Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Contribution to an Hybrid INS/GPS System using a Fuzzy Approach

—In this paper, we present a technique based on fuzzy logic to improve the performance of an integrated inertial navigation system with GPS. The fuzzy technique proposed is mainly used to predict position and velocity measurements during the absence of GPS signals. As long as GPS measurements are available, the Q-SUKF [1] ﬁlter for INS / GPS integration works efﬁciently and provides an accurate estimate of the states of navigation. Nevertheless, during the disturbance of GPS signals, the fuzzy technique will be used with the Q-SUKF ﬁlter to correct the performance degradation of the algorithm. Finally, an experimental part on the use of the fuzzy technique proposed with the Q-SUKF has been validated. The aftereffects of our experiment have demonstrated the adequacy and the critical effect of the fuzzy method used. It decreases the error’s estimation of the position and velocity during GPS blackout periods.
Calculating the Average using Paillier's Cryptosystem

— Homomorphic encryption (HE) is one of the efficient ways that allow many companies to store their data in an encrypted form into the Cloud and then the latter can be analyzed and worked with as if it were still in its initial form. In this paper we consider two types of homomorphic encryption (HE) schemes: the additive and the multiplicative ones. But we will be focusing on the additive one in order to calculate on the cipher-texts and get the average while decrypting the result. Therefore we will show the theoretical part of the additive homomorphic Paillier's cryptosystem which is used in order to encrypt and decrypt the messages needed, but what can be more interesting is showing in details the application part of it which is realized by a numerical example applied on Sagemath.
Reproductive Ecology and Human-Caused Mortality in the Japanese Mamushi Snake (Gloydius blomhoffii) on the Northernmost Main Island of Japan

Abstract Japanese Mamushi (Gloydius blomhoffii) has long been exploited for its medicinal value. We studied this snake's reproductive ecology on Hokkaido and assessed its vulnerability. We marked 299 individuals from 1999–2002 and kept 29 pregnant females in captivity until parturition. Pregnant females aggregated at gestation sites during summer and fall until just before parturition. Behavior suggestive of mating seasons was evident mostly in August and September. As expected, there was an apparent sex difference in body size in adults but not in neonates: females were larger than males. Consistent with previous reports, both neonates and adults were larger in Hokkaido than in southern Japan. The smallest pregnant female measured 44.8 cm in SVL, which was larger than values reported from southern regions. Offspring sex ratio was statistically equal: 88 males to 105 females. Litter size averaged 6.6 offspring. Longer females tended to produce larger litters and longer neonates. The proportion of pregnant to non-pregnant females, coupled with mark–recapture data, suggested that Mamushi females skip one or more years between reproductive bouts. Relative litter mass (RCM) was large (83% on average), and postpartum body condition was lower, especially so in females with larger RCM. Direct human-caused mortality was highest for pregnant females (70.2%), followed by non-pregnant females and then males. High adult mortality, particularly of pregnant females, raises a concern about population persistence, because Mamushi exhibit a slow life history. The tendency of pregnant females to aggregate at predictable locations further makes Mamushi populations vulnerable to human killing and exploitation.
A Simplified Protocol for Reversing Phenotypic Conversion of Ralstonia solanacearum during Experimentation

Background: Ralstonia solanacearum has the problem of losing the virulence in laboratory conditions, during prolonged experimentation. Since pure colonies of R. solanacearum contain cell fractions differing in virulence, it was considered worthwhile to find a way of selecting the cells with lower attenuation. Therefore, a methodology for inducing virulent-type colonies occurrence in Ralstonia solanacearum was developed. Methods: Nutrient gradient was created by swabbing R. solanacearum culture in a slanted KMTTC medium, and Phyllanthus emblica extract was given by well diffusion. Live–dead cell imaging using BacLight, effects of ascorbic acid on cell viability, and production of virulence factors (exopolysaccharides, cellulase, and pectinase) supported this hypothesis. The tagging of R. solanacearum with green fluorescent protein and further confocal scanning laser microscopic visualization confirmed the colonization in vascular bundles of tomato. Results: P. emblica extract suppressed R. solanacearum initially in well diffusion, but further developed virulent-type colonies around the wells. Nutrient deprivation was found to have synergistic effects with P. emblica extract. The converted fluidal (virulent type) colonies could be able to colonize vascular bundles and cause wilting symptoms. Conclusion: This method will be useful in the laboratories working on biocontrol of R. solanacearum for maintaining virulent-type colonies. Moreover, it could form the basis for studies on the stability of phenotypic conversion and cell fractions in R. solanacearum.
Exact time of venous blood sample collection – an unresolved issue, on behalf of the European Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE)

Abstract Objectives An accurate knowledge of blood collection times is crucial for verifying the stability of laboratory analytes. We therefore aimed to (i) assess if and how this information is collected throughout Europe and (ii) provide a list of potentially available solutions. Methods A survey was issued by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group on Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) in 2017, aiming to collect data on preanalytical process management, including sampling time documentation, in European laboratories. A preceding pilot survey was disseminated in Austria in 2016. Additionally, preanalytical experts were surveyed on their local setting on this topic. Finally, the current scientific literature was reviewed on established possibilities of sampling time collection. Results A total number of 85 responses was collected from the pilot survey, whilst 1347 responses from 37 European countries were obtained from the final survey. A minority (i.e. ~13%) of responders to the latter declared they are unaware of the exact sampling time. The corresponding rate in Austria was ~70% in the pilot and ~30% in the final survey, respectively. Answers from 17 preanalytical experts from 16 countries revealed that sampling time collection seems to be better documented for out- than for in-patients. Eight different solutions for sample time documentation are presented. Conclusions The sample collection time seems to be documented very heterogeneously across Europe, or not at all. Here we provide some solutions to this issue and believe that laboratories should urgently aim to implement one of these.
From Perception to Interaction with Virtual Characters

This course will introduce students, researchers and digital artists to the recent results in perceptual research on virtual characters. It covers how technical and artistic aspects that constitute the appearance of a virtual character inﬂuence human perception, and how to create a plausibility illusion in interactive scenarios with virtual characters. We will report results of studies that addressed the inﬂuence of low-level cues like facial proportions, shading or level of detail and higher-level cues such as behavior or artistic stylization. We will place emphasis on aspects that are encountered during character development, animation, interaction design and achieving consistency between the visuals and storytelling. We will close with the relationship between verbal and non-verbal interaction and introduce some concepts which are important for creating convincing character behavior in virtual reality. The insights that we present in this course will serve as an additional toolset to anticipate the effect of certain design decisions and to create more convincing characters, especially in the case where budgets or time are limited.
Hura crepitans L. Extract: Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Nanoformulation

The purpose of this study was to improve the knowledge on Hura crepitans L. , a plant belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family that, on the one hand, is known to be toxic, but on the other, is a source of polyphenols with health-promoting effects. Different green extraction methods were applied, varying solvent, temperature, and duration of extraction, which can influence the phytochemical profile and biological activity of plant extracts, and the extracts were fully characterized. Aqueous extracts exhibited a superior antioxidant activity, as indicated by different spectrophotometric tests, and were cytoprotective to HepG2 cells used as model cells. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses were performed to identify the secondary metabolites involved in these effects and demonstrated that solvent, duration, and temperature indeed influenced the extraction of polyphenols. Furthermore, the most promising extract, in terms of antioxidant potential, was incorporated into liposomes with the aim of promoting cell interaction and enhancing the antioxidant activity.
Microbiota and Lifestyle: A Special Focus on Diet

It is widely known that a good balance and healthy function for bacteria groups in the colon are necessary to maintain homeostasis and preserve health. However, the lack of consensus on what defines a healthy gut microbiota and the multitude of factors that influence human gut microbiota composition complicate the development of appropriate dietary recommendations for our gut microbiota. Furthermore, the varied response to the intake of probiotics and prebiotics observed in healthy adults suggests the existence of potential inter- and intra-individual factors, which might account for gut microbiota changes to a greater extent than diet. The changing dietary habits worldwide involving consumption of processed foods containing artificial ingredients, such as sweeteners; the coincident rise in emotional disorders; and the worsening of other lifestyle habits, such as smoking habits, drug consumption, and sleep, can together contribute to gut dysbiosis and health impairment, as well as the development of chronic diseases. This review summarizes the current literature on the effects of specific dietary ingredients (probiotics, prebiotics, alcohol, refined sugars and sweeteners, fats) in the gut microbiota of healthy adults and the potential inter- and intra-individual factors involved, as well as the influence of other potential lifestyle factors that are dramatically increasing nowadays.
Loneliness, Depressive Mood and Cyberbullying Victimization in Adolescent Victims of Cyber Dating Violence

Currently, cyber dating violence (CDV) is a serious health problem among adolescents due to their frequent use of communication technologies in their romantic relationships including the use of these technologies to perpetrate dating violence. However, research on this topic is recent and more studies about victims’ psychosocial adjustment are needed. The objectives of this study were to analyze the prevalence of CDV victimization according to frequency (occasional and frequent) and type (cyber control and cyber-aggression) and to explore their relations with loneliness, depressive mood and cyberbullying victimization. A total of 604 adolescents (M age = 14.32, SD = 1.67) who had a dating relationship at the time or in the past 12 months, participated in this study. The results showed a higher prevalence for cyber-control than cyber-aggression victimization, and positive correlations of CDV victimization with depressive mood and cyberbullying victimization in boys and girls. Positive correlations with loneliness were also observed for girls. The average effect size of the aforementioned correlations was large for girls and medium for boys. Both boys and girls who were frequent victims of CDV also suffered more cyberbullying by peers than those who were never, and occasionally, cyber victimized by their partners. Girls who were frequent victims of CDV also reported higher scores for loneliness and depressive mood, with a small average effect size. All these results highlight close relations between cyberbullying and CDV in adolescents, being necessary to pay greater attention to possible experiences of poly-victimization, and a worse psychosocial adjustment in frequently victimized girls than boys. These findings may be useful for developing more effective intervention programs.
Chiral Ionic Liquids: Structural Diversity, Properties and Applications in Selected Separation Techniques

Ionic liquids (ILs) are chemical compounds composed of ions with melting points below 100 °C exhibiting a design feature. ILs are commonly used as the so-called green solvents, reagents or highly efficient catalysts in varied chemical processes. The huge application potential of ionic liquids (IL) justifies the growing interest in these compounds. In the last decade, increasing attention has been devoted to the development of new methods in the synthesis of stable chiral ionic liquids (CILs) and their application in various separation techniques. The beginnings of the successful use of CILs to separate enantiomers date back to the 1990 s. Most chiral ILs are based on chiral cations or chiral anions. There is also a limited number of CILs possessing both a chiral cation and a chiral anion. Due to the high molecular diversity of both ions, of which at least one has a chiral center, we have the possibility to design a large variety of optically active structures, thus expanding the range of CIL applications. Research utilizing chiral ionic liquids only recently has become more popular. However, it is the area that still has great potential for future development. This review aimed to describe the diversity of structures, properties and examples of applications of chiral ionic liquids as new chiral solid materials and chiral components of the anisotropic environment, providing chiral recognition of enantiomeric analytes, which is useful in liquid chromatography, countercurrent chromatography and other various CIL-based extraction techniques including aqueous biphasic (ABS) extraction systems, solid–liquid two-phase systems, liquid–liquid extraction systems with hydrophilic CILs, liquid–liquid extraction systems with hydrophobic CILs, solid-phase extraction and induced-precipitation techniques developed in the recent years. The growing demand for pure enantiomers in the pharmaceutical and food industries sparks further development in the field of extraction and separation systems modified with CILs highlighting them as affordable and environmentally friendly both chiral selectors and solvents.
Exosomes as Messengers between Mother and Fetus in Pregnancy

The ability of exosomes to transport different molecular cargoes and their ability to influence various physiological factors is already well known. An exciting area of research explores the functions of exosomes in healthy and pathological pregnancies. Placenta-derived exosomes were identified in the maternal circulation during pregnancy and their contribution in the crosstalk between mother and fetus are now starting to become defined. In this review, we will try to summarize actual knowledge about this topic and to answer the question of how important exosomes are for a healthy pregnancy.
Feeding facilitation, the hidden interaction in mammalian herbivore assemblages?: a case-study on rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and large grazers

This thesis focuses on the positive interaction ‘feeding facilitation’ which is predicted to occur in assemblages of large and small(er) herbivore species. The main hypothesis of the research is that introduced large herbivores facilitate rabbits (medium-sized herbivores) by modification of the vegetation. This modification involves creating short swards, creating denser (more productive) swards, creating swards that have a high food quality for rabbits and influencing vegetation composition. By conducting field observation, semi-controlled field experiments up to entirely controlled feeding experiments, we tried to test several aspects of the main hypothesis. From our results, we conclude that the main hypothesis could not be affirmed, although some causal mechanisms of feeding facilitation have been affirmed. We suggest that feeding facilitation is not necessarily absent, but is hard to detect or is not present under particular conditions. Experimental research is needed for further unravelling causal mechanisms about feeding facilitation and alternative approaches, while field observations remain necessary to gain insight into other variables (e.g. habitat productivity, predators, food accessibility, seasonality) that may shift the balance between the occurrence and absence of feeding facilitation.
Hyperhomocysteinemia is Associated with Inflammation, Bone Resorption, Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency and MTHFR C677T Polymorphism in Postmenopausal Women with Decreased Bone Mineral Density

Osteoporosis is an age-related bone disease, affecting mainly postmenopausal women, characterized by decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and consequent risk of fractures. Homocysteine (Hcy), a sulfur-aminoacid whose serum level is regulated by methylenetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) activity and vitamin B12 and folate as cofactors, is a risk factor for inflammatory diseases. Literature data concerning the link between Hcy and osteoporosis are still debated. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship among Hcy and BMD, inflammation, vitamin status and bone turnover in postmenopausal osteoporosis. In 252 postmenopausal women, BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). In addition to serum Hcy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and bone turnover markers (bone alkaline phosphatase-BAP, osteocalcin-OC, C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), vitamin deficiencies and MTHFR-C677T polymorphism were evaluated. Hcy, inflammation, bone resorption markers and prevalence of C677T polymorphism were higher, whereas vitamin D, B12, folate, and bone formation markers were lower in women with decreased BMD compared to those with normal BMD. Our results suggest a significant association between Hcy, BMD and inflammation in postmenopausal osteoporosis. The regulation of Hcy overproduction and the modulation of the inflammatory substrate could represent additional therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis prevention.
Influence of Concentration on Release and Permeation Process of Model Peptide Substance-Corticotropin-From Semisolid Formulations

The transdermal route of administration of drug substances allows clinicians to obtain a therapeutic effect bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, where the active substance could be inactivated. The hormonal substance used in the study-corticotropin (ACTH)-shows systemic effects. Therefore, the study of the effect of the type of ointment base and drug concentration on the release rate and also permeation rate in in vivo simulated conditions may be a valuable source of information for clinical trials to effectively optimize corticotropin treatment. This goal was achieved by preparation ointment formulation selecting the appropriate ointment base and determining the effect of ACTH concentration on the release and permeation studies of the ACTH. Semi-solid preparations containing ACTH were prepared using Unguator CITO e/s. The release study of ACTH was tested using a modified USP apparatus 2 with Enhancer cells. The permeation study was conducted with vertical Franz cells. Rheograms of hydrogels were made with the use of a universal rotational rheometer. The dependence of the amount of released and permeated hormone on the ointment concentration was found. Based on the test of ACTH release from semi-solid formulations and evaluation of rheological parameters, it was found that glycerol ointment is the most favourable base for ACTH. The ACTH release and permeation process depends on both viscosity and ACTH concentration. The higher the hormone concentration, the higher the amount of released ACTH but it reduces the amount of ACTH penetrating through porcine skin.
Procedural 3D Asteroid Surface Detail Synthesis

We present a novel noise model to procedurally generate volumetric terrain on implicit surfaces. The main idea is to combine a novel Locally Controlled 3D Spot noise (LCSN) for authoring the macro structures and 3D Gabor noise to add micro details. More speciﬁcally, a spatially-deﬁned kernel formulation in combination with an impulse distribution enables the LCSN to generate arbitrary size craters and boulders, while the Gabor noise generates stochastic Gaussian details. The corresponding metaball positions in the underlying implicit surface preserve locality to avoid the globality of traditional procedural noise textures, which yields an essential feature that is often missing in procedural texture based terrain generators. Furthermore, different noise-based primitives are integrated through operators, i.e. blending, replacing, or warping into the complex volumetric terrain. The result is a completely implicit representation and, as such, has the advantage of compactness as well as ﬂexible user control. We applied our method to generating high quality asteroid meshes with ﬁne surface details.
Microbiology Factor Measurement as Indoor Air Quality Parameter in Public Space

Nearly 90% of people spend their time in both private and public indoor spaces. Bank is one of the public indoor spaces accessible to the community, as well as a place for some workers spending time every day. This study was conducted in 6 banking sectors in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, focusing on the existence of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi/mold. The purpose was to investigate the number of microorganisms, both bacteria and fungi, contained in indoor areas of several bank offices in Samarinda. The results showed that the number of bacteria and fungi at several sampling points in 6 offices were above the standard of Permenaker RI No. 5 the year of 2018 and Permenkes RI No. 48 the year of 2016, i.e.,>700 cfu/m3 for bacteria and >1000 cfu/m3 for fungi.
Microwave Sensors Based on Resonant Elements

This paper highlights interest in the implementation of microwave sensors based on resonant elements, the subject of a special issue in the journal. A classification of these sensors on the basis of the operating principle is presented, and the advantages and limitations of the different sensor types are pointed out. Finally, the paper summarizes the different contributions to the special issue.