Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LANDFAST ICEBERG HEIGHT RETRIEVAL AND EVALUATION BASED ON REMOTE SENSING APPROACHES IN ANTARCTICA

Abstract. Icebergs are one of the important components of Antarctic ice loss, and their spatial distribution and volume changes have a profound impact on ocean circulation, sea ice formation, freshwater balance and carbon cycle in the Southern Ocean, and ship navigation. Therefore, effective monitoring of icebergs is of great significance. Iceberg height is an important parameter of iceberg volume, and its accurate estimation is crucial to the calculation of iceberg thickness and volume. In this paper, based on optical satellite images, satellite altimetry data and digital surface model (DSM) derived from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the iceberg height retrieval approaches were studied, including shadow based, satellite altimetry based and DSM based methods. Then, the results of different approaches were evaluated and analyzed by taking icebergs in the landfast ice area as an example. Finally, we concluded that all three methods could effectively extract the height information of icebergs. For the shadow-height method with relatively low accuracy, lower sun altitude and higher icebergs would be more conducive to accurate height estimation.
From effective-index model to phase-plate model

In 1995, Hadley formulated an elegant effective-index model to describe the formation of transverse modes in optical cavities (Hadley 1995 Opt. Lett. 20 1483–5). We apply this model to Fabry–Perot cavities and discuss its limitations, using the well-known paraxial solutions of these cavities as reference. We also introduce a new model, which we call the phase-plate model, that has less limitations and yields the correct first-order correction to the resonance frequencies for longer cavities. The analysis uses scalar optical fields in the paraxial limit.
Simulating Nonhomogeneous Non-Gaussian Field by Using Iterative Rank-Dependent Reordering versus Translation Process-Based Procedure

We compare two commonly used procedures, namely, the iterative rank-dependent reordering (IRDR) procedure and the translation process based procedure, for simulating homogeneous/nonhomogeneous non-Gaussian fields. We identify the limitations and the implicit assumptions of the procedures. We provide a new interpretation of the IRDR procedure, point out that there is no guarantee that the algorithm converges, and suggest modifications in terms of the initial samples, iteration involving decomposition, and convergence requirement to the IRDR procedure for it to become more efficient and robust. The numerical results show that, depending on the prescribed marginal probability distribution, the use of the IRDR procedure may not achieve a prescribed correlation function, a feature that is well-known if the translation process (i.e., Nataf translation system) based procedure is employed. It is shown that the performance of the modified IRDR procedure is comparable to that of the translation process based procedures in terms of limitations and matching the prescribed correlation function. The numerical results also show that the suggested modifications to IRDR in the present study make the algorithm more efficient and robust.
Building superior heartbeat classification datasets

For the past 4 decades the MIT-BIH dataset has become the industry standard for the analysis of a comparative metric of signal processing and machine learning techniques. This is because medical data is difficult to collect and use because it is not widely available and open-source. There exists a need to standardize the metric for comparative reasons. This paper proposes a set of datasets targeted at specific tasks currently under investigation in state-of-the-art works. The open sharing of these datasets in multiple formats will allow for the application of the benchmark data to multiple advanced classification algorithms. Published methods will be profiled using this new dataset building the foundation for its merit. A series of datasets are identified with applicable criteria as to their usage such as, TinyML for health monitoring and detection of heart disease.
VPRNet: Virtual Points Registration Network for Partial-to-Partial Point Cloud Registration

With the development of high-precision and high-frame-rate scanning technology, we can quickly obtain scan data of various large-scale scenes. As a manifestation of information fusion, point cloud registration is of great significance in various fields, such as medical imaging, autonomous driving, and 3D reconstruction. The Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm, as the most classic algorithm, leverages the closest point to search corresponding points, which is the pioneer of correspondences-based approaches. Recently, some deep learning-based algorithms witnessed extracting deep features to compress point cloud information, then calculate corresponding points, and finally output the optimal rigid transformation like Deep Closest Point (DCP) and DeepVCP. However, the partiality of point clouds hinders the acquisition of enough corresponding points when dealing with the partial-to-partial registration problem. To this end, we propose Virtual Points Registration Network (VPRNet) for this intractable problem. We first design a self-supervised virtual point generation network (VPGnet), which utilizes the attention mechanism of Transformer and Self-Attention to fuse the geometric information of two partial point clouds, combined with the Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) structure to produce missing points. Subsequently, the following registration network structure is spliced to the end of VPGnet, thus estimating rich corresponding points. Unlike the existing methods, our network tries to eliminate the side effects of incompleteness on registration. Thus, our method expresses resilience to the initial rotation and sparsity. Various experiments indicate that our proposed algorithm shows advanced performance compared to recent deep learning-based and classical methods.
The performance and physiological responses to the extra-time period of soccer

Soccer matches have a typical duration of 90 min. However, when matches are drawn in some knockout cup scenarios and an outright winner is required, an additional 30 min period, termed extra-time (ET), is played. The performance and physiological responses to 90 min of soccer-specific exercise have been extensively investigated, however; there is a paucity of research investigating the demands of 120 min of soccer-specific exercise (i.e., matches requiring ET). Accordingly, the aims of this thesis were 1) to elucidate professional practitioner perceptions of ET, 2) to investigate the performance and physiological responses during prolonged actual and simulated match-play, and 3) to examine the influence of a nutritional intervention on performance during ET. To actuate aim one, a qualitative approach (i.e., an online survey) was used to assess practitioner perceptions of ET and their current applied practices. To accomplish aim two, quantitative research projects utilising performance analysis techniques and an analogue of match-play (simulated soccer match) were used. To actuate aim three, the same analogue of match-play was used to investigate the effect of carbohydrate-electrolyte gels ingested prior to ET on performance and physiology. Practitioners generally account for ET when preparing and recovering players and the majority (91%) of practitioners want research to be conducted on ET. Using notational analysis, reductions in technical performance (i.e., passing and dribbling) were observed during ET. Furthermore, when using a simulated match protocol, perturbations in both performance and physiology compared to the previous 90 min of exercise occur. Specifically reductions in both physical (i.e., sprint speeds) and technical (i.e., shooting speed) parameters, taxing of endogenous fuel sources, dehydration, and shifts in substrate utilisation (i.e., a move towards fat oxidation as a fuel source) were observed. The ingestion of carbohydrate-electrolyte gels prior to ET improved dribbling performance, however; this intervention was unable to attenuate decrements in physical performance and hydration status. In conclusion, ET influences both soccer-specific performance and physiological responses. In agreement with practitioners working in professional soccer, more research is required to investigate the efficacy of interventions (particularly hydro-nutritional interventions) that improve performance and ameliorate perturbations in physiology and metabolism.
Optimal Consensus via OCPI Regulation for Unknown Pure-Feedback Agents With Disturbances and State Delays

In this article, we present a novel methodology to address the optimal output consensus problem for multiagent systems. We propose a distributed variable transformation that recasts the aforementioned problem into a simpler regulation problem of the new variables. The transformation requires only relative output measurements and is independent of any underlying agent dynamics and therefore applicable to a general class of systems. Classical control techniques, which take into account the agent dynamics and only need the relative outputs to be shared between neighbors, can then be employed to regulate the new variables. We utilize the methodology to address, for the first time, the problem of optimal output consensus for unknown pure-feedback agents with disturbances and state delays. Simulation studies on a group of continuous stirred tank reactors illustrate the validity of the theoretical analysis.
Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Mechanistic Biomarkers of Diabetes Mellitus-Associated Cognitive Decline

Cognitive dysfunctions such as mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and other forms of dementia are recognized as common comorbidities of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Currently, there are no disease-modifying therapies or definitive clinical diagnostic and prognostic tools for dementia, and the mechanisms underpinning the link between T2DM and cognitive dysfunction remain equivocal. Some of the suggested pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in diabetes patients include hyperglycemia, insulin resistance and altered insulin signaling, neuroinflammation, cerebral microvascular injury, and buildup of cerebral amyloid and tau proteins. Given the skyrocketing global rates of diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders, there is an urgent need to discover novel biomarkers relevant to the co-morbidity of both conditions to guide future diagnostic approaches. This review aims to provide a comprehensive background of the potential risk factors, the identified biomarkers of diabetes-related cognitive decrements, and the underlying processes of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction. Aging, poor glycemic control, hypoglycemia and hyperglycemic episodes, depression, and vascular complications are associated with increased risk of dementia. Conclusive research studies that have attempted to find specific biomarkers are limited. However, the most frequent considerations in such investigations are related to C reactive protein, tau protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, advanced glycation end products, glycosylated hemoglobin, and adipokines.
Ameliorative impact of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on deltamethrin-induced hepatic damage in broiler chickens

Ali Allam1, Alshaimaa Mohamed Said2, Samar Saber Ibrahim3, Gehan Youssef3, Mohamed Aboubakr1* Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, 13736 Moshtohor, Toukh, Qaliobiya, Egypt . Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, 13736 Moshtohor, Toukh, Qaliobiya, Egypt. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, 13736 Moshtohor, Toukh, Qaliobiya, Egypt
Profit maximization, win optimization and soft budget constraints in professional team sports

Since Rottenberg (1956), Neale (1964), Davenport (1969), and Sloane (1971) published their seminal papers on the peculiar economics of professional team sports, the proportion of studies conducted in this field has grown considerably. Questions of competitive balance, labor market discrimination and the economic impact of hosting a professional league team are just a few examples of research that has added new and interesting insights to the sports economic literature. One central debate, however, remains highly relevant and demands further analysis: What happens when sport meets business in a process of commercialization, which has so clearly affected several team sports over the last 40-50 years? Are clubs essentially turning into profit maximizing business entities when they attain amounts of money not previously seen? Or is the process of commercialization rather a means to an end of winning trophies and championships for the fans and the owners themselves? This chapter introduces the debate on professional clubs’ objectives, whilst applying a new theoretical perspective that gives a more detailed understanding of how the environment affects managerial decision-making than the existing literature has previously provided. By broadening the scope and considering new theoretical insights on club behavior, it enables a matrix of new club categorizations to be presented. Examples of each categorization are given in order to illustrate the scope and understanding of the perspective.
“Press F to Pay Respects”: An Empirical Exploration of the Mechanics of Gamification in Relation to the Christchurch Attack

ABSTRACT There has been a long-standing yet largely unreported intersection between video-gaming and violent extremism, spanning across jihadist, far-right, and other types of ideologies. Within this framework, until late, scant attention has been paid to the concept of “gamification”; i.e. the application of gaming and game-design principles within non-gaming environments. This paper contributes to this newly emerging area of study by exploring the theoretical underpinnings of gamification and applying these principles to a prominent empirical example: the Christchurch attack in New Zealand in 2019. With a particular focus on the (“setup,” “rule,” and “progression”) “mechanics” of gamification, this article explores two aspects. The first considers how the assailant (intentionally or otherwise) designed and constructed the game; undertaken through an empirical analysis of their manifesto, live-stream video, and original post on the imageboard 8chan (or Infinite Chan). This will be complimented by the second aspect which explores how the game was, in turn, “gamified” through audience reaction to and interaction on the original 8chan post. The article concludes by discussing whether the gamification of the Christchurch attack serves as a framework for future attacks.
Optimal Design of Compliant Walkers

We present an optimization framework for the design and analysis of underactuated biped walkers, characterized by passive or actuated joints with rigid or non-negligible elastic actuation/transmission elements. The framework is based on optimal control, dealing with geometric constraints and various dynamic objective functions, as well as boundary conditions, which helps in selecting optimal values both for the actuation and the transmission parameters. Solutions of the formulated problems are shown for different kinds of bipedal architectures, and comparisons drawn between traditional rigid robots and compliant ones show the energy-efficiency of compliant actuators in the context of locomotion.
Mirroring in production? Early evidence from the scale-up of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs)

The mirroring hypothesis is central to modularity theory, positing isomorphism between technical interdependencies of a product and organizational arrangements. When a product’s design becomes more modular, a full mirroring response would change both its manufacturing and its supply chain. We evaluate this prediction for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), observing whether automakers have mirrored the modular BEV architecture in either internal production processes, external sourcing arrangements, or both. Our data from 19 automakers show that, to date, BEVs are manufactured in their assembly plants alongside conventional internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). New automakers with fully BEV plants utilize essentially the same production process. Furthermore, automakers make—or ally to make—key Electric Vehicle (EV) systems, rather than outsourcing them. We discuss the implications of this partial mirroring for modularity theory and ask whether these arrangements will persist once BEV sales surpass ICEVs.
Analysis of Food Management Practices and Safe Provision in Unclassified Restaurants in Nairobi City County, Kenya

The aim of the research was to establish how food safety practices influence safe food provision by unclassified restaurants in Nairobi City County. The Particular goals of the study were to: assess the influence of food handling practices on safe food provision, observe the role of food hygiene training on safe food provision, determine the effect of food legislation compliance on safe food provision and establish the role of management in ensuring that safety standards are achieved on safe food provision by unclassified restaurants in Nairobi City County. Descriptive survey design was employed as the blue print to guide the study. The study population was 124 unclassified restaurants in Nairobi Central Business District. Questionnaires were used in data collection, an in-depth interview guide and observation checklist. Quantitative data were analyzed through means, standard deviation, inferential models and presented in form of tables and figures. The study established that food handling practices on safe food provision by unclassified restaurants was statistically significant (χ=8.988; p value of .003<0.05), food hygiene training and safe food provision by unclassified restaurants have a significant association (χ= 5.094, p value of .019<0.05, food legislation compliance and safe food provision by unclassified restaurants have a significant association as supported (χ=4.544; p value of .025<0.05) while the role of management and safe food provision by unclassified restaurants have a significant association (χ=11.107, p value of .001<0.05). This paper concludes that food handling practices, food hygiene training, food legislation compliance and role of management impacts the safe food provision by unclassified restaurants. The study recommends for the need to periodically train restaurant workers on proper food handling practices. There is need for restaurant management to provide workers with sufficient clean dress code. The restaurant management needs to organize periodic training programs in form of short workshops, seminars and conferences with key stakeholders in the hospitality sector and food safety authorities. Keywords: Food management practices, food handling practices, food hygiene training, food legislation compliance, safe provision, unclassified restaurants.
2-LB: Semaglutide 2.4 mg Reduces the 10-Year T2D Risk in People with Overweight/Obesity

The effect of once-weekly s.c. semaglutide 2.4 mg (sema) on the risk of developing T2D in people with obesity is unknown. Weight management with sema vs. PBO plus diet/exercise was assessed in participants (pts) with overweight/obesity in STEP 1 (68 wks) and STEP 4 (20-wk run-in on sema, 48-wk randomized withdrawal) . The 10-yr T2D risk was calculated post hoc using Cardiometabolic Disease Staging (CMDS) , a validated Bayesian logistic regression of T2D risk factors. Risk scores decreased after 68 wks from 18% to 7% with sema, and 18% to 16% with PBO (61% vs. 13% reduction [p<0.01]; STEP 1; Figure) . Most of the risk score reduction with sema occurred during wks 0-20, from 21% to 11%; risk score decreased further to 8% with continued sema during wks 20-68, but increased to 15% with switch to PBO (32% reduction vs. 41% increase [p<0.01]; STEP 4; Figure) . Wk 0 risk scores were higher in pts with prediabetes vs. normoglycemia (Figure) , but treatment effects were comparable at wk 68 (p=0.45 for interaction [STEP 1]) . Risk score changes mirrored weight loss, which was 17% with sema vs. 3% with PBO in STEP 1, and in STEP 4 was ‍11% for wks 0-20 with sema, and a further 9% with continued sema vs. a 6% regain with switch to PBO for wks 20-68. In summary, treatment with sema reduces the 10-yr risk of T2D by ∼60% regardless of initial glycemic status, with sustained treatment required to maintain this benefit. These data suggest sema could help prevent T2D in people with obesity. W. Garvey: Other Relationship; Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Epitomee, JAZZ Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Inc. T. Holst-hansen: Employee; Novo Nordisk A/S, Stock/Shareholder; Novo Nordisk A/S. P. N. Laursen: Employee; Novo Nordisk A/S. A. R. Rinnov: Employee; Novo Nordisk. L. J. Wilkinson: Employee; Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk A/S
Colon Cancer: From Epidemiology to Prevention

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent cancers affecting humans, with a complex genetic and environmental aetiology. Unlike cancers with known environmental, heritable, or sex-linked causes, sporadic CRC is hard to foresee and has no molecular biomarkers of risk in clinical use. One in twenty CRC cases presents with an established heritable component. The remaining cases are sporadic and associated with partially obscure genetic, epigenetic, regenerative, microbiological, dietary, and lifestyle factors. To tackle this complexity, we should improve the practice of colonoscopy, which is recommended uniformly beyond a certain age, to include an assessment of biomarkers indicative of individual CRC risk. Ideally, such biomarkers will be causal to the disease and potentially modifiable upon dietary or therapeutic interventions. Multi-omics analysis, including transcriptional, epigenetic as well as metagenomic, and metabolomic profiles, are urgently required to provide data for risk analyses. The aim of this article is to provide a perspective on the multifactorial derailment of homeostasis leading to the initiation of CRC, which may be explored via multi-omics and Gut-on-Chip analysis to identify much-needed predictive biomarkers.
Assessment of association between smoking and all-cause mortality among Malaysian adult population: Findings from a retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION Smoking is a known risk factor for many chronic diseases. Illness and death due to smoking are a significant public health burden in many countries. This study aims to address the information gap in smoking-related mortality in Malaysia by estimating the risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortalities due to smoking among Malaysian adults. METHODS We analyzed data on 2525 respondents, aged 24–64 years, of the Malaysian Non-Communicable Disease Surveillance survey conducted September 2005 to February 2006. Mortality records from the Malaysian National Registration Department were linked to the MYNCDS-1 data to determine respondents’ mortality status over 12 years from 2006 to 2018. Associations between smoking and all-cause mortalities were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression with adjustments for non-communicable disease and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS The prevalence of daily smoking was 21.2% (95% CI: 19.0–23.7). During the 31668 person-years follow-up, 213 deaths from all causes occurred, where 68 deaths were among smokers (13.2%), and 452 were among non-smokers (6.3%). Smoking was associated with a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ration, AHR=1.79; 95% CI: 1.12– 2.97). These associations remained significant after excluding mortalities in the first two years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Daily smoking is associated with a significantly higher risk of all-cause death. Behavioral and pharmacological smoking cessation interventions should be intensified among smokers to reduce the risk of mortality.