Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Uterus from Perspective of Improving Fertility, Periconceptional Outcomes and Developmental Programming with the Concept of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD)

The role of uterine factor in infertility has been exemplified by better pregnancy rates found in gestational carriers even with use of donor egg IVF instead of own uteri in infertile women. Not only were PR’s improved but further it was shown that even beyond window of implantation time it reduced rates of prematurity ,low birth weight and further diseases associated with defective implantation like preeclampsia and thus even fertile women need to be checked for uterine factors like fibroids endometriosis etc. and further exemplified by Fleming et al. [1]. Evans [2] & Taylor [3] regarding role of uterine programming in long term planning of offspring even in adulthood as exemplified by rodent studies as well.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor Therapy Effects in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved and Mid-Range Ejection Fraction

Background There is hypothesis that endothelial function enhancement is strongly associated with better outcome and functional class improvement in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and heart failure with mid-range ejection fraction (HFmrEF) patients. Perindopril is the only angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) drug with proven positive effect on the endothelium in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. In patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF, its impact is still unknown. The aim of this study was to assess perindopril’s influence on endothelial dysfunction markers in these groups of patients. Methods We included 60 patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF. At the baseline, endothelial dysfunction biomarkers were measured by IFA and echocardiographic parameters (left atrial volume index (LAVI), ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV)) were studied. In patients with no history of previous ACEI or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) therapy, perindopril was prescribed for 12 months. If patient was treated with ARB or ACEI drug other than perindopril before the study, after 48-h withdrawal period, previous drug was replaced by perindopril. Results After 12-month therapy with perindopril, E-selectin decreased from 57.25 to 46.05 ng/mL and from 56.55 to 47.6 ng/mL in HFpEF and HFmrEF patients, respectively (P < 0.05). Significant reductions from 0.99 to 0.76 pg/mL (P < 0.05) and from 1.08 to 0.97 pg/mL (P < 0.05) in endothelin-1 level were shown in patients with HFpEF and HFmrEF. Conclusion The 12-month therapy with perindopril leads to LAVI reduction in HFmrEF patients and potential endothelial dysfunction markers decrease in HFpEF and HFmrEF patients.
Shear Variation at the Ice‐Till Interface Changes the Spatial Distribution of Till Porosity and Meltwater Drainage

Many subglacial environments consist of a fine‐grained, deformable sediment bed, known as till, hosting an active hydrological system that routes meltwater. Observations show that the till undergoes substantial shear deformation as a result of the motion of the overlying ice. The deformation of the till, coupled with the dynamics of the hydrological system, is further affected by the substantial strain rate variability in subglacial conditions resulting from spatial heterogeneity at the bed. However, it is not clear if the relatively low magnitudes of strain rates affect the bed structure or its hydrology. We study how laterally varying shear along the ice‐bed interface alters sediment porosity and affects the flux of meltwater through the pore spaces. We use a discrete element model consisting of a collection of spherical, elasto‐frictional grains with water‐saturated pore spaces to simulate the deformation of the granular bed. Our results show that a deforming granular layer exhibits substantial spatial variability in porosity in the pseudo‐static shear regime, where shear strain rates are relatively low. In particular, laterally varying shear at the shearing interface creates a narrow zone of elevated porosity which has increased susceptibility to plastic failure. Despite the changes in porosity, our analysis suggests that the pore pressure equilibrates near‐instantaneously relative to the deformation at critical state, inhibiting potential strain rate dependence of the deformation caused by bed hardening or weakening resulting from pore pressure changes. We relate shear variation to porosity evolution and drainage element formation in actively deforming subglacial tills.
Effect of Family-Centered Empowerment Model on the Care Burden of the Caregivers of Older Adults with Heart Failure

Background: Developing a chronic disease, like heart failure in older adults disrupts the foundations of the family and imposes a heavy burden on family members. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the Family-Centered Empowerment Model (FCEM) on the care burden of family caregivers of older adults with heart failure. Methods: It was a quasi-experimental study with a controlled before and after design, which was conducted on 80 primary caregivers of older adults with heart failure referring to health centers affiliated with Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. The subjects were non-randomly assigned to either the control (n=40) or intervention (n=40) groups. The program was implemented based on the concepts of the model (perceived threat, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and evaluation) in eight 2-hour sessions, twice a week for four consecutive weeks. Both groups answered the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) in the beginning, in the end, and one month after the study. The data were analyzed by Chi-square, t-test, and the repeated measures ANOVA using SPSS v. 16 software. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the pretest mean score of care burden (P>0.05). However, the groups’ mean score of care burden was significantly different immediately after the intervention (P<0.05) and one month after the study (P<0.05). The repeated measures ANOVA illustrated a significant difference between the mean scores of care burden in the three measurement time points (P<0.0001). Conclusion: Implementation of the FCEM model reduces the burden of care in caregivers of older adults with heart failure. It is suggested that this model be used in training programs for older adults with heart failure and their caregivers.
Dynamic resistive switching devices for neuromorphic computing

Neuromorphic systems that can emulate the structure and the operations of biological neural circuits have long been viewed as a promising hardware solution to meet the ever-growing demands of big-data analysis and AI tasks. Recent studies on resistive switching or memristive devices have suggested such devices may form the building blocks of biorealistic neuromorphic systems. In a memristive device, the conductance is determined by a set of internal state variables, allowing the device to exhibit rich dynamics arising from the interplay between different physical processes. Not only can these devices be used for compute-in-memory architectures to tackle the von Neumann bottleneck, the switching dynamics of the devices can also be used to directly process temporal data in a biofaithful fashion. In this review, we analyze the physical mechanisms that govern the dynamic switching behaviors and highlight how these properties can be utilized to efficiently implement synaptic and neuronal functions. Prototype systems that have been used in machine learning and brain-inspired network implementations will be covered, followed with discussions on the challenges for large scale implementations and opportunities for building bio-inspired, highly complex computing systems.
A CRITICAL REVIEW OF VMA REQUIREMENTS IN SUPERPAVE

Reports of increased difficulties in meeting the minimum voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) requirements have surfaced with the recent use of Superpave volumetric mix design. The low VMA of Superpave mixes can generally be contributed to the increased compactive effort by Superpave gyratory compactor. This has led to the increased use of coarser asphalt mixes (gradations near the lower control points). However, the minimum VMA requirements in Superpave volumetric mix design for these coarse mixes are the same as those developed for the dense mixes designed by the Marshall method. Literature review has indicated that the rationale behind the minimum VMA requirement was to incorporate at least a minimum permissible asphalt content into the mix in order to ensure its durability. Studies have shown that asphalt mix durability is directly related to asphalt film thickness. Therefore, the minimum VMA should be based on the minimum desirable asphalt film thickness rather than a minimum asphalt content because the latter will be different for mixes with different gradations. Mixes with coarse gradation (and, therefore, low surface area) have difficulty meeting the minimum VMA requirement based on minimum asphalt content in spite of thick asphalt films. A rational approach based on a minimum asphalt film thickness has been proposed and validated. The film thickness approach represents a more direct, equitable, and appropriate method of ensuring asphalt mix durability and encompasses various mix gradations.
UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO SÃO CARLOS SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING GRADUATE PROGRAM IN HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING AND SANITATION

Fialho, H. C. P. (2021). Socio-hydrological aspects of floods in commercial areas in two Brazilian basins. (Master Thesis). São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos. The frequency of flood events has increased during the last decades in Brazil. Yet, there is a lack of studies investigating citizen adaptation measures. Therefore, we studied adaptation measures used by shopkeepers to protect themselves and their businesses against floods in two different basins to verify what drives the changes in protection. Both study areas are characterized as commercial areas with major flood problem. First, the Gregorio basin located in the city of São Carlos, south-eastern Brazil with an average annual total rain of 1,361.6 mm, and the second is the Tamandaré basin located in the city of Belém, north of Brazil, with average annual rainfall of 4,000 mm the Köppen climate classification system is Cwa and Af respectively. In Gregorio basin we conducted in person interviews with twenty-three (23) merchants to collect information about a flood occurred in January 12th, 2020, characterized by a return period of 103 years. Comparing our findings with previous work in the area, we found that people increased the flood gates’ height more than 4-fold between 2015 to 2020. In Tamandaré basin we applied a questionnaire with forty-three (43) merchants to collect their viewpoints about the agents that cause the floods and what are the main implications of floods to their businesses. According to the merchants, the high tide is the main cause of flooding in the area, causing socioeconomic losses of up to 50% of their monthly income. Comparing the two basins, Gregorio suffers from floods caused by intense precipitation, the impermeabilization of the basin, and a high inclination of the land. The merchants then respond by improving their individual protection, by raising their floodgates, to prevent major damages. The Tamandaré basin, on the other hand, suffers from flooding from high tides, allowing the water to enter the drainage system, coupled with high precipitation rates which is very frequent in March and April. The merchants protect their merchandise from water but in general they don’t use any structural protection to deal with the flood. The similarities stem from the fact that in neither of the basins the shopkeepers intend to move to a place with less risk because the areas are traditional commercial places since the foundation of the cities.
Corrugated diaphragm for piezoelectric microphone

This paper describes design and fabrication issues of a micromachined piezoelectric microphone with a corrugated diaphragm on a silicon chip. The microphone is built on a corrugated silicon-nitride diaphragm with piezoelectric ZnO film and electrodes. The diaphragm is corrugated in order to reduce the residual stress which has been a predominant factor limiting the diaphragm deflection for a given acoustic pressure in case of a micromachined diaphragm. A theoretical calculation is presented to show the effectiveness of the corrugation in reducing the residual stress and thus improving the performance of the piezoelectric microphone. Also presented are some initial experimental results confirming the effectiveness of the corrugation in reducing the residual stress.
The strategic implications of flexibility in manufacturing systems

Flexibility in manufacturing has aroused considerable interest among researchers and professionals. However, the vast body of literature on flexibility does not adequately address the kind of flexibility a company needs to meet its strategic objectives, nor how this flexibility can be achieved. An overview is provided of different types of flexibility, a classification scheme based on the strategic positioning and goals of the firm is provided, and suggestions are made on how these goals may be achieved. The importance of such a classification in the design and investment justification of flexible manufacturing is also discussed.
Investigating cross-cultural differences in reasoning, vision, and social cognition through replication

People perceive, think, and act in a multitude of different ways across cultures, and there is an extensive history of research documenting these differences. At the heart of much of this work is a contrast between Western and East Asian cultures that has inspired important efforts to document human psychology in populations outside of the WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, Democratic) demographic, which is much overrepresented within psychological research (Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010). Recent recommendations for measuring cultural distance (Muthukrishna et al., 2020) profile the US and China as focal points for cultural comparisons, but define cultural distance using explicit self-report measures. Here, we evaluate cross-cultural differences between the US and China using implicit and experimental measures. We attempt to reproduce and test extensions of prior work demonstrating cross-cultural differences in reasoning, vision, and social cognition with convenience snowball samples of university students. Few of these differences appeared in our sample.
Supporting Information

*Corresponding author: Ioannis Koutselas, Materials Science Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, 26504, Greece; e-mail: ikouts@upatras.gr Anna Ioannou: Materials Science Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, 26504, Greece Ioanna Vareli: Materials Science Department, School of Natural Sciences, University of Patras, Patras, 26504, Greece, and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110, Greece
Assessment of carotid diameter and wall thickness in ultrasound images using active contours improved by a multiresolution technique

Carotid vessel ultrasound imaging is a reliable non-invasive technique to measure the arterial morphology. Vessel diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the far wall and plaque presence can be reliably determined using B-mode ultrasound. In this paper we describe a semi-automatic approach to measure artery diameter and IMT based on an active contour technique improved by a multiresolution analysis. The operator selects a region-of-interest (ROI) in a series of carotid images obtained from B-mode ultrasound. This set of images is convolved with the corresponding partial derivatives of the Gaussian filter. The filter response is used to compute a 2D gradient magnitude image in order to refine the vessel's boundaries. Using an active contour technique the vessel's border is determined automatically. The near wall media-adventitia (NWMA), far wall media-adventitia (FWMA) and far wall lumen-intima (FWLI) borders are obtained by a least-square fitting of the active contours result. The distance between NWMA and FWLI (vessel diameter) and between FWLI and FWMA (far wall intima-media thickness) are obtained for all images and the mean value is computed during systole and diastole. The proposed method is a reliable and reproducible way of assessing the vessel diameter and far wall intima-media thickness of the carotid artery.
A comparative assessment of BT and non-BT cotton cultivation on farmers livelihood in Andhra Pradesh

This paper explains a comparative study of genetically modified BT cotton and non BT cotton with respect to the demographic and socio-economic conditions of farmers. For the present analysis a total of 112 samples were selected containing a mixture of small & big cotton growers in the villages. Results show that BT cotton cultivation had a significant positive impact on average yields and on the economic performance of cotton growers rather than non-BT cotton growers. In case of utilizing pesticides about three forth of the non BT cotton farmers were going for high doses (78.15%) of pesticides as compared to BT cotton farmers (42.5%). The comparative analysis of BT & non BT cotton growers with respect to modern management practices like ploughing by tractors, sprinklers irrigation, use of power sprayers etc. clearly revealed that the non BT cotton growers were following more number of modern practices as compared to BT cotton growers. Based upon the findings of the study, suitable suggestions and recommendations are given to improve the current status of knowledge and socio-economy of the farmers. The study was able to bring to focus the current socio-economic position, perceptions and awareness of the farmers and help for enhancement of the same.
Online Control of Unknown Time-Varying Dynamical Systems

We study online control of time-varying linear systems with unknown dynamics in the nonstochastic control model. At a high level, we demonstrate that this setting is \emph{qualitatively harder} than that of either unknown time-invariant or known time-varying dynamics, and complement our negative results with algorithmic upper bounds in regimes where sublinear regret is possible. More specifically, we study regret bounds with respect to common classes of policies: Disturbance Action (SLS), Disturbance Response (Youla), and linear feedback policies. While these three classes are essentially equivalent for LTI systems, we demonstrate that these equivalences break down for time-varying systems. We prove a lower bound that no algorithm can obtain sublinear regret with respect to the first two classes unless a certain measure of system variability also scales sublinearly in the horizon. Furthermore, we show that offline planning over the state linear feedback policies is NP-hard, suggesting hardness of the online learning problem. On the positive side, we give an efficient algorithm that attains a sublinear regret bound against the class of Disturbance Response policies up to the aforementioned system variability term. In fact, our algorithm enjoys sublinear \emph{adaptive} regret bounds, which is a strictly stronger metric than standard regret and is more appropriate for time-varying systems. We sketch extensions to Disturbance Action policies and partial observation, and propose an inefficient algorithm for regret against linear state feedback policies.
SEMI AUTONOMOUS GROUND VEHICLE NAVIGATION USING DEEP LEARNING

: The automobile industry has put a lot of effort and innovative work over recent years which has made the automobile industry one of the most exciting engineering disciplines. Self-driving Vehicles are constantly a piece of Sci-fi films and are considered as the eventual fate of the automobile industry. Path-keeping, adaptive cruise control, and automatic braking are the semi-autonomous functions introduced in the market for modern vehicles. The aim of this project is to design and simulate autonomous ground vehicle which is able to move autonomously while detecting and avoiding obstacles with the help of deep learning. Autonomous vehicle development and machine learning both are using deep learning as the most important frontier. This idea can be extended to a wide array of applications such as transportation in malls, hotels or schools. The training is conducted using the CARLA(Car Learning to Act) simulator annually and it achieves good results on recognizing lane lines on road and traffic signs. The goal of the work is to prepare a convolutional neural network for control directions via delineating pixels from a single front-facing camera which is looking straightforwardly. This approach is demonstrated in many autonomous vehicles. The framework explains here how the system learns and what are the different decisions it takes while driving on highways, in heavy traffic on nearby roads, and also on roads with or without lane markings with less training data collected from peoples. It also gives good results in areas with an unclear visual condition, such as in parking areas, and on unpaved streets
Estimation of the nerve conduction velocity distribution using partial bicepstral information

Recording of the compound action potential (CAP) of a peripheral nerve is an essential procedure in clinical neurophysiology. The CAP is a linear summation of single fiber action potentials (SFAPs) propagating along the nerve fibers, and in discrete time, it can be expressed as the circular convolution of a delay sequence (DS) and the sampled SFAP. The distribution of the conduction velocities (DVC) (related to the DS), and both amplitude and shape of the SFAP are estimated and can be used as a measure of health and well-functioning of the nerve. In the presented method, the blind deconvolution scheme proposed by Hirose is evaluated in the bicepstral domain to estimate the DS at a given conduction distance l/sub 1/. The bispectrum iterative reconstruction algorithm (BIRA) is used to recover the delay sequence by only partial (phase) information. Linear phase is recovered by using the delay phase cepstrum, and the DCV is calculated from the estimated DS, following the formulation of the forward problem. The efficiency of the method is tested, especially, in the case of low SNR recordings.
Investigation of hole-tunneling current through ultrathin oxynitride/oxide stack gate dielectrics in p-MOSFETs

The systematic investigation of hole tunneling current through ultrathin oxide, oxynitride, oxynitride/oxide (N/O) and oxide/oxynitride/oxide (ONO) gate dielectrics in p-MOSFETs using a physical model is reported for the first time. The validity of the model is corroborated by the good agreement between the simulated and experimental results. Under typical inversion biases (|VG|<2 V), hole tunneling current is lower through oxynitride and oxynitride/oxide with about 33 at. % N than through pure oxide and nitride gate dielectrics. This is attributed to the competitive effects of the increase in the dielectric constant, and hence dielectric thickness, and decrease in the hole barrier height at the dielectric/Si interface with increasing with N concentration for a given electrical oxide thickness (EOT). For a N/O stack film with the same N concentration in the oxynitride, the hole tunneling current decreases monotonically with oxynitride thickness under the typical inversion biases. For minimum gate leakage current and maintaining an acceptable dielectric/Si interfacial quality, an N/O stack structure consisting of an oxynitride layer with 33 at. % N and a 3 /spl Aring/ oxide layer is proposed. For a p-MOSFET at an operating voltage of -0.9 V, which is applicable to the 0.7 /spl mu/m technology node, this structure could be scaled to EOT=12 /spl Aring/ if the maximum allowed gate leakage current is 1 A/cm/sup 2/ and EOT=9 /spl Aring/ if the maximum allowed gate leakage current is 100 A/cm/sup 2/.