting profit factors and the overall profitability of publicly traded general insurance companies operating in South Africa. The study analyzed a sample of 36 insurers, considering their quantifiable markets and accessible financial data from 2008 to 2019. Employing signal correlation analysis, the investigation explored the associations between various financial indicators and Return on Assets (ROA). The results revealed negative correlations between ROA and the logarithms of total investment (TI), shareholder funds (SF), and underwriting profits (UWP), with correlation coefficients of –0.4500, –0.3365, and –0.4050, respectively. These findings indicate that as TI, SF, and UWP increase, there is a tendency for ROA to decrease for general insurance companies in South Africa. Furthermore, a positive relationship was observed between the earning-asset ratio and ROA. This suggests that as the earning-asset ratio rises, the ROA of general insurance firms in South Africa tends to improve, indicating a potentially favorable impact on profitability. The significant findings of this study emphasize the importance of prioritizing effective risk management practices within insurance firms. By implementing these measures, such as minimizing the likelihood of claims and ensuring accurate reflection of assumed risks in premium charges, insurance companies can maintain positive underwriting profit. This, in turn, has the potential to enhance their overall profitability.
Genetic variability and population structure of the Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) in the northern limit of its distribution

Restricted movement among populations decreases genetic variation, which may be the case for the Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae), a small game bird that rarely flies long distances. In the northern limit of its distribution, it inhabits oak-juniper-pine savannas of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Understanding genetic structure can provide information about the demographic history of populations that is also important for conservation and management. The objective of this study was to determine patterns of genetic variation in Montezuma quail populations using nine DNA microsatellite loci. We genotyped 119 individuals from four study populations: Arizona, Western New Mexico, Central New Mexico, and West Texas. Compared to other quail, heterozygosity was low ( \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{upgreek} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} ${\bar H_0}$\end{document}H¯0 = 0.22 ± 0.04) and there were fewer alleles per locus (Ā = 2.41 ± 0.27). The global population genetic differentiation index RST = 0.045 suggests little genetic structure, even though a Bayesian allocation analysis suggested three genetic clusters (K = 3). This analysis also suggested admixture between clusters. Nevertheless, an isolation-by-distance analysis indicates a strong correlation (r = 0.937) and moderate evidence (P = 0.032) of non-independence between geographical and genetic distances. Climate change projections indicate an increase in aridity for this region, especially in temperate ecosystems where the species occurs. In this scenario, corridors between the populations may disappear, thus causing their complete isolation.
Web-Based Anomaly Detection for Smart Urban Living: Drone Photography and Videography

Smart cities aim to enhance the quality of life for urban dwellers through technological advancements. Machine Learning (ML) plays a crucial role in various domains of Smart X, including education, transportation, healthcare, environment, and living. However, integrating ML into daily life poses challenges. This paper presents a web-based ML application prototype that effectively augments the daily quality of life for communities. It specifically explores the advantages of web-based photography-videography-enabled drones for citizen needs and city inspections. The application utilizes ML to detect anomalies and identify normal objects, addressing the common challenge of distinguishing normalcy from abnormality. Examples include assessing the structural integrity of house components, analyzing medical images, and evaluating the quality of fruits or hydroponic plants. The study employs exploratory and experimental methods, utilizing teachable machine learning and the Python-based Streamlit application. Experimental results demonstrate that web-based photo and video analysis expedites the detection of normal and abnormal images and videos, surpassing the limitations of visual examination with the naked eye. This research contributes to advancing ML applications in smart living for urban communities.
Differences in Nasal Shapes and the Degree of Changes Over a Decade or More: A Paired Analysis

Objectives. This study investigated age-related differences in nasal morphometry and the degree of changes within an individual over at least a 10-year period by pairing previous and recent three-dimensional reconstructed computed tomography (CT) images. Methods. Forty-eight adult Korean patients who underwent at least two CT scans of the nasal region with an interval of at least 10 years were selected. Patients were categorized into six subgroups according to sex and age (20–39 years, 40–49 years, and ≥50 years) at the time of initial imaging. Eight nasal parameters were measured on the initial and recent images, and paired comparisons between the two images were performed based on the data. The differences in the degree of change by age were also analyzed. Results. Over an average image interval of 12 years, men exhibited an increase in the nasofrontal angle (3.2°±5.4°, P=0.041), profile nasal length (1.7±1.7 mm, P=0.002), and nasal bridge height (1.2±1.6 mm, P=0.002). Conversely, they showed a decrease in the nasofacial angle (–2.3°±2.9°, P=0.010). Women also demonstrated an increase in the nasofrontal angle (2.5°±5.2°, P=0.010), profile nasal length (1.4±1.9 mm, P<0.001), and nasal bridge height (1.3±1.6 mm, P<0.001). However, they exhibited a decrease in the nasofacial angle (–2.0°±2.1°, P<0.001), glabella angle (–9.1°±9.8°, P<0.001), and pyriform angle (–8.5°±10.1°, P<0.001). With the exception of the nasal bridge height (P=0.036) and pyriform angle (P=0.022), the degree of changes in most parameters did not show significant differences across age groups. Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the aging nose exhibits a greater nasal length with inferior angulation of the nasal tip, with an increase in the nasofrontal angle, profile nasal length, and nasal bridge height, along with a decrease in the nasofacial angle. The degree of most nasal morphologic changes demonstrated no significant differences by specific age group.
Few-Body Reactions with the Trojan Horse Method

The Trojan Horse method (THM) is a well-established experimental technique to measure nuclear reactions of astrophysical interest avoiding the suppression of the Coulomb barrier affecting experimental direct measurements. In this paper it will describe some of the THM studies involving few-body system of interest for both nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics, such as the sub-Coulomb proton-proton elastic scattering and the deuteron-deuteron fusion at energies of interest for primordial nucleosynthesis. Moreover, the role of the intercluster motion in nuclei used for THM measurement will be highlight for the discussed physics cases.
Pathological Gait Analysis With an Open-Source Cloud-Enabled Platform Empowered by Semi-Supervised Learning-PathoOpenGait

We present PathoOpenGait, a cloud-based platform for comprehensive gait analysis. Gait assessment is crucial in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and multiple system atrophy, yet current techniques are neither affordable nor efficient. PathoOpenGait utilizes 2D and 3D data from a binocular 3D camera for monitoring and analyzing gait parameters. Our algorithms, including a semi-supervised learning-boosted neural network model for turn time estimation and deterministic algorithms to estimate gait parameters, were rigorously validated on annotated gait records, demonstrating high precision and consistency. We further demonstrate PathoOpenGait's applicability in clinical settings by analyzing gait trials from Parkinson's patients and healthy controls. PathoOpenGait is the first open-source, cloud-based system for gait analysis, providing a user-friendly tool for continuous patient care and monitoring. It offers a cost-effective and accessible solution for both clinicians and patients, revolutionizing the field of gait assessment. PathoOpenGait is available at https://pathoopengait.cmdm. tw.