Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Frailty in Thai Community-Dwelling Elderly: Prevalence and Its Association with Malnutrition

Cognitive frailty (CF) is defined by the coexistence of physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment. Malnutrition is an underlying factor of age-related conditions including physical frailty. However, the evidence associating malnutrition and cognitive frailty is limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between malnutrition and CF in the elderly. A total of 373 participants aged 65–84 years were enrolled after excluding those who were suspected to have dementia and depression. Then, 61 CF and 45 normal participants were randomly selected to measure serum prealbumin level. Cognitive function was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B). Modified Fried’s criteria were used to define physical frailty. Nutritional status was evaluated by the Mini Nutritional Assessment–short form (MNA-SF), serum prealbumin, and anthropometric measurements. The prevalence of CF was 28.72%. Malnourished status by MNA-SF category (aOR = 2.81, 95%CI: 1.18–6.67) and MNA-SF score (aOR = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.74–0.94) were independently associated with CF. However, there was no correlation between CF and malnutrition assessed by serum prealbumin level and anthropometric measurements. Other independent risk factors of CF were advanced age (aOR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.02–1.11) and educational level below high school (aOR = 6.77, 95%CI: 1.99–23.01). Malnutrition was associated with CF among Thai elderly. High-risk groups who are old and poorly educated should receive early screening and nutritional interventions.
Mechanical and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of the Amino Silicone Oil Emulsion Modified Ramie Fiber Reinforced Composites

The mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties, interface adhesion and microstructures of the amino silicone oil emulsion (ASO) modified short ramie fiber reinforced polypropylene composites (RFPCs) with different fiber fractions were investigated. The RFPCs were made through a combined process of extrusion and injection molding. Mechanical property tests of the RFPCs revealed enhancements in tensile and flexural strengths with increase of the fiber fraction due to the high stiffness of the fiber filler and a better interfacial bonding from ASO treatment. The dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) results indicated that fiber incorporation plays an important role in DMA parameters (storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping ratio) at Tg by forming an improved interfacial adhesion and providing more effective stress transfer rate and energy dissipation between matrix and fiber. The phase behavior analysis suggests all the RFPCs are a kind of heterogeneity system based on the Cole-Cole plot analysis.
Association between Flow-Mediated Dilation and Skin Perfusion Pressure with Peripheral Artery Disease in Hemodialysis Patients

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) is used to noninvasively assess the health of blood vessels and it has been shown to have a similar predictive ability for cardiovascular disease to traditional risk factors. Skin perfusion pressure (SPP) refers to the blood pressure required to restore capillary or microcirculatory flow after controlled occlusion and the return of flow. SPP has been shown to be an important measurement when making clinical decisions for patients with limb ischemia and to be a predictor of the likelihood of wound healing. Peripheral artery disease is common in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, little is known about the association between FMD or SPP and peripheral artery disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between FMD and SPP with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in HD patients in Taiwan, an area with a high rate of ESRD. This study was conducted at a regional hospital in southern Taiwan. ABI and baPWV values were measured using an ABI automated device. FMD and SPP were measured using ultrasound and a microvasculature blood flow monitor, respectively. Eighty patients were enrolled in this study. Compared to the patients with an ABI ≥ 0.95, those with an ABI < 0.95 had lower SPP of the feet (dorsal and plantar portions, both p < 0.001). After multivariable adjustments, low triglycerides (p = 0.033) and high calcium–phosphate product (p = 0.018) were significantly associated with low FMD. Further, low ABI (p = 0.001) and low baPWV (p = 0.036) were significantly associated with low SPP of dorsal portions. Old age (p = 0.005), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.016), and low ABI (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with low SPP of plantar portions. This study demonstrated an association between FMD and SPP with peripheral artery disease in HD patients. Patients with low ABI and baPWV had a high risk of low SPP of the feet. However, there was no significant correlation between FMD and ABI or baPWV.
Modelling of a DC excitation of a synchronous generator

Excitation systems are the basis of power system stability and control. The design of excitation system and its parameters play a major role in the performance of the power system control and protection [1]. Many power systems fail as a result of poor design of the excitation system. When fault occurs, it becomes very difficult to troubleshoot if the excitation was not thoroughly and clearly modelled and designed [2]. Therefore, modelling of excitation systems is very crucial and it requires thorough detail of every single part in order to allow quick fault detection. The AC excitation system is the most popular excitation method. However, magnetic field could build up and collapse with AC power, making the generated current drop to zero. In this paper the DC excitation system is modelled and analyzed in terms of its performance under steady state and transient conditions. This method of excitation is chosen over the other methods owing to its simplicity, reliability and lower design costs. It is easier to troubleshoot simple systems. The most important aspect in DC excitation systems is frequent maintenance since they use brushes and slip-rings.
Many‐objective land use planning using a hypercube‐based NSGA‐III algorithm

Due to the many objectives and constraints involved in urban land use planning (ULUP), this is considered as a many‐objective and complex optimization problem that needs a variety of geographical analyses. In this article, the main target is improving NSGA‐III as an advanced many‐objective optimization algorithm for solving the ULUP problem. In this study, five objective functions (i.e., consistency, dependency, compactness, suitability, and per capita violation of land uses) are considered for their simultaneous optimization for allocation. The proposed algorithm is tested using the spatial data of region 7, district 1 of Tehran using a vector format. To evaluate the results, two more real datasets were implemented. The performance of the improved algorithm is compared concerning NSGA‐II and NSGA‐III in the main case study area and two other instances. The comparison results show that the improved algorithm increases the convergence and diversity of the generated solutions in ULUP concerning the results obtained by these two other algorithms. The results of the optimization with these methods can help decision‐makers toward sustainable development in the construction of new cities, new towns, and smart cities.
Completing the Genome Sequence of Chlamydia pecorum Strains MC/MarsBar and DBDeUG: New Insights into This Enigmatic Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Pathogen

Chlamydia pecorum, an obligate intracellular pathogen, causes significant morbidity and mortality in livestock and the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). A variety of C. pecorum gene-centric molecular studies have revealed important observations about infection dynamics and genetic diversity in both koala and livestock hosts. In contrast to a variety of C. pecorum molecular studies, to date, only four complete and 16 draft genomes have been published. Of those, only five draft genomes are from koalas. Here, using whole-genome sequencing and a comparative genomics approach, we describe the first two complete C. pecorum genomes collected from diseased koalas. A de novo assembly of DBDeUG_2018 and MC/MarsBar_2018 resolved the chromosomes and chlamydial plasmids each as single, circular contigs. Robust phylogenomic analyses indicate biogeographical separation between strains from northern and southern koala populations, and between strains infecting koala and livestock hosts. Comparative genomics between koala strains identified new, unique, and shared loci that accumulate single-nucleotide polymorphisms and separate between northern and southern, and within northern koala strains. Furthermore, we predicted novel type III secretion system effectors. This investigation constitutes a comprehensive genome-wide comparison between C. pecorum from koalas and provides improvements to annotations of a C. pecorum reference genome. These findings lay the foundations for identifying and understanding host specificity and adaptation behind chlamydial infections affecting koalas.
A Study to Apply Crowd Sourcing Technology in Intelligent Transportation System (Case Study: Jeju City, South Korea)

The introduction of crowd sourcing techniques requires changes in the existing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) which is based on in sourcing, providing traffic information generated by detectors through the Variable Message Signs (VMS). High cost and interrupted services are two common problems with ITS. Experts expect crowd sourcing techniques, which are created by Social Networking Service (SNS), will overcome problems of ITS. Crowd sourcing technique was utilized in the Jeju Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) project to install ITS on the coastal roads around Jeju city. Installation of the point detectors turned out to be a non-economic method on coastal roads with low traffic volume. However, there existed areas in which traffic information couldn’t be generated due to the limited Smartphone users. Costeffective crowd sourcing techniques indicate the fact that the crowd sourcing technique is more suitable for urban roads with many Smartphone users.
Research on Intelligent Following Motion Control System of Rehabilitation Robot

Background: In response to the current problem of low intelligence of mobile lower limb motor rehabilitation aids, this article proposes an intelligent control scheme based on human movement behavior in order to control the rehabilitation robot to follow the patient's movement. Methods: Firstly, a multi-sensor data acquisition system is designed according to the motion characteristics of human body. By analyzing and processing the motion data, the change law of human center of gravity and behavior intention are obtained, and the behavior intention of human is used as the control command of the robot following motion. In order to achieve the goal of the rehabilitation robot following human motion, an adaptive radial basis function neural network (ARBFNN) sliding mode controller is designed based on the robot dynamic model. The controller can reduce the impact of fluctuations in the human center of gravity on changes in the parameters of the robot control system, and enhance the adaptability of the system to other disturbance factors, and improve the accuracy of following human motion. Finally, the motion following experiment of the rehabilitation robot is carried out. Results: The experimental results show that the robot can recognize the motion intention of human body, and achieve the training goal of following different subjects to complete straight lines and curves. Conclusions: According to the experimental results, the accuracy of the multi-sensor data acquisition system and control algorithm design is verified, which demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed intelligent control scheme.
Out of Class and Off Track: High School Suspension in New York City

Out of Class and Off Track: High School Suspension in New York City Elizabeth Chu Research suggests that suspensions are detrimental to students’ socio-emotional and academic development and to the likelihood that they graduate from high school. This literature often describes the types of students who are suspended or the relationships between suspension and student outcomes, either through qualitative methods or quantitative methods that fail to adequately account for the differences between students who are and are not suspended. Using longitudinal administrative data from New York City, I build upon extant research by estimating the link between suspension and short-term academic outcomes within a student fixed effects framework. This approach eliminates unmeasured differences across students that are associated with both the likelihood of being suspended and important student outcomes. I then estimate the link between suspension and long-term academic outcomes using propensity score matching. I find that suspension is associated with increased absences and latenesses, and a decreased likelihood of passing courses the term in which the suspension occurred. Furthermore, suspension is associated with a lower likelihood of graduating within four, five, or six years, and a decreased likelihood of passing Regents exams.
Outage Performance of Ambient Backscatter Communication System with Distributed Antennas

Ambient backscatter communication, which transmits information by utilizing ambient radio frequency signal as carrier, has attracted a lot of attention for its sustainability and low-power consumption. In this paper, we propose a novel paradigm with multiple distributed antennas at the reader to improve the throughput of the system. In particular, considering the Nakagami-m channels, we investigate and analyze the system performance. A closed-form expression for the outage probability of the proposed system is derived. In addition, we also analyze the system with multi-centralized antennas reader as a benchmark. Simulation results show that the proposed distributed scheme outperforms the centralized scheme in terms of outage performance and communication distance.
An Integrating Digital Light Meter

A description is given of a novel light-to-frequency converter circuit which makes possible a very simple digital light meter using conventional frequency counting techniques. This circuit combines the principle of time-integration, the high stability of reverse biased silicon planar photodiodes, and first order dark current compensation to yield a potentially 0.1 percent accuracy light meter. Some discussion of temperature effects upon planar diode photocurrent is given.
LiNbO3 broadband interferometric optical modulators: modeling and implementation

An accurate and yet simple simulation technique for optical modulators operating at multi-GHz region and optical modulators are critical for Tera-bps optical communications. This paper describes a simple, efficient and accurate analysis of the traveling wave electrodes for high speed optical modulation and the implementation of these electrodes in interferometric optical modulators. A finite difference approach is employed in modeling the traveling wave electrodes for efficient electro-optic interaction in interferometric optical modulators. Electrode configurations such as symmetric and asymmetric co-planar waveguide or strip structures and shielded electrode systems can be modeled. Simulated results demonstrate the efficiency of the presented method as compared with other methods such as the Green's function, conformal mapping, method if images, spectral domain analysis etc. Tilted and thick practical electro-plated electrodes are modeled and confirmed with implemented modulators operating up to 26 GHz in diffused LiNbO3 optical interferometric optical waveguide structures. The fabrication of optical waveguides and traveling wave electrodes are described for implementation of the electro-optic interferometric modulators.
Structuring the application software for real-time process control

An approach for structuring the application software for real-time process control is described. The approach is based on abstract data types and object-oriented design methodology. The data and software structures are considered in detail. The approach is illustrated by the design of a complex real-time system for controlling the sterilization process in the foodstuff industry. This approach allows the development of task templates instead of actual tasks; the templates can be instantiated according to the target requirements. It allows addition and removal of control loops, changing some of the controlling algorithms, and changing the controlling parameters. It decreases the number of application tasks, thus reducing the overhead needed for task scheduling, switching, and coordinating. <<ETX>>
Color appearance in virtual reality: a comparison between a full-scale room and a virtual reality simulation

The main goal of our project is to make VR applications usable for the planning of light and color. To enable reliable simulations, we both need to develop better rendering methods and carefully study the appearance of light and color in real rooms and in virtual environments. Assessments of real rooms are compared to simulations of the same rooms in immersive Virtual Reality (3D-cube). In this paper, we will present the outcome of a pilot study and discuss specific problems associated with the prospect of comparing reality to Virtual Reality. We will account for the experience of the room and go into details on the experience and perception of light. Indeed, the problems fo getting enough light in the 3D-cube and of simulating the light situation of a real room affect color appearance.
Vibration Monitoring of Civil Engineering Structures Using Contactless Vision-Based Low-Cost IATS Prototype

The role and importance of geodesists in the planning and building of civil engineering constructions are well known. However, the importance and benefits of collected data during maintenance in exploitation have arisen in the last thirty years due primarily to the development of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) instruments, sensors and systems, which can receive signals from multiple GPS systems. In the last fifteen years, the development of Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) and Image-Assisted Total Stations (IATS) has enabled much wider integration of these types of geodetic instruments with their sensors into monitoring systems for the displacement and deformation monitoring of structures, as well as for regular structure inspections. While GNSS sensors have certain limitations regarding their accuracy, their suitability in monitoring systems, and the need for a clean horizon, IATS do not have these limitations. The latest development of Total Stations (TS) called IATS is a theodolite that consists of a Robotic Total Station (RTS) with integrated image sensors. Today, IATS can be used for structural and geo-monitoring, i.e., for the determination of static and dynamic displacements and deformations, as well as for the determination of civil engineering structures’ natural frequencies. In this way, IATS can provide essential information about the current condition of structures. However, like all instruments and sensors, they have their advantages and disadvantages. IATS’s biggest advantage is their high level of accuracy and precision and the fact that they do not need to be set up on the structure, while their biggest disadvantage is that they are expensive. In this paper, the developed low-cost IATS prototype, which consists of an RTS Leica TPS1201 instrument and GoPro Hero5 camera, is presented. At first, the IATS prototype was tested in the laboratory where simulated dynamic displacements were determined. After the experiment, the IATS prototype was used in the field for the purpose of static and dynamic load testing of the railway bridge Kloštar, after its reconstruction according to HRN ISO NORM U.M1. 046—Testing of bridges by load test. In this article, the determination of bridge dynamic displacements and results of the computation of natural frequencies using FFT from the measurement data obtained by means of IATS are presented. During the load testing of the bridge, the frequencies were also determined by accelerometers, and these data were used as a reference for the assessment of IATS accuracy and suitability for dynamic testing. From the conducted measurements, we successfully determined natural bridge frequencies as they match the results gained by accelerometers.
High quality synthetic speech on a wide vocal effort continuum: Statistical parametric speech synthesis with glottal pulse library

Humans adapt their speech according to auditory environment in order to get the message delivered but without using unnecessary effort. Depending on the context, natural speech might vary from whisper to shouting. This vocal effort continuum is an integral part of human communication, but it is typically not utilized in machine-to-human communication. In order to produce contextually appropriate synthetic speech, the auditory environment and context must be taken into account and speech produced at a corresponding point in the vocal effort continuum.
The health status, aging anxiety, social networking, generativity, and happiness of late middle-aged adults

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the relationship of health status, aging anxiety, social networking, generativity, and happiness and to investigate the main factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults.Methods: The study collected data from a total of 153 middle-aged men and women aged 50 to 64 years old from a consumer panel of Macromill-Embrain, the biggest online survey provider in Korea. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and a stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 22.0 program.Results: The subjects’ happiness mean score was 16.17±9.29. Statistically significant differences in happiness were found according to education (F=4.38, p=.014), economic status (t=5.13, p<.001), and religion (t=2.18, p=.031). Happiness was correlated significantly with health status (r=.41, p<.001), aging anxiety (r=-.62, p<.001), family support (r=.43, p<.001), friend support (r=.36, p<.001) and generativity (r=.63, p<.001). The factors influencing happiness of late middle-aged adults were generativity (β=.37, p<.001), aging anxiety (β=-.35, p<.001), family support (β=.20, p<.001), and economic status (β=.13, p=.033). The explanatory power of the model was 58.0%. Conclusion: This study will be used as basic data when developing a nursing intervention program for successful aging by identifying factors that affect the happiness of late middle-aged adults.
UWB Based Detection with Fractional Fourier Transform

The importance of UWB radar system for indoor applications is of keen interest. Applications such as across the wall monitoring, through wall detection, intrusion detection and under rubble vital sign detection are of cumulative interest and are also used in modern rescue systems to help the trapped human beings, along with detection and activity monitoring across the wall. In this paper we have studied across the wall detection of presence of different objects by applying the fractional Fourier transform. Computer aided design based simulations for indoor environment are accomplished by using finite difference time domain solution for Maxwell’s equations. Finally, fractal analysis is realized for the collected signals reflected from the objects present across the wall.