Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the impacts of heterotrophic nutrition on Acropora microclados

The Scleractinian coral Acropora microclados is a commercially important species that functions as both an autotroph and heterotroph. In ex situ coral aquaculture, elucidating an optimal diet to improve growth and resilience is critical in improving the sustainability and success of rearing corals for trade and conservation. To investigate the impacts of diet on A. microclados , three groups of 15 nubbins were kept under three different feeding regimes for three months at the National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth, UK. One group was fed nothing, the control (CTL), one group fed Artemia salina nauplii (ART) and one group fed a mixed diet of Artemia nauplii and microalgae (AA). They were kept in the same water system to maintain homogeneity of water quality between groups. Over the course of the study, their masses, volumes, and cross-sectional areas were measured to determine estimates of biomass and skeletal growth, along with qualitative observations of polyp coverage (e.g. bleaching, encrusting), used as an indicator of health. Nubbins in ART experienced significant growth from day 1 to 84, increasing in mass (p=0.033) and volume (p=0.035), while nubbins in CTL and AA did not display any increased growth. Over the course of the study, bleaching occurred in all groups, CTL and AA displaying equal levels while ART experienced a much lower proportion. These results align with previous studies that suggest that feeding on live Artemia nauplii can improve both growth and resilience in A. microclados, and that starved corals more easily succumb to stress-induced bleaching when relying on solely autotrophic pathways. ART had a higher proportion of nubbins with encrusting growth, suggesting that encrusting can be used as a sign of health in corals, though there are no previous studies to confirm or dispute this, only hobbyist opinion. This study demonstrates that Artemia can be an effective diet to improve A. microclados growth and resilience in aquaria, while highlighting the ample work still necessary to evaluate the feasibility of microalgae as live food for corals.
Identification and Categorization of Yellow Rust Infection in Wheat through Deep Learning Techniques

The global wheat industry faces significant challenges due to yellow rust disease, This is induced by fungus Puccinia striiformis, as it leads to substantial crop losses and economic impacts. Timely detection and classification of the disease are essential for its effective management and control. In this study, we investigate the potential of DL and ML techniques for detecting and classifying yellow rust disease in wheat. We utilize three state-of-the-art CNN models, namely ResNet50, DenseNet121, and VGG19, to analyze wheat leaf images and extract relevant features. These models were developed and refined using a large dataset of annotated wheat photos. Encompassing both healthy plants and those affected by yellow rust disease. Furthermore, we examine the effectiveness of data augmentation and transfer learning in enhancing classification performance. Our findings reveal that the DL-based CNN models surpass traditional machine learning techniques in detecting and classifying yellow rust disease in wheat. Among the tested CNN models, EfficientNetB3 demonstrates the best performance, emphasizing its suitability for large-scale and real-time monitoring of wheat crops. This research contributes to the development of precision agriculture tools, laying the groundwork for prompt intervention and management of yellow rust disease, ultimately minimizing yield loss and economic impact on wheat production.
Ratel: MPC-extensions for Smart Contracts

Enhancing privacy on smart contract-enabled blockchains has garneredmuchattentioninrecentresearch. Zero-knowledgeproofs(ZKPs) is one of the most popular approaches, however, they fail to provide full expressiveness and fine-grained privacy. To illustrate this, we underscoreanunderexploredtypeofMinerExtractableValue(MEV), calledResidualBidsExtractableValue(RBEV). Residualbidshigh-lightthevulnerabilitywhereunfulfilledbidsinadvertentlyreveal traders’unmetdemandsandprospectivetradingstrategies,thus exposingthemtoexploitation.ZKP-basedapproachesfailedtoad-dressRBEVastheycannotprovidepost-executionprivacywithout somelevelofinformationdisclosure.OtherMEVmitigationslike fair-orderingprotocolsalsofailedtoaddressRBEV. WeintroduceRatel,aninnovativeframeworkbridgingamulti-partycomputation(MPC)prototypingframework(MP-SPDZ)and asmartcontractlanguage(Solidity),harmonizingtheprivacywith fullexpressivenessofMPCwithSolidity’son-chainprogrammabil-ity.Thissynergyempowersdeveloperstoeffortlesslycraftprivacy-preservingdecentralizedapplications(DApps). Wedemonstrate Ratel’sefficacythroughtwodistinguisheddecentralizedfinance (DeFi)applications:adecentralizedexchangeandacollateralauc-tion,effectivelymitigatingthepotentialRBEVissue.Furthermore, Ratelisequippedwithalightweightcrash-resetmechanism,en-ablingtheseamlessrecoveryoftransientlybenignfaultynodes.To preventthecrash-resetmechanismabusedbymaliciousentities andwardoffDoSattacks,weincorporateacost-utilityanalysis anchoredintheBayesianapproach.Ourperformanceevaluationof theapplicationsdevelopedundertheRatelframeworkunderscores theircompetencyinmanagingreal-worldpeak-timeworkloads.
Quality Evaluation Tool for Clinician Online Continuing Medical Quality Evaluation Tool for Clinician Online Continuing Medical Education Education

Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop and assess an instrument evaluating the quality of online continuing medical education interventions for clinicians. A review of seminal literature for evaluating health-related websites was conducted to incorporate best practices from health education, health communication, and web-based design principles. After reviewing the literature, 12 preliminary quality indicators were developed. Two independent coders used the preliminary quality indicators to code continuing medical education interventions. Internal reliability of the preliminary indicators was calculated using the Krippendorff’s alpha coefficient. After completing the reliability testing and revising the tool, the quality evaluation framework consisted of six quality indicators: accessibility, content, design, evaluation, interactivity, and theory/models. The indicators are not specifically tied to one content area; therefore, this tool can be utilized to assess the quality of continuing medical education interventions of various content areas. Future research should be conducted to further develop a comprehensive metric to assess indicators’ effect on behavior change and clinician communication with patients. These quality indicators are important as they are a foundation for intervention developers to effectively communicate current medical information and new guidelines from medical organizations and, in turn, impact patient communication and care
mRNA Levels of Aromatase, 5α-Reductase Isozymes, and Prostate Cancer-Related Genes in Plucked Hair from Young Men with Androgenic Alopecia

Androgenic alopecia (AGA) is the most prevalent type of progressive hair loss and has psychological repercussions. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of current pharmacological treatments remains limited, in part because the molecular basis of the disease has not been fully elucidated. Our group previously highlighted the important roles of aromatase and 5α-reductase (5α-R) in alopecia in young women with female pattern hair loss. Additionally, an association has been proposed between AGA and prostate cancer (PCa), suggesting that genes implicated in PCa would also be involved in AGA. A low-invasive, sensitive, and precise method was used to determine mRNA levels of aromatase, 5α-R isozymes, and 84 PCa-related genes in samples of plucked hair from young men with AGA and controls. Samples were obtained with a trichogram from the vertex scalp, and mRNA levels were quantified using real-time RT-PCR. The men with AGA had significantly higher 5α-R2 mRNA levels in comparison to controls; interestingly, some of them also showed markedly elevated mRNA levels of 5α-R1 or 5α-R3 or of both, which may explain the varied response to 5α-R inhibitor treatments. The men with AGA also showed significant changes versus controls in 6 out of the 84 genes implicated in PCa. This study contributes greater knowledge of the molecular bases of AGA, facilitating early selection of the most appropriate pharmacological therapy and opening the way to novel treatments.
Three-Point Safety Polymeric Belt Webbing versus Four-Point Belt for a Race Car in Frontal Crashes

Polyester is currently the main material used for the manufacture of safety belts used in car transport for the protection of passengers and the driver. The seat belt is the main passive safety element used in vehicle engineering. In this work, the behavior of two safety belts, one with three-point fastening and the other with four-point fastening, which equip the seat of a racing car used in Formula Student for use in a frontal impact with a vertical wall. A model with finite elements is used to describe the entire car–driver shock-absorber assembly. The von Mises stresses calculated for both cases under consideration are below the tensile strength. The tensions arising in the belt and the accelerations required at various points of the driver’s body are determined by both the properties of the utilized polyester and the chosen construction variant. The obtained results justify the use of the three-point and four-point belt in the cases of both common and race cars.
Survey of Real-World Grid Incidents–Opportunities, Arising Challenges and Lessons Learned for the Future Converter Dominated Power System

To reach the climate goals set by national and international institutions, a vast transition of the legacy power system is unavoidable. The necessary integration of distributed, renewable generation devices, which are often interfaced with power electronic converters, has a non-negligible influence on the characteristics of the power grid. This is particularly visible during abnormal grid conditions such as faults. For rotating machines, the fast-timescale reaction to these events is mainly determined by physical properties. However, power electronic devices lack this strong coupling and their behavior is generated by the control and automation system, making them a major field of interest during this transition. The present paper provides a survey of real-world incidents, as for example blackouts or oscillatory incidents, that are discussed with respect to the implications for future converter dominated power grids. For typical cascading outages it is shown, where the increasing penetration of distributed, renewable generation and smart grid technologies can be leveraged to increase the system resilience, e.g. by providing grid services through adequate control design or by enabling microgrid concepts. Further, real-world examples of newly emerging challenges driven by power electronic devices are presented. The mechanisms of control system interactions with the neighboring grid and its inherent complex dependency on various factors is illustrated. Lastly, resulting structural developments such as the changed resonance properties of low voltage grids and the increase of harmonic emissions are exemplified.
A Sustainability Framework To Prioritize Proactive Climate Change Adaptation Investments For Impacts On Road Infrastructure Using A Data-Driven Approach

Schweikert, Amy Elizabeth (Ph.D., Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering) A Sustainability Framework To Prioritize Proactive Climate Change Adaptation Investments For Impacts On Road Infrastructure Using A Data-Driven Approach Thesis directed by Professor Paul S. Chinowsky As questions of climate change impacts, adaptation, and policy gain prominence in discussions at the local, national, and international levels, there is opportunity to address many of these challenges in meaningful ways. The goal of the research presented here is to provide data-driven support to policy makers and practitioners about how, when, and where to prioritize investments in road infrastructure to reduce vulnerability to climate change. The research question that guided this dissertation is, “How can planners and decision-makers incorporate a holistic perspective on future road infrastructure transportation planning with the uncertainties posed by a changing climate? ” A data-driven methodology, including engineering-based stressor response functions to assess climate change impacts were developed. Applying climate change models, these functions were then used to estimate financial and technical costs and benefits of proactive and reactive adaptation investment scenarios for road infrastructure. Finally, the triple bottom line framework for sustainability is used to apply this information alongside environmental and social climate change impact metrics to identify areas for infrastructure investments that should be prioritized based upon a three-pillar approach. GIS is used to synthesize the triple bottom line data and visually display critical geographic areas. Together, this work presents advances in the knowledge and methods used to address questions of sustainability and climate change in terms of road infrastructure. More broadly, these methods contribute to the discussion about how sustainability can be incorporated into routine decisions by policy makers as well as how climate change impacts can be quantified into information that can be utilized today in decision-making. While there are many sources of uncertainty in future planning, it is imperative that investments being made today account for potential impacts of climate change, both on the infrastructure elements themselves and the communities which they are designed to serve.
Towards a personalized preventive strategy of Herpes zoster infection in patients with hematologic diseases or hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: a position paper from an ad hoc Italian expert panel.

The identification of patients at high risk of herpes zoster (HZ) requiring a prevention strategy with antiviral prophylaxis and anti-HZ vaccine is a clinically relevant issue in patients with immunological impairment. Absence of trials comparing vaccination to pharmacological prophylaxis or defining their sequential use makes the optimal prevention strategy uncertain. This article presents the results of group discussion among an ad hoc constituted panel of experts aimed to review the literature regarding antiviral prophylaxis and vaccine efficacy and safety in populations with malignant and non-malignant hematological diseases, and submitted to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The panel used the consensus methodology and proposed solutions for prevention strategy producing advice for the management of the most relevant unmet clinical needs. Such a comprehensive overview aims to support at the practice of HZ pharmacological and vaccine prevention and informing the design and the need of implementation of new studies in the field.
Complement C1q and von Willebrand factor interaction in atherosclerosis of human carotid artery

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the vessel wall, with cholesterol crystal (CC) deposition being a hallmark of the disease. As evidence for a cross-talk between complement activation and hemostasis on CC surfaces has been limited to in vitro data, the aim of this study was to demonstrate the presence of C1q-vWF complexes in human atherosclerosis ex vivo. We used immunofluorescence staining and a proximity ligation assay (PLA, Duolink®) to examine the presence, localization, and co-localization of C1q and vWF in frozen sections of human carotid arteries with atherosclerosis or without atherosclerotic changes as well as material from thrombendarteriectomy. We observed significantly higher levels of C1q and vWF in healthy tissue compared to diseased material and greater co-localization in the PLA in healthy samples than in diseased samples. In diseased samples, fluorescence signals were highest in locations encompassing atheroma and foam cells. While there was overall reduced signal in areas with CCs, the staining was spotty, and there was evidence of co-localization on individual CCs. Thus, we demonstrate the presence of C1q-vWF complexes in human carotid arteries ex vivo, which was most abundant in healthy endothelial and subendothelial space and reduced in diseased tissue. C1q-vWF interaction can also be demonstrated on the CC surface.
Towards navigation in endoscopic kidney surgery based on preoperative imaging

Endoscopic renal surgeries have high re‐operation rates, particularly for lower volume surgeons. Due to the limited field and depth of view of current endoscopes, mentally mapping preoperative computed tomography (CT) images of patient anatomy to the surgical field is challenging. The inability to completely navigate the intrarenal collecting system leads to missed kidney stones and tumors, subsequently raising recurrence rates. A guidance system is proposed to estimate the endoscope positions within the CT to reduce re‐operation rates. A Structure from Motion algorithm is used to reconstruct the kidney collecting system from the endoscope videos. In addition, the kidney collecting system is segmented from CT scans using 3D U‐Net to create a 3D model. The two collecting system representations can then be registered to provide information on the relative endoscope position. Correct reconstruction and localization of intrarenal anatomy and endoscope position is demonstrated. Furthermore, a 3D map is created supported by the RGB endoscope images to reduce the burden of mental mapping during surgery. The proposed reconstruction pipeline has been validated for guidance. It can reduce the mental burden for surgeons and is a step towards the long‐term goal of reducing re‐operation rates in kidney stone surgery.
Review of materials, functional components, fabrication technologies and assembling characteristics for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) – An update

Fuel cells use electrochemical processes to transform the chemical energy of a fuel into electrical energy, which is a key enabler for the shift to an H2-based economy. Because of their high energy conversion efficiency and low pollution emissions, fuel cells with polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMFCs) are regarded as being in frontline of commercialization for the transportation and automotive industries. However, there are two major hurdles to their future commercialization: cost and durability, which promote basic study and development of their components. In this article, we reviewed the materials, functional components, fabrication technologies and assembling characteristics related to PEMFCs. Platinum's significance as a catalyst in PEMFC applications stems from the fact that it beats all other catalysts in three critical parts: stability, selectivity, and activity. In order to create Pt rich surfaces of NPs, Pt metal is alloyed with d-block metals like Cu, Ni, Fe, and Co. PEMFC development is inextricably tied to the benefits and drawbacks of the Nafion membrane under various operating circumstances. Nafion membrane has some drawbacks, including poor performance at high temperatures (over 90℃), low conductivity under low humidification, and high cost. As a result, a variety of nanoscale additives are frequently added to Nafion nanocomposites to enhance the material's properties under fuel cell working conditions. Fiber composite based bipolar plates can deliver best performance. The assembly of PEMFC based on strap approach is being explored. The applications of PEMFC are also projected.
TIME SERIES INSAR ANALYSIS FOR SLOPE STABILITY MONITORING USING SENTINEL-1 IN OPEN PIT MINING

Abstract. Surface mining is an important economic activity in many regions where mineral resources are located close to the surface. The process of ore extraction is characterised by high pit walls with steep slopes. The mining process introduces significant stress and strain changes that could lead to movement on the slope face. Slope failure on the pit walls can occur without warning and can lead to loss of life and disruptions to the mining process. The monitoring of slopes remains the most reliable way to detect movement on unstable slopes. Therefore, slope monitoring programmes have been established to monitor and measure slope movement to help mine management with the stability status of open pit slopes. Conventional monitoring techniques include visual inspections and in situ instrumentation that are point-based, time-consuming, and costly. Open-source remote sensing techniques such as Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometry have been used to monitor slope movements on open-pit mine walls. Time series interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) can be used to overcome limitations of in-situ monitoring for monitoring slope movements in open-pit mines.
Method of planning a reference trajectory of a single lane change manoeuver with Bezier curve

For a comprehensive simulation of vehicle steering process it is vital to model the decision process of planning a trajectory shape and process of the selected trajectory. A single lane change manoeuver is only slightly restricted by the road geometry. There are also other requirements of a possible trajectory of movement, such as the continuity of change (derivative) of curvature, maximizing the passenger's comfort measured with appropriate indicators based on variables of motion dynamics or parameters of motion trajectory which influence that dynamic. This article presents a suggested method of automatic generation of trajectory of single lane change manoeuver. The proposed method can be used as an integral part of driver models and is based on a combination of two symmetrical Bezier curves optionally supplemented with a straight lane connector. The method meets the requirements of a trajectory shape, which results from optimizing the value of parameters controlling Bezier curve based on minimizing the curvature and the resulting lateral acceleration while preserving the continuity of curvature derivative of the planned trajectory.
Influence of landscape gradients in wilderness management and spatial climate on fire severity in the Northern Rockies USA, 1984 to 2010

Management activities, applied over broad scales, can potentially affect attributes of fire regimes including fire severity. Wilderness landscapes provide a natural laboratory for exploring effects of management because in some federally designated wilderness areas the burning of naturally ignited fires is promoted. In order to better understand the contribution of fire management activities to fire effects, we examined patterns of severity across a management gradient defined by wilderness-non-wilderness boundaries in a northern Rocky Mountain study region. We identified a significant positive effect of the management gradient on severity for the time period 1984 to 2010, but the magnitude and direction of effects varied from year to year. However, the influence of management on severity was subsumed by the influence of spatial climate. Our findings represent an important step in constructing predictive models of severity with changes in both climate and fire management practices.