Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of supplementation of certain antioxidants (Vitamin E, vitamin C and selenium) on the growth performance of broiler chicken during heat stress

An experiment was conducted with one hundred eighty numbers of day-old broiler chicks (Vencobb-400) to assess the effect of dietary antioxidants supplementation on broiler performance. The chicks were divided into T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 having 3 replicates of 12 chicks in each group. Chicks in group T0 were given basal diet without antioxidant supplementation and T1, T2, T3 and T4 were supplied with antioxidants into drinking water as vitamin E@100mg/l and Selenium@ 0.2 mg/l, vitamin E@200 mg/l and Selenium@ 0.3 mg/l, vitamin E@100 mg/l and vitamin C@100mg/l and vitamin E@200 mg/l and vitamin C @200 mg/l respectively. Better performance was observed in antioxidant supplemented groups in terms of body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio, livability, gross profit and physicochemical profile of breast muscle excluding shear force value while the carcass traits and proximate composition of breast muscle except for crude protein percentage were not affected.
Antioxidant potential of 12 medicinal plants of Sri Lanka

Antioxidants have the capability of decreasing adverse effects of reactive oxygen species. The present study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant properties of 12 medicinal plants which are used in the Aryurvedic medicinal system as well as reported to be used as dainty leafy vegetables in Sri Lanka. The qualitative screening of plants showed significant positive results of existence of all tested phytochemicals. The tannin concentration of all 12 plants tested was within the range from 0.41 29.51 mg TAE/g dw. Among the all tested plants, O. octandra showed remarkably high concentration of tannins (29.51 and 12.27 mg TAE/g dw), flavonoids (111.49 mg RE/g) and total phenolic contents (94.53 mg GAE/g dw). There was a significant correlation (P= 0.05) between total phenolics and three antioxidant capacities assays (FRAP, DPPH and ABTS). Similarly, there were high correlation between FRAP and ABTS assays (R= 0.912) and ABTS and DPPH assays (R= 0.873). Total chlorophyll content in twelve plants were ranged from 12.61 18.39 μg/ mL of fresh leaf samples. All plants evaluated showed significantly high amount of total chlorophyll content (>12 μg/ mL) including in M. oppositifolia which had exhibited less content of phytochemicals for all tests carried out in this study. The carotenoid content was ranged from of 0.68 1.59 μg/ mL. The results showed that all 12 medicinal plants had good antioxidant potential and they can be used in therapeutics as well as leafy vegetables for day today consumption.
IS THERE A TRADE-OFF BETWEEN FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY AND OUTREACH TO THE POOR?

This paper applies the life-cycle theory to test the wide-spread assumption that microfinance institutions (MFIs) which are financially sustainable do not reach the poorest of the poor. Using balanced panel data from the fiscal years 2007 to 2011 of 324 MFIs across 64 countries, this study not only shows that financial sustainability and outreach to the poor can go hand in hand, but also that financially sustainable MFIs do in fact have deeper outreach. In addition, the results imply that regulation has a negative impact on outreach on both depth and breadth dimensions whereas profit-orientation only has a small effect.
DEVELOPMENT OF A RUMEN FLUID PRESERVATION TECHNIQUE AND APPLICATION TO AN IN VITRO DRY MATTER DIGESTIBILITY ASSAY

The objective of this study was to develop a rumen-fluid freezing and thawing protocol to be used with a two-stage in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) assay. Rumen fluid was collected on three different days (one week apart) from a domestic steer (Bos taurus) and preserved via freezing, freezing with 5% glycerol (GLY) or freezing with 5% glycerol plus a buffer solution (BUF). The IVDMD of frozen preparations were compared to those of fresh rumen fluid. Yellow corn, soybean meal, high fiber herbivore pelleted diet and coastal bermudagrass hay were used as reference feed substrates. Frozen rumen fluid preparations were thawed in a warm (39°C) water bath, pre-incubated and infused with CO2 overnight (12 h) prior to use. Frozen rumen fluid gave similar IVDMD results when compared to fresh samples (P > 0.05), whereas IVDMD values determined using GLY and BUF preparations were different from fresh samples (P < 0.05).
Face Recognition based smart attendance system using IOT

- Attendance is a compulsory requirement of every organization. Maintaining attendance register daily is a difficult and time consuming task. There are many automated methods for the same available like Biometric, RFID, eye detection, voice recognition, and many more. This paper provides an efficient and smart method for marking attendance. As it is known that primary identification for any human is its face, face recognition provides an accurate system which overcomes the ambiguities like fake attendance, high cost
Semi-supervised Learning of Depth from Video

Learning-based monocular depth estimation has shown promising results. In particular, the unsupervised approach based on view synthesis has achieved comparable or even better performance than the supervised method. Two networks are jointly trained to predict the depth map and ego-motion. However, there is a scale ambiguity of the depth prediction. The output depth value are just up-to-scale. In this project, we present a semi-supervised learning framework which can directly give the absolute depth map. The scale ambiguity is removed through introducing a new loss term. We evaluate our framework on both KITTI and our own dataset, and the result shows that the absolute loss term is able to upgrade the model from relative to absolute version.
Working Paper Series Document de travail de la série INSPIRATION FROM THE “BIGGEST LOSER”: SOCIAL INTERACTIONS IN A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

We investigate the role of heterogeneous peer effects in encouraging healthy and sustainable lifestyles. Our analysis revolves around one of the largest and most extensive databases about weight loss, which contains well over 10 million observations that track individual participants’ meeting attendance and progress in a large national weight loss program. A few key findings emerge. First, while higher weight loss among average performing peers leads to lower future weight loss for an individual, the effect of the top weight loss performer among peers leads to greater future weight loss for that same individual. Second, the discouraging effects from average peers and encouraging effects from top performing peers are magnified for individuals who struggled with weight loss in the past. Third, the encouraging effect of top performers has a long-run impact on an individual’s weight loss success. Finally, we provide suggestive evidence that the discrepancy between the top and average performer effects is not likely an artifact of salience or informativeness of top performers, but instead, driven by its positive impact on the motivation to accomplish weight loss goals. Given our empirical findings, we discuss managerial implications on meeting design.
Study on Applicability of Fama-French Five-Factor Model in Chinese A-Share Market

This paper takes the monthly data of China A-share market from March 1999 to April 2019 as the data sample, mainly focusing on analyzing the applicability of five factors in A-share market and the explanatory ability of CMA and RMW for excess returns. The conclusions are as follows: 1. Market risk premium, market value factor and book-to-market ratio factor are highly significant, and RMW adjusted by three-factor model is not redundant; 2. Linear regression and GRS test results show that CMA factor can explain the excess return in A-share market to some extent, yet its explanatory capability is still questionable; 3. Five-factor model has better explanatory ability than three-factor model in A-share market; 4. The performance of each model is better after the stock reform , which shows that the stock reform beginning in 2005 makes the price of A-share market more reasonable and the stock market more effective.
ntivenom efficacy or effectiveness: The Australian experience

Despite widespread use of antivenoms, many questions remain about their effectiveness in the clinical setting. The almost universal acceptance of their value is based mainly on in vitro studies, animal studies and human observational studies. Numerous examples exist where they demonstrate clear benefit, such as consumption coagulopathy in viper envenoming, prevention of neurotoxicity in Australasian elapid bites, systemic effects in scorpion and funnel-web spider envenoming. There are also concerns about the quality and efficacy of some antivenoms. However, it is important not to confuse the efficacy of antivenom, defined as its ability to bind and neutralise venom-mediated effects under ideal conditions, and the effectiveness of antivenom, defined as its ability to reverse or prevent envenoming in human cases. There are numerous potential reasons for antivenom failure in human envenoming, of which antivenom inefficacy is only one. Other important reasons include venom-mediated effects being irreversible, antivenom being unable to reach the site of toxin-mediated injury, or the rapidity of onset of venom-mediated effects. A number of recent studies in Australia bring into question the effectiveness of some antivenoms, including snake antivenom for coagulopathy, redback spider and box jellyfish antivenoms. Despite brown snake antivenom being able to neutralise venom induced clotting in vitro, use of the antivenom in human envenoming does not appear to change the time course of coagulopathy. However, it is important that apparent antivenom ineffectiveness in specific cases is correctly interpreted and does not lead to a universal belief that antivenom is ineffective. It should rather encourage further studies to investigate the underlying pathophysiology of envenoming, the pharmacokinetics of venoms and antivenoms, and ultimately the effectiveness of antivenom based on snake type, clinical effects and timing of administration. © 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
D-Mueller-matrix tomography of optically anisotropic polycrystalline networks f biological tissues histological sections

A new technique of Mueller-matrix mapping of the birefringent structure of biological preparations of human organs tissues is suggested. The algorithms of reconstruction of average values and magnitude of fluctuations of the phase (birefringence) and amplitude (dichroism) of optically anisotropic structure of myocardium and connective tissue component of the vaginal wall histological section are proposed. The magnitudes and ranges of changes in the statistical moments of the 1st-4th order that characterize the distribution of average values and magnitude of fluctuations of birefringence and dichroism of the myocardium and connective tissue of the vaginal tissues histological sections were determined. Joint studies of distributions of the characteristics of phase and amplitude of the anisotropy of myocardium omography, differential matrix irefringence ichroism iological tissues and connective tissue component of the vaginal wall tissues of different states were performed. The cases of various necrotic changes in the myocardium and pathological conditions of the vagina wall (prolapse of the genitals) are examined. Balanced accuracy of the method of Mueller-matrix polarization-phase and diffuse tomography of optically anisotropic polycrystalline networks in the differentiation of necrotic and pathological changes in human organs is determined. © 2018 Association of Polish Electrical Engineers (SEP). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
BIODEGRADABLE ZINC ALLOYS AND COMPOSITES FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION: AN OVERVIEW OF PROCESSING ROUTES AND POSSIBLE FUTURE WORK

Biodegradable metallic implants are revolutionized alternative materials currently being considered for orthopaedic and stents applications for the restoration and remodeling of defected or fractured hard tissues. Examples of biodegradable metals include magnesium, iron and zinc. Findings had revealed that magnesium and iron show high tendencies of being used as biodegradable metallic implant. However, premature loss of mechanical integrity, high hydrogen gas evolution of magnesium metal as well as slow degradation rate of iron below the clinical benchmark had hindered their applications. On the other hand, Zinc metal with near to ideal degradation rate suitable for orthopaedic application but poor mechanical properties compared to magnesium and iron metals has recently attracted research interest as potential candidate salvager of biodegradable metallic implants. This paper therefore, presents brief review of the current research progress on biodegradable zinc alloys and composites in relation to their processing routes for biomedical application. In addition, key existing and emerging strategies for mechanical properties improvement are highlighted. Processing technique, types and or proportion of alloying elements had been identified as center-hub control for improving mechanical properties of zinc metals. Deductions were made and strategies for further research work on biodegradable zinc alloys were suggested.
A Study of Adaptive Morphology That Facilitates Sensing and Grasping in Soft Robotics

of Dissertation for Formal Hearing A Study of Adaptive Morphology That Facilitates Sensing and Grasping in Soft Robotics Qiukai Qi (s1820013), Information Science, Ho’s Lab Supervisors: Van Anh Ho (Primary), Shogo Okada (Second), Minh Le Nguyen (Minor Research)
Assessment of Black Carbon Concentration in Rice Straw Open Burning Season in Lai Yen Commune, Hanoi Suburban Area

In recent years, rice straw open burning (RSOB) activity has commonly occurred after the harvest in the countryside of Hanoi. This activity has caused negative impacts on air quality, especially it emits a large amount of black carbon (BC), a short lived climate pollutant (SLCP). As the other SLCPs, BC directly affects human health and ecosystem. This paper presents the results of measured BC concentrations in RSOB season in Lai Yen commune, Hoai Duc district in Hanoi. The results showed that the hourly average BC concentrations in three monitoring periods were 8.43 ± 0.67 μg/m 3 (23 25 Oct. 2015), 7.64 ± 0.73 μg/m 3 (26 28 Feb. 2016) and 3.74 ± 0.30 μg/m 3 (15 19 Jun. 2016), respectively. The lowest BC concentration was 0. 36μg/m 3 while the highest nearly reached 36. 8μg/m 3 . BC concentration in this study is higher than that of Lang air quality-monitoring station. This result is useful for national policy makers and managers for tighter control of RSOB activities.
AN EFFICIENT FULLY DIFFERENTIAL VOLTAGE COMPARATOR

With the compactness of the devices, the circuits are required with less delay, less area and less power consumption. An efficient fully digital-in-notion differential voltage comparator with the opamp-less approach is implemented in this paper. This comparator detects a small input voltage difference, i.e., resolution of this comparator is 8-bits and amplifies the output to either of the two different logic levels high or low, i.e., 1 or 0 respectively. Though dynamic latched comparators are quite attractive, they suffer from high power consumption and large offset voltages. In addition to the low power consumption, this comparator is extremely cost-effective as an analogue circuit has been designed digitally and fabricated in a digital process. The comparator is designed and implemented in the Cadence Virtuoso tool using SCL 180 nm Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) digital process at a supply of 1.8 V and a load capacitance of 1 pF.
CHRAL PEPTIDE NUCLEC ACDS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

(54) CHIRAL PEPTIDE NUCLEIC ACIDS (58) Field of Search . 530/300, 333; (75) Inventor: Gordon Lowe, Abingdon (GB) (73) Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited (GB) (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 356 days. (21) Appl. No.: 09/932,862 (22) Filed: Aug. 17, 2001 (65) Prior Publication Data US 2002/0072586 A1 Jun. 13, 2002 Related U.S. Application Data (62) Division of application No. 09/284,179, filed as application No. PCT/GB97/02820 on Oct. 13, 1997, now Pat. No. 6,403,763. (30) Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 14, 1996 (GB) . 9621367 (51) Int. Cl. " . A61K 38/00 (52) U.S. Cl. 530/300; 435/6; 530/333
Edinburgh Explorer Sex estimation of os coxae using DSP2 software

Sex estimation methods based on skeletal remains vary on the selection of skeletal element, data acquisition and statistical approach resulting in variable classification accuracies that are highly dependent on the sample population. The only exception of this rule seems is the os coxa that appears to differ consistently between males and females across the globe. Currently sex based on the os coxa can be easily by estimated taking ten measurements, input these in the DPS2 software and get a sex estimate and the probability of correct group assessment. The performance of the software is highly reliable as confirmed by a validation study by Brůžek and colleagues (2017). Yet, there are still many populations not represented in the reference sample used to develop the software. The current study aimed to validate DPS2 using a sample from Crete, Greece. A total of 133 os coxae were measured following instructions on DSP2. Data were used to estimate sex with the software and to create population specific formulae for the Greeks. DSP2 classified 117/133 (85.7%) of the sample with over 95% posterior probability (PP) of correct classification. Of the individuals classified with over 95% PP, only 3 were misclassified (2.6%). The best population specific formula only improved this percentage by 2.1% which indicates that DSP2 is a reliable tool for sex estimation in the Greek sample and it is recommended as method of choice in sex estimation of remains of unknown ancestry. If Greek ancestry is confirmed, population-specific formulae can be used in conjunction with DSP2 for a more reliable sex estimation.
Tomography and weak lensing statistics

We provide generic predictions for the lower order cumulants of weak lensing maps, and their correlators for tomographic bins as well as in three dimensions (3D). Using small-angle approximation, we derive the corresponding oneand two-point probability distribution function for the tomographic maps from different bins and for 3D convergence maps. The modelling of weak lensing statistics is obtained by adopting a detailed prescription for the underlying density contrast that involves hierarchal ansatz and lognormal distribution. We study the dependence of our results on cosmological parameters and source distributions corresponding to the realistic surveys such as LSST and DES. We briefly outline how photometric redshift information can be incorporated in our results. We also show how topological properties of convergence maps can be quantified using our results.
Deep Learning Based Decision Support for Medicine - A Case Study on Skin Cancer Diagnosis

Early detection of skin cancers like melanoma is crucial to ensure high chances of survival for patients. Clinical application of Deep Learning (DL)-based Decision Support Systems (DSS) for skin cancer screening has the potential to improve the quality of patient care. The majority of work in the medical AI community focuses on a diagnosis setting that is mainly relevant for autonomous operation. Practical decision support should, however, go beyond plain diagnosis and provide explanations. This paper provides an overview of works towards explainable, DL-based decision support in medical applications with the example of skin cancer diagnosis from clinical, dermoscopic and histopathologic images. Analysis reveals that comparably little attention is payed to the explanation of histopathologic skin images and that current work is dominated by visual relevance maps as well as dermoscopic feature identification. We conclude that future work should focus on meeting the stakeholder’s cognitive concepts, providing exhaustive explanations that combine global and local approaches and leverage diverse modalities. Moreover, the possibility to intervene and guide models in case of misbehaviour is identified as a major step towards successful deployment of AI as DL-based DSS and beyond.
Video Action Recognition Using spatio-temporal optical flow video frames

— Recognizing human actions based on videos has became one of the most popular areas of research in computer vision in recent years. This area has many applications such as surveillance, robotics, health care, video search and human-computer interaction. There are many problems associated with recognizing human actions in videos such as cluttered backgrounds, obstructions, viewpoints variation, execution speed and camera movement. A large number of methods have been proposed to solve the problems. This paper focus on spatial and temporal pattern recognition for the classification of videos using Deep Neural Networks. This model takes RGB images and Optical Flow as input data and outputs an action class number. The final recognition accuracy was about 94%.
Model-free Policy Learning with Reward Gradients

Despite the increasing popularity of policy gradient methods, they are yet to be widely utilized in sample-scarce applications, such as robotics. The sample efficiency could be improved by making best usage of available information. As a key component in reinforcement learning, the reward function is usually devised carefully to guide the agent. Hence, the reward function is usually known, allowing access to not only scalar reward signals but also reward gradients. To benefit from reward gradients, previous works require the knowledge of environment dynamics, which are hard to obtain. In this work, we develop the \textit{Reward Policy Gradient} estimator, a novel approach that integrates reward gradients without learning a model. Bypassing the model dynamics allows our estimator to achieve a better bias-variance trade-off, which results in a higher sample efficiency, as shown in the empirical analysis. Our method also boosts the performance of Proximal Policy Optimization on different MuJoCo control tasks.