Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance comparison of signal processing filters on smooth pursuit eye movements

Noise that appears during eye movements data recording can cause inaccuracy in data readout. Various signal processing filters can be used to remove this noise, particularly during smooth pursuit eye movements. However, performance comparison of those signal processing filters is yet to be known when they are implemented in a smooth pursuit-based calibration method. In this study, we compared three signal processing filters namely Moving Average, Gaussian and Kalman filters to remove noises in smooth pursuit eye movements. In the experiment, we compared the performance of Moving Average, Gaussian, and Kalman filters. From the experimental results, Moving Average filter yielded errors of 36.97 ± 10.62 pixel (horizontal position) and 48.07 ± 15.11 pixel (vertical position). Gaussian filter yielded errors of 37.74 ± 11.23 pixel (horizontal position) and 51.06 ± 17.62 pixel (vertical position). Kalman filter yielded errors of 56.06 ± 30.97 pixel (horizontal position) and 72.98 ± 41.21 pixel (vertical position). Experimental results show that Moving Average filter yielded the best accuracy compared with the other signal processing filters. In future, our results maybe used in development of unobtrusive calibration procedure for spontaneous gaze-based interaction.
Electronic cigarette marketing tactics in mainland China

China produces 41% and consumes >38% of the world's cigarettes.1 It is also a global production and export centre of the electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) industry. Around 95% of the world's e-cigarettes are manufactured in China, mainly in the southeastern metropolis of Shenzhen,2 but the market share of e-cigarettes is tiny within the country.2 According to the most recent data of the International Tobacco Control Survey, only 2% of adult current or former smokers in China had ever used e-cigarettes in 2009.3 However, e-cigarette use has become increasingly popular, particularly among young people.4 The large smoker population and the hardening tobacco control measures (many cities have enacted local smoke-free laws,5 and a nationwide smoke-free law has been drafted6) create a huge potential for the e-cigarette market in the country. …
Towards evidence-based malaria guidelines in low- and middle-income countries

This PhD submission presents a case study of an academic group working as infomediaries at the interface between research and global policy, and at the interface between global policy and national decisions: advising on methodological issues, conducting systematic evidence reviews in response to information needs, and developing approaches for reinterpreting global guidance for national decision-making. The included systematic reviews were among the first to adopt innovative elements such as: summary of findings tables, standardized language reflecting the level of certainty in effect estimates, logic frameworks, and brief economic summaries; and have contributed to the further development of these methods. This work has helped to establish formal and transparent methods within global malaria guidance, and contributed to improved standards in global guidance more broadly.
Toxicity Evaluation of Individual and Mixtures of Nanoparticles Based on Algal Chlorophyll Content and Cell Count

The toxic effects of individual and binary mixtures of five metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) were evaluated based on changes in two endpoints of algal growth: the cell count and chlorophyll content. Various effects were observed according to the concentration tested and type of NPs, and there were no significant differences in findings for the two endpoints. In general, ZnO NPs caused the greatest inhibition of algal growth, and Fe2O3 NPs the least. The EC50 for ZnO was 2.0 mg/L for the cell count and 2.6 mg/L for the chlorophyll content, and it was 76 and 90 mg/L, respectively, for Fe2O3. The EC50 values were in the order ZnO > NiO > CuO > TiO2 > Fe2O3. Subsequently, the effects of 30 binary mixture combinations on the chlorophyll content were evaluated. Comparisons were made between the observed and the expected toxicities calculated based on the individual NP toxicities. Overall, additive action (67%) was mainly observed, followed by antagonistic (16.5%) and synergistic (16.5%) actions. These results suggest that environmental exposure to NP mixtures may cause toxicity levels similar to the sum of those of the constituent NPs.
Glass Polarization Induced Drift of a Closed-Loop Micro-Accelerometer

The glass polarization effects were introduced in this paper to study the main cause of turn-on drift phenomenon of closed-loop micro-accelerometers. The glass substrate underneath the sensitive silicon structure underwent a polarizing process when the DC bias voltage was applied. The slow polarizing process induced an additional electrostatic field to continually drag the movable mass block from one position to another so that the sensing capacitance was changed, which led to an output drift of micro-accelerometers. This drift was indirectly tested by experiments and could be sharply reduced by a shielding layer deposited on the glass substrate because the extra electrical filed was prohibited from generating extra electrostatic forces on the movable fingers of the mass block. The experimental results indicate the average magnitude of drift decreased about 73%, from 3.69 to 0.99 mV. The conclusions proposed in this paper showed a meaningful guideline to improve the stability of micro-devices based on silicon-on-glass structures.
Network-wide Measurement of TCP RTT in 2G Networks

We analyze existing server-side log data of a large scale automatic toll system to measure the TCP roundtrip-time (RTT) as experienced by the communication between the central system and the on-board units (OBUs) deployed for tolling heavy-goods vehicles. The RTT is estimated from passive monitoring by parsing server-side log files and aggregating fleet-wide statistics over time. Using this data we compare the characteristics of the four different types of OBU and the three GPRS (2G) networks used. We find the RTT data to be consistent with existing, smaller samples and extend the observed RTT range by an order of magnitude. The OBU types exhibit a markedly different behavior, most notably for long RTTs, and we find one of the 2G networks to ‘hum’ at 50 Hz and harmonics.
Review of adult laryngotracheal stenosis: pathogenesis, management, and outcomes

Purpose of reviewAdult laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a potentially life-threatening disorder that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Much is unknown regarding the etiology of airway stenosis, and while many patients do well with standard surgical management, the recurrence rate is significant. Few medical therapies exist, but there is a growing need. Recent findingsSeveral basic science studies have shown a role of inflammatory signaling pathways in the development of LTS. Infectious processes may also play a role in development of stenosis, while treatment with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive medications has shown some promise in preventing disease. Several risk factors, such as diabetes, BMI, length of stenosis, and need for T-tube, have been identified that portend worse surgical outcomes and may assist physicians in choosing appropriate treatment. SummaryWhile adult LTS is a complex, challenging clinical entity, there is promising research into the inflammatory origins of the disorder, which may open up groundbreaking new avenues of medical treatment.
Optimizing bio-inspired propulsion systems using genetic algorithm

Optimization is an important part of the development of an efficient propulsion system. The biomimetic marine propulsion system, known as oscillating foil, has recently seen an upswing in interest. However, optimization of movement patterns for these systems which has a potentially large payoff is yet to be researched in detail. Because of its biomimetic origin and problem type compatibility, genetic algorithm (GA) is a promising option for optimizing movement of oscillating foil propulsion systems. This paper proposes a system that implements a GA to optimize the movement patterns for oscillating foils using a physical rig. It also explores the feasibility of the application of GA to optimize movement patterns for oscillating foils. The experiment setup is a fully autonomous physical simulation of a real world application of a marine propulsion system. The usage of a physical environment is a proof of a quick and reliable way of calculating fitness for this application. Our proposed system is able to find optimal movement patterns for most of the experimental cases. The results also show that optimizing oscillating foil movement patterns using GA together with a physical test system is a viable option.
Northern Mediterranean climate since the Middle Pleistocene: a 637 ka stable isotope record from Lake Ohrid (Albania/Macedonia)

Lake Ohrid (Macedonia/Albania) is an ancient lake with unique biodiversity and a site of global significance for investigating the influence of climate, geological, and tectonic events on the generation of endemic populations. Here, we present oxygen (δ18O) and carbon (δ13C) isotope data from carbonate over the upper 243 m of a composite core profile recovered as part of the Scientific Collaboration on Past Speciation Conditions in Lake Ohrid (SCOPSCO) project. The investigated sediment succession covers the past ca. 637 ka. Previous studies on short cores from the lake (up to 15 m, < 140 ka) have indicated the total inorganic carbon (TIC) content of sediments to be highly sensitive to climate change over the last glacial–interglacial cycle. Sediments corresponding to warmer periods contain abundant endogenic calcite; however, an overall low TIC content in glacial sediments is punctuated by discrete bands of early diagenetic authigenic siderite. Isotope measurements on endogenic calcite (δ18Oc and δ13Cc) reveal variations both between and within interglacials that suggest the lake has been subject to palaeoenvironmental change on orbital and millennial timescales. We also measured isotope ratios from authigenic siderite (δ18Os and δ13Cs) and, with the oxygen isotope composition of calcite and siderite, reconstruct δ18O of lake water (δ18Olw) over the last 637 ka. Interglacials have higher δ18Olw values when compared to glacial periods most likely due to changes in evaporation, summer temperature, the proportion of winter precipitation (snowfall), and inflow from adjacent Lake Prespa. The isotope stratigraphy suggests Lake Ohrid experienced a period of general stability from marine isotope stage (MIS) 15 to MIS 13, highlighting MIS 14 as a particularly warm glacial. Climate conditions became progressively wetter during MIS 11 and MIS 9. Interglacial periods after MIS 9 are characterised by increasingly evaporated and drier conditions through MIS 7, MIS 5, and the Holocene. Our results provide new evidence for long-term climate change in the northern Mediterranean region, which will form the basis to better understand the influence of major environmental events on biological evolution within Lake Ohrid.
Prevention of all-terrain vehicle injuries: A systematic review from The Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma

BACKGROUND Despite increasing usage since their introduction, there exist no evidence-based guidelines on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and injury prevention. While the power and speed of these vehicles has increased over time, advancements in ATV safety have been rare. METHODS A priori questions about ATV injury pattern and the effect of helmet and safety equipment use and legislation mandating use were developed. A query of MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for all-terrain vehicle injury was performed. Letters to the editor, case reports, book chapters, and review articles were excluded. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology was used to perform a systematic review and create recommendations. RESULTS Twenty-eight studies were included. Helmet use reduced traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, studies examining whether legislation mandating helmet use reduced TBI had mixed results. When ATV safety legislation was enforced, overall injury rates and mortality decreased. However, enforcement varied widely and lack of enforcement led to decreased compliance with legislation and mixed results. There was not enough evidence to determine the effectiveness of non–helmet-protective equipment. CONCLUSION Helmet use when riding an ATV reduced the rate of TBI. ATV safety legislation, when enforced, also reduced morbidity and mortality. Compliance with laws is often low, however, possibly due to poor enforcement. We recommend helmet use when riding on an ATV to reduce TBI. We conditionally recommend implementing ATV safety legislation as a means to reduce ATV injuries, noting that enforcement must go hand in hand with enactment to ensure compliance.
Magnetic Targeting of Stem Cell Derivatives Enhances Hepatic Engraftment into Structurally Normal Liver

Attaining consistent robust engraftment in the structurally normal liver is an obstacle for cellular transplantation. Most experimental approaches to increase transplanted cells’ engraftment involve recipient-centered deleterious methods such as partial hepatectomy or irradiation which may be unsuitable in the clinic. Here, we present a cell-based strategy that increases engraftment into the structurally normal liver using a combination of magnetic targeting and proliferative endoderm progenitor (EPs) cells. Magnetic labeling has little effect on cell viability and differentiation, but in the presence of magnetic targeting, it increases the initial dwell time of transplanted EPs into the undamaged liver parenchyma. Consequently, greater cell retention in the liver is observed concomitantly with fewer transplanted cells in the lungs. These highly proliferative cells then significantly increase their biomass over time in the liver parenchyma, approaching nearly 4% of total liver cells 30 d after transplant. Therefore, the cell-based mechanisms of increased initial dwell time through magnetic targeting combined with high rate of proliferation in situ yield significant engraftment in the undamaged liver.
Improving Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis by DS Evidence Theory Based Fusion Model

Rolling bearing plays an important role in rotating machinery and its working condition directly affects the equipment efficiency. While dozens of methods have been proposed for real-time bearing fault diagnosis and monitoring, the fault classification accuracy of existing algorithms is still not satisfactory. This work presents a novel algorithm fusion model based on principal component analysis and Dempster-Shafer evidence theory for rolling bearing fault diagnosis. It combines the advantages of the learning vector quantization (LVQ) neural network model and the decision tree model. Experiments under three different spinning bearing speeds and two different crack sizes show that our fusion model has better performance and higher accuracy than either of the base classification models for rolling bearing fault diagnosis, which is achieved via synergic prediction from both types of models.
Agricultura climáticamente inteligente en El Salvador

En la actualidad, El Salvador está desarrollando un avanzado servicio de información meteorológica, una oportunidad para desarrollar la gestión de conocimiento y la capacidad de toma de decisiones entre los productores agrícolas. Gracias a un revigorizado servicio de extensión agrícola y de portales electrónicos, las comunicaciones eficientes pueden cumplir un papel clave en el desarrollo de las capacidades de los productores para responder a los desafíos del cambio climático.
Pregnancy decision-making in women with multiple sclerosis treated with natalizumab

Objective To assess fetal risk after pregnancy exposure to natalizumab in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), with a specific focus on spontaneous abortion (SA) and congenital anomalies (CA). Methods Data of all pregnancies occurring between 2009 and 2015 in patients with MS treated with natalizumab and referring to 19 participating sites were collected and compared with those of pregnancies in untreated patients and patients treated with injectable immunomodulatory agents. Rates of SA and CA were also compared with those reported in the Italian population. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were performed. Results A total of 92 pregnancies were tracked in 83 women. In the multivariable analysis, natalizumab exposure was associated with SA (odds ratio [OR] 3.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.9–8.5, p < 0.001). However, the rate of SA (17.4%) was within the estimates for the general population, as well as the rate of major CA (3.7%). Moreover, exposure to natalizumab and interferon-β (IFN-β) was associated with lower length and weight of the babies (p < 0.001). Conclusion Our results showed that natalizumab exposure to up 12 weeks of gestation is associated with an increased risk of SA, although within the limits expected in the general population, whereas the risk of CA needs further investigation. Taking into account the high risk of disease reactivation after natalizumab suspension, pregnancy could be planned continuing natalizumab while strictly monitoring conception. Classification of evidence This study provides Class III evidence that in women with MS, natalizumab exposure increases the risk of spontaneous abortion as compared to IFN-β-exposed or untreated patients (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.9–8.5).
Proposal for a new inclusive designation for extraintestinal pathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli: ExPEC.

Although Escherichia coli is probably the best-known bacterial species and one of the most common isolates in clinical microbiology laboratories, misconceptions abound with regard to the various types of E. coli and the infections that they cause. E. coli strains of biological significance to humans can be broadly classified (on the basis of both genetic and clinical criteria) into 3 major groups: commensal strains, intestinal pathogenic (enteric or diarrheagenic) strains, and extraintestinal pathogenic strains. Commensal strains of E. coli constitute the bulk of facultative fecal flora in most healthy humans, other mammals, and birds. These strains appear to be adapted for peaceful coexistence with the host and do not appear to cause disease within the intestinal tract. Furthermore, in humans they usually do not cause disease outside the intestinal tract, except when precipitating factors are present, such as an indwelling foreign body or impairment of host defenses. Most human commensal strains originate from E. coli phylogenetic group A, as defined by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, as do the familiar laboratory strains of E. coli (e.g., K-12 and its derivatives) [1, 2]. Commensal strains of E. coli typically lack the specialized virulence traits that are present in intestinal and extraintestinal pathogenic strains. In contrast with commensal strains, intestinal pathogenic strains of E. coli are rarely encountered in the fecal flora of healthy hosts and, instead, appear to be essentially obligate pathogens, causing gastroenteritis or colitis when ingested in sufficient quantities by a naive host. Six distinct pathogenic categories (pathotypes) of intestinal pathogenic strains of E. coli currently are recognized: enterotoxigenic (ETEC), Shigatoxin producing/enterohemorrhagic (STEC/EHEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC), and diffusely adherent (DAEC); Shigella (although
Predictors of remote practice location in the first seven cohorts of James Cook University MBBS graduates.

INTRODUCTION This article describes factors predicting James Cook University (JCU) medical graduates undertaking at least 1 year of remote practice. The cross-sectional design involved point-in-time (2015) analysis of the JCU medical school's ongoing longitudinal graduate tracking database. Participants were the first seven cohorts of graduates from the JCU medical school who had completed at least their postgraduate year (PGY) 4 in Australia (n=529); that is, PGY 4 to PGY 10 graduates. METHODS Multiple logistic regression and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis of medical graduate application data (age, gender, hometown, interview score, ethnicity), undergraduate data (scholarships awarded, clinical school location) and postgraduation data (internship location, specialty training) was performed. Analysis identified independent predictors of having practised for at least 1 year in a 'remote' Australian town (Australian Standard Geographic Classification Remoteness Area 4-5). RESULTS Forty-seven (9%) of JCU Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery graduates in the first seven cohorts had practised for at least 1 year in a remote location between PGY 4 and 10. Practice in a 'remote' town was predicted by undertaking rural generalist training (p<0.001; prevalence odds ratio (POR)=17.0), being awarded an 'above average' interview score at medical school selection (p=0.006; POR=5.1), attending the Darwin clinical school in years 5-6 (p=0.005; POR=4.7), being female (p=0.016, POR=3.6) and undertaking an outer-regional or remotely based internship (p=0.006; POR=3.5). CART analysis identified Indigenous graduates as another key subgroup of remote practice graduates. CONCLUSIONS This study provides the first Australian evidence that likelihood of remote medical practice is enhanced by investment in a 'remote pipeline' - medical education via clinical schools and internships in rural/remote locations, with a later option of a rural generalist pathway. The proportion of medical graduates working in remote practice may also be increased by preferentially selecting Indigenous Australian applicants and applicants who score highly for communication, teamwork, self-reliance and motivation for rural and remote practice.
Negotiating the symbolic power of information and communication technologies (ICT): The spread of Internet-supported distance education

The Internet may be, as typically suggested, important in distance education for facilitating connections between groups of students, educational institutions, and external learning resources. This article, however, reveals why this is not the only reason for applying information and communication technologies (ICT) in higher education in a remote area in a developing country. In addition, the Internet seems to be of great importance in symbolizing modernization and progress, thereby adding symbolic power to such education. Empirical sources originate from an explorative case study of an Internet-supported distance education program in the province of Bangka Belitung in Indonesia. Based on a translation perspective on the spread of pheromones, the analyses of empirical sources show how the Internet has contributed to the spread of distance education, but paradoxically this has not had much effect on the use of Internet by students in peripheral areas, at least not in the short term. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.