Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heuristic Analysis for In-Plane Non-Contact Calibration of Rulers Using Mask R-CNN

Determining an object measurement is a challenging task without having a well-defined reference. When a ruler is placed in the same plane of an object being measured it can serve as metric reference, thus a measurement system can be defined and calibrated to correlate actual dimensions with pixels contained in an image. This paper describes a system for non-contact object measurement by sensing and assessing the distinct spatial frequency of the graduations on a ruler. The approach presented leverages Deep Learning methods, specifically Mask Region proposal based Convolutional Neural Networks (R-CNN), for rulers’ recognition and segmentation, as well as several other computer vision (CV) methods such as adaptive thresholding and template matching. We developed a heuristic analytical method for calibrating an image by applying several filters to extract the spatial frequencies corresponding to the ticks on a given ruler. We propose an automated in-plane optical scaling calibration system for non-contact measurement.
Potential of Lenvatinib for an Expanded Indication from the REFLECT Trial in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lenvatinib and verify the possibility of lenvatinib for the expanded indication from the REFLECT trial in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in real-world practice, primarily focusing on the population that was excluded in the REFLECT trial. Methods: We retrospectively collected data on patients with advanced HCC who were administered lenvatinib in 7 institutions in Japan. Results: Of 152 advanced HCC patients, 95 and 57 patients received lenvatinib in first-line and second- or later-line systemic therapies, respectively. The median progression-free survival in Child-Pugh class A patients was nearly equal between first- and second- or later-line therapies (5.2 months; 95% CI 3.7–6.9 for first line, 4.8 months; 95% CI 3.8–5.9 for second or later line, p = 0.933). According to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, the objective response rate of 27 patients (18%) who showed a high burden of intrahepatic lesions (i.e., main portal vein and/or bile duct invasion or 50% or higher liver occupation) at baseline radiological assessment was 41% and similar with that of other population. The present study included 20 patients (13%) with Child-Pugh class B. These patients observed high frequency rates of liver function-related adverse events due to lenvatinib. The 8-week dose intensity of lenvatinib had a strong correlation with liver function according to both the Child-Pugh and albumin – bilirubin scores. Conclusion: Lenvatinib had potential benefits for patients with advanced HCC with second- or later-line therapies and a high burden of intrahepatic lesions. Dose modification should be paid increased attention among patients with poor liver function, such as Child-Pugh class B patients.
Design and Experiment of a Cardan-Type Self-Decoupled and Self-Powered Bending Moment and Torque Sensor

The conventional force sensors suffer from dimension coupling and energy problems. In this article, a cardan-type self-decoupled and self-powered bending moment and torque sensor were proposed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested. The sensor was mainly composed of a bending moment deforming ring, two torque deforming sheets, and a cardan. The bending moment deforming ring withstood the bending force applied on the sensor individually. The torque deforming sheets bore the torque alone. The separation of the bending moment and torque was realized by the cardan. After that, the coupled bending moment and torque acting on the sensor were decoupled and measured, respectively. Two pieces of magnetostrictive ribbons were bonded on the bending moment deforming ring and torque deforming sheets in order to realize passive and wireless detection. A theoretical analysis of the sensor was carried out. The sensor was fabricated and the experiments were conducted. The experimental results showed that the coupling force separation accuracy of the sensor was over 98%. The sensor could work without an internal power supply for an unlimited time. The sensor shows the merits of self-decoupling, working passively, and wirelessly. The sensor can be potentially used to detect the coupled force on a cutting tool of a machining center.
The Influence of the Frontal Surface Area and Swim Velocity Variation in Front Crawl Active Drag

ABSTRACT Purpose The aims of this study were to 1) compare active drag (Da) calculation between a single land-based measurement of frontal surface area (FSA) and in-water FSA measures obtained at key events of the arm pull (1, right upper-limb catch; 2, right upper-limb insweep; 3, right upper-limb exit and left upper-limb catch; 4, left upper-limb insweep; and 5, left upper-limb exit and right upper-limb catch) at front crawl swimming, and 2) compare mechanical power variables computed based on these two approaches. Methods Seventeen swimmers (11, male; 6, female; 16.15 ± 0.94 yr old) were recruited. The FSA was measured based on two approaches: (i) nonvariation, that is, assuming a constant value, and (ii) variation, that is, calculated in each key event of the front crawl swim. Active drag based on a nonvariation of the FSA was measured using the Velocity Perturbation method. Active drag based on a variation approach was measured in each key event of the front crawl according to the law of linear motion. Paired t-test (P ≤ 0.05), simple linear regression models, and Bland–Altman plots between assessment methods (variation vs nonvariation) were computed. Results The FSA (variation) was higher than when assuming a nonvariation (0.1110 ± 0.010 vs 0.0968 ± 0.010 m2, Δ = 15.69%, t = 4.40, P < 0.001, d = 0.95). Active drag (variation) was also significantly higher than when assuming a nonvariation (88.44 ± 25.92 vs 75.41 ± 15.11 N, Δ = 16.09%, t = 3.66, P = 0.002, d = 0.61). Conclusions Besides the FSA, swim velocity also changes during the front crawl arm pull. The variation of both variables had a significant effect on the active drag measurement and consequently on mechanical power and total power input variables.
Popularity-Based and Version-Aware Caching Scheme at Edge Servers for Multi-Version VoD Systems

Recently, many video-on-demand (VoD) providers have begun storing multiple versions of the same video to offer multiple-quality video services with different bitrates to users, called multi-version VoD. To improve users’ quality of experience (QoE), it is a good idea to cache videos at edge servers in multi-version VoD systems. However, determining which versions of which videos should be cached or replaced in an edge server is still a major challenge for a multi-version VoD system because of its limited cache storage. In this paper, we propose a popularity-based and version-aware caching scheme (PVCS) at edge servers for multi-version VoD systems. First, based on video popularity, we formulate cache placement as a knapsack problem under constraints such as the cache storage and transcoding computation of the edge server, which aims to maximize the cache hit ratio. Second, we use the transcoding relations among versions to calculate a version-aware caching profit when caching a certain version or multiple versions of a video. The version-aware caching profit is the basis for the subsequent cache replacement algorithm. Third, we propose two algorithms, the video cache placement (VCP) algorithm and the video cache replacement (VCrP) algorithm, to solve the cache placement and replacement problems respectively. VCP utilizes the Lagrangian relaxation algorithm to decide which video files should be cached initially, and VCrP decides which video files cached at the edge server will be replaced dynamically based on the version-aware profit. In this way, the PVCS can improve the cache hit ratio and decrease the average start-up delay. Our simulation results have shown that the PVCS outperforms the other schemes in terms of the cache hit ratio and the average start-up delay.
Growth and cellulolytic activity of Cellulomonas flavigena

Growth factor requirements, growth kinetics, and the ability to produce the enzyme cellulase were examined in the cellulolytic bacterium Cellulomonas flavigena KIST 321. The organism was found to require only thiamine for growth in mineral salts medium containing simple sugars or cellulose. Growth rates on various carbohydrates suggested that disruption of the crystalline structure was the rate-limiting step in the utilization of crystalline cellulose, and hydrolysis of the polymer itself was as rapid as the uptake of the hydrolytic product. When the organism was grown on cellulose the cellulolytic activity appeared to be bound to the cell at the beginning of the exponential growth phase: only after this did cell-free enzyme activity appear. The cell-free enzyme appeared to be unstable, and its activity decreased at the beginning of the stationary phase.
Soil respiration along an altitudinal gradient in a subalpine secondary forest in China

Abstract: The subalpine forest ecosystems in the Miyaluo Forest District in western Sichuan (China) could be very sensitive to global climate change, with important consequences for the regional carbon (C) balance. In a birch secondary forest in this area, we measured plots with (Control) and without (No Litter) leaf litter to explore variation in soil respiration and its relationship with environmental factors along an altitudinal gradient, and to quantify the litter contribution to soil respiration. Soil respiration rate decreased with elevation. The average of soil respiration rates along the elevation gradient during the measurement period was 2.83 ± 0.14 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in the Control treatment and 2.35 ± 0.16 μmol CO2 m-2 s-1 in the No Litter treatment, with an average proportion of litter layer contribution to soil respiration of 17%. A significant linear relationship between soil respiration and soil temperature along the altitudinal gradient was found, while soil respiration was not significantly correlated with soil water content in both treatments. Soil temperature accounted for 94.9% and 95.6% of the total variation in soil respiration in Control and No Litter treatments, respectively. At altitudes of 2910 m, 3135 m, 3300 m and 3492 m a.s. l. , soil respiration had a significant exponential relationship with soil temperature (p 0.05). Soil temperature accounted for more than 92% and 81% of the total variation in soil respiration in Control and No Litter treatments, respectively, at all altitudes except at 3135 m a.s. l. Our results suggest that the expected temperature increases by global warming might enhance soil respiration in the birch secondary forest.
Behavior and Physiology of Mice Lacking the GABAA‐Receptor δ Subunit

Summary: Purpose: Mice with a targeted disruption of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (A) receptor (GABAAR) δ subunit exhibited spontaneous seizures and a strikingly selective attenuation of responses to neuroactive steroids, but not to other neuromodulators. This study further characterized the behavior and physiology of the δ mutants.
Screening of Nitrogen Sources in the Medium for Streptococcus thermophilus Using Plackett–Burman Design

This study demonstrates that the type of nitrogen sources has an important influence on the growth of Streptococcus thermophilus.at the same time ,viable counts was studied by in the medium containing various nitrogen sources (peptone, yeast extract, meat extract, tryptone，soya peptone and casein hydrolysate). The results indicated that soya peptone was the most efficient nitrogen source and and the influence of different concentrations of soya peptone on growth was determined. The results indicated that viable bacteria were stimulated by the high soya peptone concentration (30g/L).
Bioaccumulation and Physiological Response of Five Willows to Toxic Levels of Cadmium and Zinc

We evaluated the phytoremediation potential of Salix spp. exposed to high cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) concentrations to select feasible plant materials for restoration and revegetation of mining soil contaminated by heavy metals on the basis of their Cd and Zn accumulation, Cd-Zn interaction on bioaccumulation, and the changes of photosynthetic parameters. The Cd and Zn concentrations were in the order of root > leaf > stem, regardless of the species. In the combined Cd and Zn treatment, the leaf and stem Cd concentration in all species were higher relative to Cd-alone treatment. In contrast, the Zn concentration in plant tissues when exposed to the combined Cd + Zn treatment decreased relative to the Zn-alone treatment. The translocation factor (TF) of Cd and Zn from root to leaf was generally higher compared to TF from root to stem than those in the single treatment. The Cd + Zn treatments resulted in enhanced translocation of Cd from root to aboveground tissue (synergistic), while the same treatment suppressed the Zn translocation from root to leaf and stem (antagonistic). The reduction of photosynthetic parameters in Zn alone and Cd + Zn treatments was generally higher than that of Cd-alone treatment. Among the different species, S. caprea and P. alba×glandulosa have the lowest photosynthetic reduction relative to the control. Overall, S. caprea could be a potential candidate for phytoremediation of Cd- and Zn-contaminated sites.
Epicuticular wax on stomata of damaged silver fir trees [Abies alba Mill.]

Condition of epistomatal wax on the abaxial surface of the current and previous-year needles of damaged silver fir trees ( Abies alba Mill.), both from the polluted Risnjak and "clean" Donja Dobra sites in Gorski Kotar region, both influenced by pollutants coming from Europe, during two years, three times a year, were examined with Scanning Electron Microscope. In the course of time the wax tubules on the epistomatal rims of stomata in polluted, but also in "clean" needles surface, become fused and agglomerated rapidly to various extents of morphologically different types of amorphous wax crusts, primarily compact and particulate ones. This process begins very early, especially in polluted Risnjak site, and may be interpreted as a possible result of air pollution. However, the recrystalization, or production of new tubules, also appears relatively quickly in mostly cases. Quantitative estimations indicate a very large total amount of amorphous wax crusts in the current-year needles, and a very high percentage of the same wax in previous-year needles. Amorphous wax crusts cover stomatal pores, as well as the rims, disturbing the normal gas exchange. Statistically there is a signicant tendency of increase in wax degradation in the needles of the polluted site in comparison with those of the unpolluted one, but there is an insignificant wax degradation among the needles of damaged trees within each site. These results confirmed most of the research done in our preliminary report.
Cloning of a DNA Binding Protein That Recognizes the PLP Promoter

Myelin is a highly specialized membrane unique to the nervous system that ensheaths axons to permit the rapid saltatory conduction of impulses. The signals involved in the elaboration of a compact myelin sheath are unknown; however, the requirement of cell-cell interactions between the myelhating cell (Schwann cell or oligodendrocyte) and its target neuron@) has been well documented. At least one of the myelhating signals must activate the genes encoding myelinspecific proteins, whose synthesis appears to be coordinately controlled during development. Two of these myelin proteins (proteolipid protein [PLP] and myelin basic protein [MBP]), which together comprise over 80% of the protein of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system, have been extensively studied in our laboratory. " To examine the signals controlling myelin gene expression, we isolated genes encoding proteins that bind regulatory regions of PLP. Sites in the PLP promoter that bind nuclear brain proteins were identified by gel mobility shift and footprinting assays. Synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to these binding sites were multimerized and used to probe a human brain hgtl 1 library. One probe containing the recognition site GGAGCCC detected a cDNA clone encoding a novel protein with a highly charged region (named PBPl for proteolipid binding protein). The 2 : 1 ratio of basic to acid residues in this domain is reminiscent of other DNA binding domains. On Northern blots, a discrete 4-kb transcript encoding PBPl was found only in brain and sciatic nerve. The tissue restricted expression of PBPl, and the presence of the GGAGCCC motif in two other myelin-specific genes (Po and MBP) recommends PBPl as a key modulator of myelination, a function that can be tested in uitro and in transfected glial cells.
Conformation measures on carcass of chickens

An example of measuring of conformation of chicken carcasses using the method applied in the Institute for Animal husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun is presented in this paper, as well as results of our previous research and more recent comparative investigations of different chicken genotypes used for fattening. In order to determine genetic improvement of hybrid which is used in certain research period in broiler production, we will present results of comparative research of different lines tested in years1983, 1993 and 2004. Investigation of the chicken conformation (with few typical chickens of each sex and hybrids) in broiler tests carried out in the Institute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun in 1981,1993 and 2004, showed that there were no significant differences in conformation between hybrids used in investigation periods in broiler production in our country. If we compare results of investigation obtained during 20 year period (from 1983 to 2004.), we can conclude that genetic-selection research have given considerable contribution to increase of the body mass of chickens, especially of breasts, and of breast angle.
Gillnet fishers’ knowledge reveals seasonality in depth and habitat use of cod (Gadus morhua) in the Western Baltic Sea

Practical and applied knowledge of local fishers can help to improve our understanding of target species ecology and fisheries management decisions. In the Western Baltic Sea (WBS), the spatio-temporal distribution of cod is still largely unknown despite decades of research. We studied changes in cod distribution by obtaining information on temporal depth and habitat use of cod from commercial gillnet fishers using semi-directed interviews supplemented by at-sea observer data. Linear and non-linear regression analyses revealed significant relationships between depth use of cod and sea surface temperature (SST) as well as thermal stratification. Moreover, habitat use was related to SST and residence depth of cod. Areas deeper than 15 m were favoured from late December until March during low SST and a mixed water column (spawning) and also from July until August during high SST and strong thermal stratification (summer aestivation). Shallower areas were favoured during the rest of the year. The depth and habitat use displayed distinct seasonal up- and downslope movements of cod. This study highlights the importance of shallow-water and structured habitats for cod in the WBS and the value of local knowledge held by fishers for a better understanding of the distributional dynamics of important marine resource populations.
Image Haze Removal Using Dark Channel Prior based on Guided Image

In foggy weather, the interference of fog has a serious impact on the accurate monitoring of vehicle targets. To address this problem, this paper proposed a method which is image haze removal based on the guided image. In the process of this method, the clear images are as the guide images, which is designed to effectively redress the bright region which is not meet the dark color prior by the prior information of the guide image, to avoided the error estimates of this kind of area of transmissivity. Experimental results demonstrate that our method achieves significant improvement in both image quality and image detail when compared with classical image haze removal method.
Response of juvenile rainbow trout to varying concentrations of chemical alarm cue: response thresholds and survival during encounters with predators

Prey animals may mediate the intensity of their behavioural responses to predators to reflect their risk of predation. However, in the absence of an overt (observable) behavioural response to a particular predation-risk cue, we need to ask whether or not prey animals are still using the cue to assess predation risk. Behavioural responses that are not readily observable within the time frame of the experiment are considered covert. In this study we exposed juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, to varying concentrations of conspecific chemical alarm cue to determine their observable response threshold. In a subsequent experiment we exposed the trout to alarm-cue concentrations above and below their behavioural-response threshold and allowed them to interact with an unknown predator (northern pike, Esox lucius). Trout exposed to concentrations below the observable response threshold were able to evade the predator equally as well as trout exposed to alarm-cue concentrations above the observable respon.
Business cycle accounting: What have we learned so far?

What drives recessions and expansions? Since it was introduced in 2007, there have been hundreds of business cycle accounting (BCA) exercises, a procedure aimed at identifying classes of models that hold quantitative promise to explain economic fluctuations. This paper contributes with a software—a graphical user interface that allows practitioners to perform BCA exercises with minimal effort—and exemplifies the procedure by studying the U.S. recessions in 1973 and 1990 and reflecting upon the critiques BCA has been subject to. We look into the many equivalence theorems that the literature has produced and that allow BCA practitioners to identify the theories that are quantitatively relevant for the economic period under study. The methodological extensions that have been brought forth since BCA's original inception are addressed as well as conclusions regarding the relative contribution of each wedge: GDP and investment are usually driven by an efficiency wedge, hours worked are closely related to the labor wedge and, in an open economy extension, the investment wedge helps to explain country risk spreads on international bonds. Finally, larger changes in interest rates and currency crises are usually associated with the investment and/or the labor wedge.
Improvement on eight-node quadrilateral element (IQ8) using twice-interpolation strategy for linear elastic fracture mechanics

In this study, an improved eight-node quadrilateral finite element based on a twice-interpolation strategy (TIS) is given for correctly modeling the singular stress field near 2D crack tip of structures. In present approach, the approximation functions for interpolation strategy are established by using the TIS which included nodal values as well as averaged nodal gradients respectively. The stress intensity factors (SIFs) are therefore calculated following the proposed method. The accuracy of the proposed element and its numerical solutions are described by several examples.