Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elastic Simulation of Joints with Particle-Based Fluid

Skinning, which is used in skeletal simulations to express the human body, has been weighted between bones to enable muscle-like motions. Weighting is not a form of calculating the pressure and density of muscle fibers in the human body. Therefore, it is not possible to express physical changes when external forces are applied. To express a similar behavior, an animator arbitrarily customizes the weight values. In this study, we apply the kernel and pressure-dependent density variations used in particle-based fluid simulations to skinning simulations. As a result, surface tension and elasticity between particles are applied to muscles, indicating realistic human motion. We also propose a tension yield condition that reflects Tresca’s yield condition, which can be easily approximated using the difference between the maximum and minimum values of the principal stress to simulate the tension limit of the muscle fiber. The density received by particles in the kernel is assumed to be the principal stress. The difference is calculated by approximating the moment of greatest force to the maximum principal stress and the moment of least force to the minimum principal stress. When the density of a particle increases beyond the yield condition, the object is no longer subjected to force. As a result, one can express realistic muscles.
The effect of fullerenols on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract We support the general understanding that deleterious effects induced by hyperglycemia in rats would be alleviated by means of antioxidant treatment. Also, we have been supported and encouraged by many explorations on the usage of fullerenols for treating diabetic complications. Our present study aims to examine the potentials of fullerenols against diabetes in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Animals were intraperitoneally administered with fullerenols for 15 days and then sacrificed. Following parameters were assessed: blood glucose, insulin concentration, levels of redox-related parameters, liver and kidney function biomarkers, glycogen contents, carbohydrate metabolic enzyme activities and histopathological analysis. As expected, fullerenols exhibited the well-known anti-oxidative property via decreasing MDA, increasing SOD, GSH-Px and CAT levels. Fullerenol treatment also showed a slight improvement in liver and kidney functional biomarkers, inferring a marginal hepatorenal protection. However, there were insignificant changes in levels of blood glucose, insulin, the pathological state of the necrotic islets. Herein, our results revealed that fullerenols failed to improve the function of pancreas and reverse the hyperglycemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats in spite of a potent antioxidant role. Our study suggested that neither diabetes nor its complications could benefit from fullerenol administration.
Effect of Permeability Evolution in Fault Damage Zones on Earthquake Recurrence

Micro‐crack density, porosity, and permeability in fault damage zones play an important role in the pore fluid diffusion process. During long‐term earthquake cycles, those properties change with time as a result of either physical damage or chemical/physical healing. Hence, the evolution of permeability can affect the recurrence of earthquakes by either delaying or accelerating the weakening of the fault core through controlling the pore pressure distribution and changing the effective normal stress. In this study, we use a single degree of freedom spring slider analog fault model to simulate the earthquake sequences, considering permeability as a decreasing function of the effective normal stress and thus an increasing function of pore pressure; we also examine its evolution resulting from coseismic damage and interseismic healing. Our simulation results show that different permeability evolution, controlled by various physical conditions, could result in a variety of fault slipping histories, which demonstrates the importance of incorporating the permeability evolution into earthquake modeling, especially when assessing the long‐term effects.
Green Housing or Green Gentrification?

Research on green-certified buildings has often been focused on the benefits of green standards, such as energy efficiency, smart growth, resource conservation, and health protection. Recent studies suggest the adoption of a reductionist sustainability planning language can turn green-certified houses into luxury goods, attracting White, prime-age, college-educated households with some pro-environmental attitudes who replace existing long-term, lower-income residents in core urban areas. While many factors may work together in driving neighborhood change and gentrification in cities, the question this study aims to address is to what extent the supply of green-certified units can affect neighborhood change and gentrification? We use Central Virginia’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) housing market transactions data and the U.S. Census Bureau’s socioeconomic data to present the differential effect of new construction of market-rate, green-certified units in a natural experiment using difference-in-differences estimates. We find that neighborhoods that include new, green-certified units have experienced a statistically significant increase in population, supporting new construction and positively affecting house prices. We also detect some negative effects on minorities and minority owners, but these effects have not yet reached statistical significance. This study finds strong evidence of green housing providing the conditions that make areas ripe for gentrification, but more studies should follow up to better measure and generalize this finding.
The Seasonality, Steroid and the Lower Ratio of Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Associated With Listeriosis in Japan

Background: Although listeriosis is a foodborne infection with a high mortality rate, studies of listeriosis from Asia are limited. We aimed to compare the characteristics of listeriosis and non-listeriosis (defined as bacteremia without Listeria monocytegenes infection) in Japan.Methods: We conducted a case–control study of adults with listeriosis or with bacteremia without L. monocytegenes infection from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2019, at Tokyo Medical University Hospital in Japan. We recorded the incidence of admissions and the clinical characteristics, including age and sex; underlying disease; clinical symptoms; onset month; whether listeriosis was community-associated or health care–associated; medicine; blood count; biochemical findings; antibiotics use; admission to the intensive care unit; and outcome.Results: A total of 12 patients were included in the case group and 28 patients were included in the control group. Most cases of listeriosis were present in patients of an advanced age, with underlying disease, and/or on immunosuppressant therapy. Two patients died within 30 days and one developed a brain abscess. Listeriosis onset was associated with the warm season (90.9% vs. 53.8%; P = 0.033), steroid use (54.5% vs. 19.2%; P = 0.042), and a lower ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (9.46 vs. 18.44; P = 0.015). Conclusion: The incidence of listeriosis in this study was similar to that in other Asian countries and the 30-day mortality rate was 18.2%. We observed that listeriosis onset was associated with the warm season, steroid use, and a lower ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes.
Gold NanoBeacons for Spectral Codification – Application as a DNA Sensor

IV Resumo . VI Table of contents . VIII Table of Figures . XIV Table index . XX Abbreviations and symbols . XXII 1 General Introduction . 1 Light . 3 Light absorption . 4 Fluorescence . 8 Steady-state and Time-resolved fluorescence . 12 Fluorescence intensity variation . 12 Energy transfer systems . 14 Spectral codification . 17 NanoBiotechnology . 21 Synthesis and functionalization . 22 Optical properties . 25 Interaction of AuNP with fluorophores . 27 Other properties . 28 Fluorescence-based nanodiagnostics . 29 Nucleic acids sensing . 30 Protein sensing . 32 AuNP based fluorescence biosensors . 32 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia . 35 Scope of the Thesis . 37
Boosting the multiple aircraft online tracking performance via enriching the associated data with fused targets features

ABSTRACT Multi aircraft tracking from an aerial view is a backbone for several military and civilian applications. Recent tracking by detection approaches was utilized to accomplish such multiple target tracking (MTT) tasks as Simple Online and Real-time Tracking (SORT). SORT is a strong and fast MTT, that employs a Kalman filter for the target motion parameters and the Hungarian method for the data association. But it discards the target appearance for resolving the association problem to preserve the real-time execution which results in increasing the number of (IDS) Identity Switches and decreasing the tracking accuracy. In this work, the target appearance information is incorporated alongside its geometry to leverage the tracking accuracy and reduce the tracklet fragments due to the high number of IDS. The target shape and contextually based feature of Histogram orientation of Gradient (HOG) are combined with its color histogram to enrich the Hungarian association with the appearance information. A recent-released multi-aircraft data set is utilized to examine the proposed improvement through a comparative experiment that reveals the MTT performance-boosting while keeping the real-time execution. The proposed method reduces the tracked targets IDsw by 60.97% that improves the tracker overall accuracy by 8.6% compared to the SORT tracker.
Understanding Chemical Ordering in Intermetallic Clathrates from Atomic Scale Simulations

Intermetallic clathrates exhibit great variability with respect to elemental composition and distribution. While this provides a lot of flexibility for tuning properties, it also poses a challenge with regard to developing a comprehensive understanding of these systems. Here, we employ a combination of alloy cluster expansions and density functional theory calculations to exhaustively sample the compositional space with ab initio accuracy. We apply this methodology to study chemical ordering and related properties in the clathrate systems Ba8GaxGe46–x, Ba8GaxSi46–x, Ba8AlxGe46–x, and Ba8AlxSi46–x as a function of composition and temperature. We achieve very good agreement with the available experimental data for the site occupancy factors (SOFs) even for stoichiometries outside the composition range considered during construction of the cluster expansions. This validation enables us to reconcile the variations in the experimental data and explain nonmonotonic variations of the SOFs. In particular, we prov.
Detection and Attribution of Lake Victoria’s Water-Level Fluctuations in a Changing Climate

This study investigated the influence of land-use and precipitation change and variability on Lake Victoria’s water-level fluctuations. Extreme precipitation events, corresponding to extreme water-levels, over the lake and its catchment area were identified and their return periods estimated by fitting them into a generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. Using general circulation models from the 6th phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6)’s Detection & Attribution Model Intercomparison Project (DAMIP), an assessment of the potential contribution of human-induced climate change on the observed precipitation patterns over the study area was done. The greatest precipitation anomalies for the period 1900-2020 were recorded in 1961’s October-December (OND) season and 2019’s June-August (JJA) and OND seasons, corresponding to the period when the highest water-levels were recorded in Lake Victoria. While land-use change in the study domain was observed, extended and unusually heavy June to December 2019 precipitation bore the greatest responsibility for the 2019/2020 high water-levels in Lake Victoria. The OND precipitation event of 2019 was a 1-in-52-year event compared to the 1961’s 1-in-693 years. Differences in return periods at various parts of the lake imply a high spatial climate variability within the lake itself. An analysis of the fraction of attributable risk (FAR) showed natural variability to have a greater influence on the JJA and OND precipitation patterns over Lake Victoria than human-induced climate change. However, variability over the land area of the study domain was mainly driven by human-induced climate change rather than natural variability, implying a unique climate system over Lake Victoria. Findings from the current study enhance the understanding of Lake Victoria’s water budget and motivate for further research to inform effective strategies on the planning and use of Lake Victoria’s water resources in a changing climate.
Participatory Management to Improve Accessibility in Consolidated Urban Environments

There is a wide range of regulations on universal accessibility, but our cities are still inaccessible in many cases. Most accessibility problems in cities occur in consolidated areas that were developed prior to the development of current accessibility regulations. This leads to consider the importance of focusing more effort on managing the improvement of the accessibility of existing public urban environments. As such, the objective of this research is to design a conceptual model for accessibility management in consolidated urban environments. Unlike other research focusing on city users to collect information on accessibility problems or to provide services to improve wayfinding, this method has a focus on urban accessibility managers. The model is based on the assessment of the level of accessibility of urban environments together with the assessment of management processes in which city users are actively involved. It consists of a set of basic indicators for the identification of accessible pedestrian routes, and provides a dynamic accessibility index for the evaluation of their efficient management by the responsible governments. The inclusion of this assessment framework in the management process itself enables the necessary improvement actions to be identified and taken in time. ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) provide the communication channel between the responsible governments and city users, making this a more dynamic and efficient management model based on assessment possible.
Possible benefits from greening of public transport stops in Sofia, Bulgaria

Public transport shelters provide an unused surface that can be utilized in various ways, including for unconventional landscaping. The benefits from greening of public transport shelters are insufficiently studied and unutilized. The article evaluates some of the benefits which may result from the construction of green public transport shelters in the central part of Sofia. There are a total of 2780 aboveground public transport stops in Sofia. In the surveyed area are located 257 stops, 150 of which currently have shelters. The potential of greened shelters to remove PM10 and CO2 from the ambient air is estimated for several different scenarios. If 250 public transport shelters are entirely greened (roof and 3 walls) with Festuca sp. , the removed PM10 will be about 20 kg/yr, or 0.01% of the yearly emissions of PM10 from transport in the surveyed area. The sequestered CO2 will be 17047.3 kg /yr. , or approximately the CO2 emitted by 40 diesel cars with an average daily mileage of 10 km per day for a year. The reduction of PM10 and CO2 is not significant, however, in a big city with intensive construction and a constantly increasing population, every possibility for greening needs to be explored. Green stops may be used in combination with other measures. Proper selection of plant species and design solutions maximizing the green surface will increase the benefits.
The Effect of Photographic Light Exposure on Cup to Disc Ratio Grading

Background: Digital optic disc images are integral in remote telehealthcare, yet no quality control standards exist for the exposure setting of the images. This study evaluated the relationship between exposure setting and cup/disc ratio (c/d) grading among glaucoma specialists. Methods: Color disc photos were taken of 50 eyes of pediatric patients under anesthesia at 3 light exposure settings: dark, medium, and bright. 9 glaucoma specialists evaluated the c/d of the imaged discs in random order. The relationships between the exposure levels and the c/d estimates as well as between c/d size and variability were evaluated.Results: A total of 150 photos of 50 optic discs were graded. The c/d estimates were significantly larger among bright when compared to photos taken at the medium exposure setting(0.53 vs 0.48, P < 0.001) as well as the dark exposure setting (0.47, P < 0.001). In addition, images with larger mean c/d did not show more variability amongst readers (P = 0.59). Conclusion: Image exposure affects c/d grading of nonstereoscopic disc images. The brighter exposure is associated with larger c/d grading. Exposure consistency is key in longitudinal care.
The Role of Il6 in Spontaneous Preterm Labour

Objective : Preterm birth (PTB) and Preterm labour (PTL) (PTL is defined as ‘regular uterine contractions, which result in cervical changes before 37 Week of pregnancy. The main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality with 5-18% of pregnancies was the preterm labour. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) amniotic fluid is an important cytokine used to identify intra-amniotic inflammation and those at risk to imminent premature delivery in patients with elevated AF IL-6. However, results of the traditional measurement method (ELISA) are generally unavailable in time in order to inform care. The aim of this study was to establish if intraamniotic inflammation and/or infectious patients and those intended to spontaneous pre-term delivery among women with preterm labour and intact membranes can be identified through a point of care (POC) test or lateral-flow immunoassay for AF IL-6 concentration measurement. Methods : In this study, one hundred and thirty-six singleton pregnant women who had symptoms of premature labor and amniocentesis were included. At the time of diagnosis, amniocentesis was carried out. In this study, the determination of AF (white blood cells, gram stain) was happened. By the results of AF culture, microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity (MIAC) was defined. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and the lateral flow based immunoassay used to determine AF IL-6 concentrations. Define AF ELISA IL-6 as ≥ 2600 pg/ml as the primary result for intra- amniotic inflammation Results : (1) The concentrations of AF IL-6 has been determined by a POC test with a specificity (91%), sensitivity (93%) and a positive likelihood ratio (10) where Intraamniotic inflammation identified with the threshold of 740 pg/ml; (2) The POC test and IL-6’s ELISA are also used to identify patients at risk of acute placenta inflammation, MIAC and impending spontaneous preterm delivery. Conclusion: Intra-amniotic inflammation in women who present subsequently with spontaneous delivery before 34 week of gestation or those who will present with preterm and intact membranes can be identified by POC AF IL-6 test. It can be achieved within 20 minutes – this has important clinical implications and opens up opportunities for early diagnosis and treatment of intra-amniotic infection / inflammation.
SnS nanoparticles electrostatically anchored on three-dimensional N-doped graphene as an active and durable anode for sodium-ion batteries

SnS nanoparticles (SnS NPs) electrostatically anchored on a 3D N-doped graphene (3DNG) network exhibit the best cycling performance reported so far for SnS-based anodes. The stronger affinity of 3DNG to SnS NPs and to the discharge product compared to pure graphene is the fundamental reason for achieving a stable electrode architecture during cycling.
The high-frequency response correction of eddy covariance fluxes – Part 2: An experimental approach for analysing noisy measurements of small fluxes

Abstract. Fluxes measured with the eddy covariance (EC) technique are subject to flux losses at high frequencies (low-pass filtering). If not properly corrected for, these result in systematically biased ecosystem–atmosphere gas exchange estimates. This loss is corrected using the system's transfer function which can be estimated with either theoretical or experimental approaches. In the experimental approach, commonly used for closed-path EC systems, the low-pass filter transfer function (H) can be derived from the comparison of either (i) the measured power spectra of sonic temperature and the target gas mixing ratio or (ii) the cospectra of both entities with vertical wind speed. In this study, we compare the power spectral approach (PSA) and cospectral approach (CSA) in the calculation of H for a range of attenuation levels and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). For a systematic analysis, we artificially generate a representative dataset from sonic temperature (T) by attenuating it with a first order filter and contaminating it with white noise, resulting in various combinations of time constants and SNRs. For PSA, we use two methods to account for the noise in the spectra: the first is the one introduced by Ibrom et al. (2007a) (PSAI07), in which the noise and H are fitted in different frequency ranges, and the noise is removed before estimating H. The second is a novel approach that uses the full power spectrum to fit both H and noise simultaneously (PSAA21). For CSA, we use a method utilizing the square root of the H with shifted vertical wind velocity time series via cross-covariance maximization (CSAH,sync). PSAI07 tends to overestimate the time constant when low-pass filtering is low, whilst the new PSAA21 and CSAH,sync successfully estimate the expected time constant regardless of the degree of attenuation and SNR. We further examine the effect of the time constant obtained with the different implementations of PSA and CSA on cumulative fluxes using estimated time constants in frequency response correction. For our example time series, the fluxes corrected using time constants derived by PSAI07 show a bias between 0.1 % and 1.4 %. PSAA21 showed almost no bias, while CSAH,sync showed bias of ±0.4 %. The accuracies of both PSA and CSA methods were not significantly affected by SNR level, instilling confidence in EC flux measurements and data processing in set-ups with low SNR. Overall we show that, when using power spectra for the empirical estimation of parameters of H for closed-path EC systems the new PSAA21 outperforms PSAI07, while when using cospectra the CSAH,sync approach provides accurate results. These findings are independent of the SNR value and attenuation level.
Braking intensity recognition with optimal K-means clustering algorithm

Recognizing a driver’s braking intensity plays a pivotal role in the development of modern driver assistance and energy management systems; and therefore, it is especially important to autonomous and electric vehicles. This paper aims at developing a system for recognizing a driver’s braking intensity based on the pressure produced in the brake master cylinder. In this regard, a model-based, synthetic data generation concept is used to generate the training dataset. This technique involves two closed-loop controlled models: an upper-level longitudinal vehicle dynamics model, and a lower-level brake hydraulic, dynamic model. The adaptive particularly tunable fuzzy particle swarm optimization algorithm is recruited to solve the optimal K-means clustering problem and to determine the best number of clusters and centroids into which the brake pressure data are to be divided. The obtained results reveal that the brake pressure data for a vehicle traveling the new European driving cycle can be best partitioned into two clusters. A driver’s braking intensity may, therefore, be clustered as moderate or intensive. With the ability to automatically recognize a driver’s pedal feel, the system developed in this research could be implemented in intelligent driver assistance systems as well as in electric vehicles equipped with intelligent, electromechanical brake boosters.