Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Radar Technology as a Mechanism for Clinical Gait Analysis: A Review

Walking gait, coordinated by the brain, nerves and musculoskeletal system, is the most common mode of human locomotion and is something that healthy individuals typically carry out every day. Illness or disease affecting these regions may alter gait, leading to declines in an individual’s capacity to function. Consequently, more accessible clinical gait analysis has become important for those affected. The purpose of this review is to gather the most current literature regarding the use of radar, a novel method, for clinical gait analysis. Researchers have found that using radar for clinical gait analysis is more mobile and less invasive than current gold standard methods. Literature tells us that moving forward, research on radar must expand from temporal parameter measurement to spatial parameter measurement as well. Advancements in spatial parameter detection are imperative for radar to reach its potential to positively impact clinical populations.
Nasal intubation with bronchial blocker in a patient with difficult airway for thoracoscopic surgery

We describe a case report of a 49 years old male, a case of Carcinoma tongue with one finger mouth opening operated multiple times, currently presented with pleural based soft tissue lesion in lower lobe of left lung with query metastasis posted for video assisted thoracoscopy surgery (VATS) SOS open thoracotomy and wedge resection of the lesion. Considering difficult airway due to restricted mouth opening we opted for an awake nasal fiberoptic intubation followed by general anaesthesia. One lung ventilation was achieved with Coopdech bronchial blocker type A with standard cuff size in left main stem bronchus. Postoperative course of patient was uneventful. In this case report we highlight the importance of use of fiberoptic bronchoscope and bronchial blocker for lung deflation in the management of difficult airway in VATS, as incomplete deflation of the nondependent lung during VATS can lead to poor surgical exposure and inadequate space for surgical manipulation which in turn can compromise the success of the procedure, and may possibly lead to conversion into an open approach.
Shielding from UV Photodamage: Implications for Surficial Origins of Life Chemistry on the Early Earth

UV light has been invoked as a source of energy for driving prebiotic chemistry, but such high energy photons are also known to cause damage to biomolecules and their precursors. One potential mechanism for increasing the lifetime of UV-photounstable molecules is to invoke a protection or shielding mechanism. UV shielding could either occur by the molecule in question itself (self-shielding) or by the presence of other UV-absorbing molecules. We investigate and illustrate these two shielding mechanisms as means of increasing the lifetime of 2-aminooxazole (AO), a prebiotic precursor molecule moderately susceptible to UV photodamage, with an expected half-life of 7 h on the surface of the early Earth. AO can be protected by being present in high concentrations, such that it self-shields. AO can similarly be protected by the presence of UV-absorbing nucleosides; the degree of protection depends on the concentration and identity of the nucleoside. The purine nucleosides (A, G, and I) confer more protection than the pyrimidines (C and U). We find that 0.1 mM purine ribonucleosides affords AO about the same protection as 1 mM AO self-shielding, corresponding to a lifetime enhancement of 2–3×. This suggests that only a modest yield of nucleosides can potentially allow for protection of UV photounstable molecules, and therefore this could be a plausible mechanism for protecting sensitive molecules while prebiotic synthesis is occurring simultaneously. Our findings suggest that both synthetic and degradative reactions can proceed at the same time, given various degrees of shielding.
Effect of Storage Conditions and Time on the Polyphenol Content of Wheat Flours

Whole wheat flour possesses many nutritional properties because of its abundant bioactive components which are affected by cultivar, but little attention is paid to its relationship with storage conditions. In this study, phenolic extracts of whole wheat flour from four cultivars stored under different conditions (aerated and under vacuum) and different times (0, 2, 4, 8 weeks) were obtained. The total polyphenol (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) contents, composition of phenolic acids, and antioxidant activities (AA) of phenolic extracts were evaluated. The results showed that Verna exhibited the highest levels of TPC, TFC, and AA for both storage conditions among the four cultivars. Moisture content, TFC, and AA fluctuated during storage. After 8 weeks, the TPC, TFC, and AA decreased with respect to Week 0 in all the cultivars. The TPC losses ranged between 16.39% and 20.88% and TFC losses from 14.08% to 31.18%. The AA losses were approximately 30% from the DPPH assay, but no significant losses were shown in the FRAP assay. However, these parameters were not distinctive between the two storage conditions. The wheat phenolic acid profiles were influenced more by storage time than storage conditions in all cultivars. Overall, the results validate the effect of the storage time on wheat polyphenol.
Long term effect of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field on islet of pancreas structure

According to epidemiological studies, living and working in the presence of extremely low frquency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) may contribute to several modern human diseases, and may explain the large increase in the incidence of diabetes and pancreatic cancer in urban areas. However, the influence of ELF EMFs on the pancreas remains unclear. The present study tests the effects of 5 months exposure to non-homogenous extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (50 Hz) of two different intensity (500-50 µT and 1000-100 µT) on endocrine pancreatic structure in Wistar rats. Results show that animals exposed to ELF EMFs of low and high intensity display a reduced number of islets per section of pancreas: an effect particularly pronounced in animals exposed to stronger fields. The mean islet diameter was significantly higher in both groups versus control (p < 0.01, respectively). In contrast, exposure to ELF EMFs had no significant influence on the total volume density of pancreatic islets. However, ELF EMF exposure did induce an increase in the volume density of connective tissue and blood capillaries in Langerhans islets, especially upon treatment with ELF EMFs of higher intensity. ELF EMFs of lower intensity increased the percentage of alpha and beta cells while reducing the percentage of D and PP cells. In addition, low intensity ELF EMF fields increased the volume density of alpha cells, decreased the volume density of D and PP cells, and had no influence on the volume density of beta cells. ELF EMFs of higher intensity decreased the percentage of alpha and D cells, while increasing the percentage of beta and PP cells. ELF EMFs of higher intensity induced an increase in the volume density of alpha cells, decreased D cell volume density, and had no influence on the volume density of beta and PP cells. Thus, according to our results, alpha cells displayed the greatest sensitivity to changes in ELF EMF intensity, while all other non-beta cells, as well as the beta cells do not alter their response profile depending on the intensity of the ELF EMFs. However, further investigations are required to elucidate intra-islet interactions between different endocrine islet cells types during ELF EMF exposure.
Incumbents achieving coopetition with disruptively technological entrants: a case from Chinese animation industry

ABSTRACT A disruptive technology threat replaces incumbents. While a prior disadvantage of incumbent competing against disruptive technological entrants lacks an effective incumbent’s competitive response. This research studied the case of a Chinese top animation firm, Comicfans Co., Ltd. This study aims to process a triangular qualitative research in the form of integrated qualitative research in terms of more comprehensive triangular formats. Furthermore, this study expands coopetition theory into entrant vs. incumbent under disruptive technology context and reveals how an incumbent-built competitive forbearance and formed coopetition with disruptive technological entrants by intra-industry integration (upstream and downstream) and cooperation (exploration and exploitation). When the disruptive entrants are in upstream substitution and show extension downstream, incumbent companies can adopt a strategy of diversified integration of downstream channels and cooperation with upstream entrants to increase the multi-point advantage and resource symbiosis in the downstream sectors against the entrants to obtain competitive priorities. When disruptive entrants are in downstream substitution and show an extension to upstream, incumbent companies can adopt a strategy of diversified integration of upstream product/business and exploitation cooperation with downstream entrants to improve the multi-point advantages and resource complementarity in the upstream sector against the entrants so as to obtain competitive priorities.
Review article: A systematic review and future prospects of flood
vulnerability indices

Abstract. This paper provides a state-of-art account on flood vulnerability indices, highlighting worldwide trends and future research directions. A total of 95 peer-reviewed articles published between 2002–2019 were systematically analyzed. An exponential rise in research effort is demonstrated, with 80 % of the articles being published since 2015. The majority of these studies (62.1 %) focused on the neighborhood followed by the city scale (14.7 %). Min-max normalization (30.5 %), equal weighting (24.2 %), and linear aggregation (80.0 %) were the most common methods. With regard to the indicators used, a focus was given to socio-economic aspects (e.g. population density, illiteracy rate, gender), whilst components associated with the citizen's coping and adaptive capacity were slightly covered. Gaps in current research include a lack of sensitivity and uncertainty analyzes (present in only 9.5 % and 3.2 % of papers, respectively); inadequate or inexistent validation of the results (present in 13.7 % of the studies); lack of transparency regarding the rationale for weighting and indicator selection; and use of static approaches, disregarding temporal dynamics. We discuss the challenges associated with these findings for the assessment of flood vulnerability and provide a research agenda for attending to these gaps.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE SATISFACTION OF BUSINESSES USING ONLINE TAX PAYMENT SERVICES AT THE TAX DEPARTMENT OF HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM

Customer satisfaction forms the foundation of any business success, as it leads to service reuse, brand loyalty and positive word of mouth. This study has been conducted as a survey. Convenient sampling method has been applied on a sample of 300 enterprises that have been using online tax payment services of the Tax Department of Ho Chi Minh City. The research model parameters include: (1) Information and system quality, (2) Time efficiency, (3) Confidentiality of information and transactions, (4) Support service / customer service, (5) Helpful awareness, (6) Trust in tax authorities. The results show that confidentiality of information and transactions has the strongest impact. Trust in tax authorities and Helpful awareness impact goes second. Next is time efficiency and support service/customer service. Finally, the Information and system quality is ranked the last one since it has the lowest beta coefficient.
A Clustering Framework to Reveal the Structural Effect Mechanisms of Natural and Social Factors on PM2.5 Concentrations in China

Understanding the mechanisms of various factors that affect PM2.5 can assist in the development of scientific measures to improve air quality. Nevertheless, existing research has concentrated on exploring local effect mechanisms, while structural effect mechanisms at regional or national scales have scarcely been analysed. Consequently, this study presents an analytical framework for elucidating the structural effect mechanisms of associated factors on PM2.5. Geographically and temporally weighted regression was used to explore the local effect mechanisms. This was followed by spatial clustering analysis to reveal these mechanisms by detecting their aggregation patterns. In the analysis, datasets for annual mean PM2.5 and socio-economic factors in China from 1999 to 2016 were employed. Urban population, gross industrial output, and sulphur dioxide emissions were identified as factors affecting changes in PM2.5 concentrations. These three factors had both negative and positive effects, while the gross industrial output had the largest coefficient variation degree. Three geographically related factors exhibited different impacts on PM2.5 concentrations in most of mainland China. These factors were the urban population roughly west of the Heihe-Tengchong line, gross industrial output primarily in southwestern China, and sulphur dioxide emissions primarily in southern China.
Biological and morphological aspects of Plectris aliena (Coleoptera: Melolonthidae) in sugarcane in Brazil

Plectris aliena (Coleoptera, Melolonthidae) Chapin is a species already recorded causing serious damage to various cultures in North America and Australia. Although its occurrence has recently been reported in Brazil, information about its distribution, taxonomy, and biology is limited. Thus, this study aims to report this new occurrence of P. aliena in Deodápolis (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil), as well as to present bioecological and morphological aspects of this species. In this way, the seasonal distribution and the life cycle was studied in the years 2017 and 2018. The larvae were sampled through trenches made in the soil and reared in the laboratory. Adults were captured using “Luiz de Queiroz” light traps. Adults have body with dense white hairs, antennae with 10 antenomeres; they measure approximately 12 mm in length, and their antennal lamellae are larger for males than females. The larvae reach 30 mm in length in the third stage and pupae show about 19 mm in length. The life cycle of this species is univoltine. Due to the great diversity of Plectris and the scarce information available about this species in South America, this study will facilitate its identification in the field and indicate the best time for monitoring in sugarcane crop.
A Model of Competitiveness of Coastal Women's Micro-Small Businesses in South Sulawesi

This study aims to analyze the competitiveness of small micro business for coastal women and to design a model for increasing the competitiveness of their businesses. The research analysis units were a woman or group of women who run small micro-enterprises taking raw materials from fisheries and marine products. Primary data and secondary data were analyzed through descriptive statistical approaches. The findings of this study include (1) in generally, the competitiveness of women's Small Micro Enterprises (WSMEs) living on the coast which was still relatively low caused by the limited coverage of market and the too simple technology production. (2) a model of increasing competitiveness for women's SMEs based on a systems was required. To improve the competitiveness of small micro-business products for women living on the coast, there should be an effective synergy of programs offered by competent institutions such as universities, business, government, financial, and community.
Object detection for crabs in top-view seabed imagery

This report presents the application of object detection on a database of underwater images of different species of crabs, as well as aerial images of sea lions and finally the Pascal VOC dataset. The model is an end-to-end object detection neural network based on a convolutional network base and a Long Short-Term Memory detector.
Circuit bases for randomisation

After a rich history in medicine, randomisation control trials both simple and complex are in increasing use in other areas such as web-based AB testing and planning and design decisions. A main objective is to be able to measure parameters, and contrasts in particular, while guarding against biases from hidden confounders. After careful definitions of classical entities such as contrasts, an algebraic method based on circuits is introduced which gives a wide choice of randomisation schemes.
Application of nano electrode Ag/AgCl on potentiometric sensor based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) to verify caffeine

Caffeine of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) has been synthesized by the cooling-heating method and to obtain sensor material to detect caffeine. The caffeine is verified through a potentiometric method based on galvanic cells involving anodes and cathodes. MIP of caffeine that has been made function as a cathode or working electrode and the modified of the Ag/AgCl reference electrode that made by reducing the AgCl membrane to nano size (44.45 nm) function as an anode. Then the modified Ag/AgCl reference electrode performance test is compared to the standard AgCl reference electrode. The result has shown the modified Ag/AgCl reference electrode produces linearity of the calibration curve in testing caffeine solutions with a concentration range of 0.1 ppm to 5.0 ppm. Based on the result of the modified Ag/AgCl reference electrode’s test range, we got the linearity coefficient value of 0.9993, with a slope of 0.9693 and an intercept of 0.1306. Generated accuracy calculation resulted in a value of 98.85% and a precision of 0.951%. The result of the lower limit of detection (LoD) was at a concentration of 0.2 ppm and the limit of quantification (LoQ) at a concentration of 0.4 ppm. Thus, it concluded that the modified Ag/AgCl reference electrode has the same or equivalent capability as a standard electrode.
Some $\alpha$-spectral extremal results for some digraphs

In this paper, we characterize the extremal digraphs with the maximal or minimal α-spectral radius among some digraph classes such as rose digraphs, generalized theta digraphs and tri-ring digraphs with given size m. These digraph classes are denoted by Rm, Θ̃k(m) and (m) respectively. The main results about spectral extremal digraph by Guo and Liu in [1] and Li and Wang in [2] are generalized to α-spectral graph theory. As a by-product of our main results, an open problem in [2] is answered. Furthermore, we determine the digraphs with the first three minimal αspectral radius among all strongly connected digraphs. Meanwhile, we determine the unique digraph with the fourth minimal α-spectral radius among all strongly connected digraphs for 0 ≤ α ≤ 1 2 .
Reward prediction for representation learning and reward shaping

One of the fundamental challenges in reinforcement learning (RL) is the one of data efficiency: modern algorithms require a very large number of training samples, especially compared to humans, for solving environments with high-dimensional observations. The severity of this problem is increased when the reward signal is sparse. In this work, we propose learning a state representation in a self-supervised manner for reward prediction. The reward predictor learns to estimate either a raw or a smoothed version of the true reward signal in environment with a single, terminating, goal state. We augment the training of out-of-the-box RL agents by shaping the reward using our reward predictor during policy learning. Using our representation for preprocessing high-dimensional observations, as well as using the predictor for reward shaping, is shown to significantly enhance Actor Critic using Kronecker-factored Trust Region and Proximal Policy Optimization in single-goal environments with visual inputs.
Gated Spin Transport through an Individual Single Wall Carbon Nanotube

Hysteretic switching in the magnetoresistance of short-channel, ferromagnetically contacted individual single wall carbon nanotubes is observed, providing strong evidence for nanotube spin transport. By varying the voltage on a capacitively coupled gate, the magnetoresistance can be reproducibly modified between +10% and −15%. The results are explained in terms of wave vector matching of the spin polarized electron states at the ferromagnetic ∕ nanotube interfaces.
An overview of the ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) project: aerosol–cloud–radiation interactions in the southeast Atlantic basin

Abstract. Southern Africa produces almost a third of the Earth’s biomass burning (BB) aerosol particles, yet the fate of these particles and their influence on regional and global climate is poorly understood. ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) is a five-year NASA EVS-2 (Earth Venture Suborbital-2) investigation with three Intensive Observation Periods designed to study key atmospheric processes that determine the climate impacts of these aerosols. During the Southern Hemisphere winter and spring (June-October), aerosol particles reaching 3–5 km in altitude are transported westward over the South-East Atlantic, where they interact with one of the largest subtropical stratocumulus subtropical stratocumulus (Sc) cloud decks in the world. The representation of these interactions in climate models remains highly uncertain in part due to a scarcity of observational constraints on aerosol and cloud properties, and due to the parameterized treatment of physical processes. Three ORACLES deployments by the NASA P-3 aircraft in September 2016, August 2017 and October 2018 (totaling ~350 science flight hours), augmented by the deployment of the NASA ER-2 aircraft for remote sensing in September 2016 (totaling ~100 science flight hours), were intended to help fill this observational gap. ORACLES focuses on three fundamental science questions centered on the climate effects of African BB aerosols: (a) direct aerosol radiative effects; (b) effects of aerosol absorption on atmospheric circulation and clouds; (c) aerosol-cloud microphysical interactions. This paper summarizes the ORACLES science objectives, describes the project implementation, provides an overview of the flights and measurements in each deployment, and highlights the integrative modeling efforts from cloud to global scales to address science objectives. Significant new findings on the vertical structure of BB aerosol physical and chemical properties, chemical aging, cloud condensation nuclei, rain and precipitation statistics, and aerosol indirect effects are emphasized, but their detailed descriptions are the subject of separate publications. The main purpose of this paper is to familiarize the broader scientific community with the ORACLES project and the data set it produced.