Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COVID-19, dyslipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia: an up-date

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is an infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which can evolve into a severe respiratory condition, affecting the world population in a pandemic manner. In this study, we aimed to update the findings of the mechanisms that associate dyslipidemia with COVID-19 infection, the evolution of severe form and the influence of lipid-lowering treatment on outcomes. The search was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases and the selection was based on dyslipidemia and COVID-19 studies, which resulted in 31 articles. In results, the evidence in changes in cholesterol metabolism was found in SARS-CoV-2 virus infection with variations in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. In addition, it provided an increase in triglycerides (TG) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc). Patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) with COVID-19 representing a group of individuals who develop early atherosclerotic disease with a higher risk of cardiovascular event, which should intensify the lipid-lowering treatment due to the potential risk of coronary endothelial dysfunction caused by viral infection. Cholesterol modifying drugs have a potential to change the life cycle of the virus, resulting in a range of pleiotropic effect on infectivity, immunity and inflammation, such as statins, fibrates, ezetimibe, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (iPCSK9), omega-3 fatty acids, bile acids sequestrants and nicotinic acid. As dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factors for the severe form of COVID-19, causing endothelial dysfunction previously installed in dyslipidemic patients, the use of lipid-lowering drugs can reduce the risk factors for the unfavorable outcome in these patients.
Positive Evaluation Maximization in Social Networks: Model and Algorithm

Influence maximization (IM) is a classical and heated issue in online social networks. Although some works have studied multifeature IM, they do not consider this problem from the perspective of users’ preferences. In this article, we construct a novel multifeature spreading model that considers users’ different preferences, namely, the MFP-independent cascade (IC) model, which uses the IC model as the basic propagation model. Some features are positive or negative depending on users’ preferences. According to this spreading model, we consider a novel problem that focuses on the influence gap between positive features and negative features, namely, positive evaluation maximization (PEM). This problem is NP-hard and nonsubmodular. Fortunately, PEM can be expressed as DS decomposition because the positive influence and the negative influence are both monotone submodular. Based on DS decomposition, we design some special greedy strategies, namely, the parametric conditioned greedy (PCG). To reduce the computational cost of our method, we design fast PCG (FPCG) algorithm using the sampling technique. In addition, the approximation ratio of the PCG and FPCG approaches is only the gap between their $O(\epsilon)$ values. Finally, we evaluate our algorithms by performing massive experiments on real datasets.
Proactive Load Balancing Through Constrained Policy Optimization for Ultra-Dense Networks

Designing an intelligent self-organizing network (SON) architecture is challenging for future wireless networks. To meet the needs of SON, the reactive self-organizing model of the traditional network needs to be transformed into an active and interactive one. Due to the user mobility and small coverage of cells in ultra-dense networks (UDNs), the network load usually becomes unbalanced, leading to deteriorated network performance, such as low throughput, radio link failure, and poor user experience. Therefore, the technique of mobility load balancing (MLB) is critical to ensuring a seamless user experience among cells. This letter proposes an active and interactive MLB strategy for UDNs, which transforms the original reactive MLB into a forward-aware and active one. In particular, user mobility is first predicted based on the Bayesian additive regression tree (BART). Then, with the mobility predictions, the joint mobility robust optimization and MLB problem subject to users’ rate constraint is solved via safe reinforcement learning. The pertaining simulation results show that the proposed method can improve the network performance and realize intelligent mobile management for future UDNs.
Adaptive estimation of conditional density function

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating $f$, the conditional density of $Y$ given $X$, by using an independent sample distributed as $(X,Y)$ in the multivariate setting. We consider the estimation of $f(x,.)$ where $x$ is a fixed point. We define two different procedures of estimation, the first one using kernel rules, the second one inspired from projection methods. Both adapted estimators are tuned by using the Goldenshluger and Lepski methodology. After deriving lower bounds, we show that these procedures satisfy oracle inequalities and are optimal from the minimax point of view on anisotropic H\"{o}lder balls. Furthermore, our results allow us to measure precisely the influence of $\fx(x)$ on rates of convergence, where $\fx$ is the density of $X$. Finally, some simulations illustrate the good behavior of our tuned estimates in practice.
An improved implementation of hierarchy array multiplier using CslA adder and full swing GDI logic

In this paper, an efficient implementation of a 16 bit array hierarchy multiplier using full swing Gate Diffusion Input (GDI) logic is discussed. Hierarchy multiplier is attractive because of its ability to carry the multiplication operation withi one clock cycle. The existing hierarchical multipliers occupy more area and suffer from accumulation delay of base multiplier output bits. These issues can be addressed by incorporating carry select adder based addition and the multiplier implementation using full swing GDI logic. The basic computation blocks involved in the multiplier are AND gate and carry propagate adder. They are implemented with using full swing GDI logic. Due to their reduced transistor count and less power consumption, this multiplier implementation leads to significant improvement compared with the existing implementations. The designed and existing array multipliers are simulated at 45 nm technology model and their power consumption and delay are calculated from the simulation results. It is validated that the proposed hierarchy array multiplier based on full swing GDI logic has 27% less energy consumption than the existing design. The results confirmed that implemented multiplier has shown better performance and can be used for signal and im age processing.
Analysis of Induced Field in the Brain Tissue by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Using Halo-V Assembly Coil

As a noninvasive neuromodulation technique, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has already exhibited a great impact in clinical application and scientific research. This study presents a finite element method-based simulation of the Halo-V assembly (HVA) coil placed on the five-shell spherical human head model to examine the distributions of induced electric and magnetic fields. The performance of the designed HVA coil is evaluated by comparing the simulation results with the commercially available Halo-FO8 (HFA) assembly coil and standard single coils including the Halo and V coils. The simulation results indicate that the HVA coil shows an improved focality in terms of electric field distribution than the other single and assembly stimulation coils. Additionally, the effects of a magnetic shield plate and magnetic core on the designed HVA coil are investigated. Results indicate that the magnetic shield plate and magnetic core are proficient in further improving the stimulation focality. Therefore, the HVA TMS coil results in a safe and effective stimulation with enhanced focality of the target region as compared to the existing assembly coil.
Estimation of Technical Efficiency of Small Scale Broiler Producers in Khartoum State, Sudan 2015

Received: 18/07/2016 Accepted: 28/12/ 2016 Available online: August 2017 The purpose of this paper was to estimate the production technical efficiency small-scale broiler producers in Khartoum state. It determined the factors that may affect productivity and the broiler farms efficiency. A sample of 40 small-scale broiler producers in the State was selected, using a well-structured questionnaire. Stochastic frontier production function was used to calculate technical efficiency scores and to explore the effect of inefficient factors. Results showed that the estimated average of technical efficiency for these farms was 83%, which means these producers in average can increase their output by17%given the present condition of technology and inputs levels to reach 100% of technical efficiency. This paper recommended that the producers of small scale broiler farms were not technically efficient in use their inputs in broiler production.  2017 Sudan University of Science and Technology. All rights reserved
TAX AUDIT QUALITY: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMPETENCE, TASK COMPLEXITY AND TIME PRESSURE

One of strategies conducted by tax authority to fulfil its tax revenue target is improving audit quality. To do so, this research was designed to analyze the empirical evidence related to factors in the use of information technology, tax auditor’s competencies, task complexity, and time pressure that could potentially affect the quality of tax audit. The research was carried out by using an online survey followed by 96 tax auditors in Tax Offices in the Special Jakarta Region, with fifteen years of tax audit experience on average. The research data were analyzed by using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling procedures. The results indicate that the factors of information technology in terms of usefulness, ease of use of technology, and support of technological resources are positively associated with tax audit quality. Tax auditor’s competencies in the aspects of knowledge and skills also indicate positive relations. Meanwhile, the factors in time pressure that could deter the evaluation of evidence, implementing procedures, and detection of tax non-compliance have negative consequences on tax audit quality. The implications of these findings for tax authorities are the urgency in improving information technology that keeps pace with the latest business process to support tax audit, improving tax auditors’ competencies continuously, and managing tax audit time
The Chromospheres of Pre-Main Sequence Flare Stars

Abstract Optical spectra of pre-main sequence flare stars in Orion are presented and analysed by the use of stellar chromospheric models. The stars observed divide into three groups on the basis of their quiescent spectra. The majority of the sample are similar to the dMe stars, with prominent Ca II and Balmer line emission. A second group possesses very strong emission spectra, including He I lines. Stars in third group, however, show little or no emission spectrum. Amongst the emission line stars observed progressively brighter stars exhibit increased Ca II and Balmer line surface fluxes relative to the fainter stars. This trend is also exhibited as a rise in emission line surface fluxes with increasing effective temperature. To analyse this trend a set of non-LTE stellar models were calculated. Using this analysis the trend in line fluxes between stars of different brightness and temperature is interpreted as a spread in the level of chromospheric heating. Furthermore, this trend is interpreted as indicating a spread in the effectiveness of the stellar magnetic dynamos within these stars, perhaps arising from shallowing in their convective layers as they contract to the main sequence.
Linguistic and nonlinguistic evaluation of motion events in a path-focused language

Abstract This study examines how properties of path (the trajectory of motion) and manner (how an action is performed) components of motion events are reflected in linguistic and nonlinguistic motion event conceptualization in a path-focused language, Turkish. In two experiments, we investigated how path and manner differed in salience (i.e., prominence) and ease of expression (EoE, i.e., effort of describing), and how these factors were related to lexicalization and similarity judgments of motion events. In Experiment 1, participants rated motion events based on path and manner salience and EoE and expressed path and manner in a written format. Results indicated that manner was rated as more salient and path as easier to express. Path salience and EoE were related to both types (i.e., number of different expressions) and the total number of paths and manners used. However, manner EoE but not salience was associated with only types and the total number of manners used. In Experiment 2, participants rated the similarity of motion event pairs created using the ratings in Experiment 1. We found that higher manner salience and EoE difference were associated with lower similarity ratings. These findings suggest that salience and EoE of path and manner are related to both linguistic and nonlinguistic aspects of motion event conceptualization.
Synthesis of Fatty Acid Amide from Waste Cooking Oil as an Additive for Asphalt Binder

Organic additives, i.e., fatty acid amide compounds, are typically used to reduce the viscosity of asphalt mixture at high-temperatures working operation. Present work focuses on preparing fatty acid amide from waste cooking oil and its characterization as an additive for bitumen. The role of synthesized fatty acid amide as an additive for bitumen was tested on the bitumen 60/70 penetration grade sample. The fatty acid amide was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. It showed that the fatty acid amide was successfully prepared from the waste cooking oil due to the presence of the characteristic functional groups. The binders made from fatty acid amide and bitumen with different content of fatty acid amide were prepared and tested. It demonstrated that the kinetic viscosity of the binder reduced by 23 % at 0.7 wt% additive concentration at 140 ºC . Moreover, the penetration and softening point of the binder was also improved, which enhance the binder's physical properties when used at target temperatures.
NoSQL Document Databases Assessment: Couchbase, CouchDB, and MongoDB

: NoSQL document databases emerged as an alternative to relational databases to deal with large volumes of data. In this paper, we assess the top three free and open-source NoSQL document databases: Couchbase, CouchDB, and MongoDB. Through this analysis, we identify the main characteristics of each database. The OSSpal methodology, which combines quantitative and qualitative measures to assess open-source software was used. This methodology defines seven categories: functionality, operational software characteristics, software technology attributes, documentation, support and service, community and adoption, and development process. At the end, it is obtained a score that identify which is the best NoSQL document database.
Situated Affectivity and Mind Shaping: Lessons from Social Psychology*

Proponents of situated affectivity hold that “tools for feeling” are just as characteristic of the human condition as are “tools for thinking” or tools for carpentry. An agent’s affective life, they argue, is dependent upon both physical characteristics of the agent and the agent’s reciprocal relationship to an appropriately structured natural, technological, or social environment. One important achievement has been the distinction between two fundamentally different ways in which affectivity might be intertwined with the environment: the “user-resource-model” and the “mind-invasion-model. ” The twofold purpose of this paper is to complement the debate about situated affectivity in general and about “mind invasion” in particular by, firstly, connecting it to situationist research in social psychology and, secondly, broadening the perspective to not only accommodate decidedly detrimental “invasions” but also potentially beneficial forms of “mind shaping” that include the manipulation of an agent’s experiential life and behaviour through the moulding of both the agent’s environment and the agent’s body.
Human identification based on heart sound auscultation point

The application of human identification and verification has widely been used for over the past few decades. Drawbacks of such system however, are inevitable as forgery sophisticatedly developed alongside the technology advancement. Thus, this study proposed a research on the possibility of using heart sound as biometric. The main aim is to find an optimal auscultation point of heart sounds from either aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid or mitral that will most suitable to be used as the sound pattern for personal identification. In this study, the heart sound was recorded from 92 participants using a Welch Allyn Meditron electronic stethoscope whereas Meditron Analyzer software was used to capture the signal of heart sounds and ECG simultaneously for duration of 1 minute. The system is developed by a combination Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficients (MFCC) and Hidden Markov Model (HMM). The highest recognition rate is obtained at aortic area with 98.7% when HMM has 1 state and 32 mixtures, the lowest Equal Error Rate (EER) achieved was 0.9% which is also at aortic area. In contrast, the best average performance of HMM for every location is obtained at mitral area with 99.1% accuracy and 17.7% accuracy of EER at tricuspid area.
On a Novel Dynamics of SEIR Epidemic Models with a Potential Application to COVID-19

In this paper, we study a type of disease that unknowingly spreads for a long time, but by default, spreads only to a minimal population. This disease is not usually fatal and often goes unnoticed. We propose and derive a novel epidemic mathematical model to describe such a disease, utilizing a fractional differential system under the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo derivative. This model deals with the transmission between susceptible, exposed, infected, and recovered classes. After formulating the model, equilibrium points as well as stability and feasibility analyses are stated. Then, we present results concerning the existence of positivity in the solutions and a sensitivity analysis. Consequently, computational experiments are conducted and discussed via proper criteria. From our experimental results, we find that the loss and regain of immunity result in the gain and loss of infections. Epidemic models can be linked to symmetry and asymmetry from distinct points of view. By using our novel approach, much research may be expected in epidemiology and other areas, particularly concerning COVID-19, to state how immunity develops after being infected by this virus.
Triple quadrupole vs ion trap sensitivity in a multiresidue pesticides analysis in selected fruit and vegetables

Mass spectrometry stands for highly selective and sensitive instrumental technique ; therefore, it has many applications in various scientific fields. Sensitivity is usually defined as the change in measured signal per unit change in analyte concentration. Several factors such as the effective sample preparation, mobile phase composition, chromatographic column parameters and mass spectrometer features can affect this parameter. By keeping rest of the parameters the same, the effect of mass spectrometer features on the sensitivity of multi-residue pesticides analysis was investigated. Linear ion trap and triple quadrupole, as the two most exploited mass analyzers, were compared. The comparison of sensitivity for solvent-based and QuEChERS treated fruit-and vegetable-based pesticides standards demonstrated triple quadrupole as a highly sensitive instrument. The analysis of solvent-based standards on the triple quadrupole was from 4 to 71 times more sensitive than the analysis on the linear ion trap. Sensitivity enhancement for lemon-based standards ranged from 15 to 138 times, and for vegetable-based standards (tomato, lettuce, cucumber) it ranged from about 5 to about 70 times, when shifting from linear ion trap to triple quadrupole. Sensitivity comparison for solvent-and sample-based standards majorly evidenced the presence of a strong matrix effect, thus reflecting the need to perform analytes quantification against sample-based standards in an actual sample analysis.
Human Grasp Mechanism Understanding, Human-Inspired Grasp Control and Robotic Grasping Planning for Agricultural Robots

As the end execution tool of agricultural robots, the manipulator directly determines whether the grasping task can be successfully completed. The human hand can adapt to various objects and achieve stable grasping, which is the highest goal for manipulator design and development. Thus, this study combines a multi-sensor fusion tactile glove to simulate manual grasping, explores the mechanism and characteristics of the human hand, and formulates rational grasping plans. According to the shape and size of fruits and vegetables, the grasping gesture library is summarized to facilitate the matching of optimal grasping gestures. By analyzing inter-finger curvature correlations and inter-joint pressure correlations, we investigated the synergistic motion characteristics of the human hand. In addition, the force data were processed by the wavelet transform algorithms and then the thresholds for sliding detection were set to ensure robust grasping. The acceleration law under the interaction with the external environment during grasping was also discussed, including stable movement, accidental collision, and placement of the target position. Finally, according to the analysis and summary of the manual gripping mechanism, the corresponding pre-gripping planning was designed to provide theoretical guidance and ideas for the gripping of robots.
Impact of Immediate and Delayed Breast Reconstruction on Quality of Life of Breast Cancer Patients

A mastectomy affects the psychological, social, and sexual well-being of patients. Research has confirmed that breast reconstruction is important for improving the quality of life in patients with breast cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients who underwent a mastectomy followed by immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. This prospective study was conducted from January 2018 to March 2020 at the Clinical Hospital Center Osijek, using the health questionnaire SF-36. The study included 79 patients. The results of the study showed that patients who underwent a mastectomy had the lowest scores in the domain of restriction due to physical difficulties, 18.8 (6.3–31.3), in physical functioning and limitation due to emotional difficulties, 16.7 (8.3–33.3), in mental health. In immediate breast reconstruction, patients rated better physical health (p < 0.001), while patients who underwent delayed breast reconstruction rated their mental health worse (p < 0.001) as measured by the SF-36 questionnaire. Conclusion: The results of this study show that patients without breast reconstruction rated their quality of life worse than patients who underwent immediate and delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy. There is no difference in the quality of life between patients who underwent immediate and delayed breast reconstruction after mastectomy.