Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Towards Serious Perception Sensor Simulation for Safety Validation of Automated Driving - A Collaborative Method to Specify Sensor Models

Perception sensor modeling is essential for the safety validation of automated driving systems in virtual environments. Nevertheless, the community lacks a methodical approach to derive requirements for such sensor models that enables a serious application for safety validation in the first place. This article provides a method to specify sensor models for the environmental perception of automated driving systems. The key of the approach is a collaborative collection of cause-effect chains as the basis for specification. With this collection at hand, a tabular form is introduced to extract the relevance of the effect chains to be modeled. Combined profound expert assessments in the table enable the test engineer to specify sensor models within a traceable decision-making process.
Degradation of ciprofloxacin by TiO2/Fe2O3/zeolite catalyst-activated persulfate under visible LED light irradiation

The activation of persulfate (PS) by metal catalysts under visible light is expected to offer a promising oxidation reaction for the removal of contaminants from water. Herein, we investigated activated PS systems under visible light irradiation for the generation of reductive species to decompose ciprofloxacin (CIP). Improved PS activation using TiO2/Fe2O3/zeolite ((n)TiFeZ) under visible light irradiation favorably leads the reaction to generate reductive radicals. The enhanced degradation efficiencies of the (n)TiFeZ–PS system for CIP removal was due to the extended absorbance in the visible-light region and improved space separation of photo-induced charge carriers. The (4)TiFeZ catalyst exhibited better performance for CIP removal as compared to the other samples. The CIP was completely degraded in 120 min using 1 g L−1 (4)TiFeZ and 5.0 mM PS at pH 7.0. The characterization and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of (n)TiFeZ suggested that CIP was mainly degraded by surface-adsorbed radicals generated from the reaction between PS and Fe(II) on the samples under visible light. The reductive systems coupled with (n)TiFeZ exhibited high CIP degradation efficiency and high potential for the decomposition of other antibiotic compounds.
Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Pozitif-Negatif Duygu ve Mükemmeliyetçiliğin Yordayıcısı Olarak Öz Anlayış

Bu arastirmanin amaci, universite ogrencilerinde oz anlayisin pozitif-negatif duyguyu ve mukemmeliyetciligi yordayici rolunu incelemektir. Arastirmanin calisma grubu, Necmettin Erbakan Universitesi Ahmet Kelesoglu Egitim Fakultesinde ogrenim goren ogrencilerden rastgele secilen 303 ogrenciden olusmaktadir. Katilimcilarin 248’i (%81.8) kadin, 55’i (%18.2) erkektir. Calisma grubunun yas ortalamasi 20.51’dir (17-37 yas arasi; Standart sapma: 2.15). Arastirmada ‘Oz-Anlayis Olcegi’, ‘Pozitif-Negatif Duygu Olcegi’ ve ‘Frost Cok Boyutlu Mukemmeliyetcilik Olcegi’ veri toplama araclari olarak kullanilmistir. Verilerin analizinde yapisal esitlik modellemesi kullanilmistir. Arastirma bulgularina gore, oz anlayis mukemmeliyetciligin, olumlu ve olumsuz duygunun anlamli bir yordayicisidir. Universite ogrencilerinde oz anlayisin artmasi mukemmeliyetciligin ve olumsuz duygunun azalmasini saglayabilir. Ek olarak, universite ogrencilerinde oz anlayisin artmasi olumlu duygunun da artmasini saglayabilir. Sonuclar ilgili literatur cercevesinde tartisilmis ve onerilere yer verilmistir.
Making Sense of Acute Stress: Psychological Adjustment in Meaning Making

The current study utilized an experimental design to investigate violations of global meanings, perceived stress, positive affect and negative affect in the context of meanings made from a stressful situation. Additionally, meanings made were investigated as a moderator of the relationship between those variables. A sample of 40 participants completed the experiment and the questionnaires. Half of the participants were randomly assigned to either the control group or the experimental group. Participants responded to a variety of measures including, perceived stress, positive and negative affect, positive cognitive emotional regulation strategies (meaning making attempts), meanings made, global meaning measures such as self-esteem and beliefs about control, and other demographic information. Participants in the experimental group underwent a virtual version of the Trier Social Stress Task to induce stress, while participants in the control group read a text. Results indicated that negative affect was increased after the stressful task compared to the end of the experiment and that positive affect after completing the stressful task decreased from positive affect measured when anticipating the task. The current study has important potential implications for completing the Trier Social Stress Task remotely, and for examining the role of acute stress in the meaning making model.
Influence of Temperature and Precipitation on the Climate Suitability of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has caused enormous losses worldwide since its emergence in 2019. We aimed to further understand how temperature and precipitation affect distribution of the virus, to facilitate taking preventive actions against the disease in a timely manner under varying climatic conditions. In this study, we used the MaxEnt model and R software to investigate temperature and precipitation factors that affect the fitness of SARS-CoV-2. Our results showed that low temperatures (approximately 0–17.5°C) and low precipitation (approximately 30 mm) greatly influence survival of the virus. However, the output value of the response curve was close to 1 with temperatures between 31°C and 37°C and monthly average precipitation 200 mm, which indicates that a high risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission may also exist under these environmental conditions. SARS-CoV-2 can easily survive under conditions of low temperature and low precipitation; however, the virus also presents a high risk at 31–37°C and monthly precipitation of 200 mm. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for predicting the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
The Selective Ion-Exchange Removal of Ammonia from Mining Wastewater

Mining is economically an important industry, but it has a number of detrimental environmental impacts such as the production of explosive impacted mining wastewater (EIMWW) from the use of ammonium nitrate explosives. This EIMWW contains high total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations as well as other species, such as potassium and calcium. Ion-exchange (IE) was considered for the treatment of EIMWW and the effects of competitive adsorption between TAN, potassium and calcium were investigated. Batch single component isotherms were performed with a single-solute TAN solution, followed by batch multicomponent isotherms for a EIMWW. This allowed for direct comparison of five different IE materials; three different synthetic resins (Purolite SSTC60, Amberlite IR120 Na, Bojie BC121 H) and two zeolites (natural clinoptilolite and a modified clinoptilolite (SIR-600)). All materials were used in sodium form. The synthetic resins suffered the largest reduction in capacity from the presence of competing ions, with capacities of 0.22-0.25 meq TAN/g for multi-component (EIMWW) versus ~1.8 meq TAN/g for single component synthetic solution at an equilibrium concentration of 3.5 meq TAN/L. The two zeolites had the highest TAN capacities when treating the real wastewater, 0.32±0.04 meq TAN/g for the clinoptilolite and 0.42±0.01 meq TAN/g for the SIR-600 at equilibrium concentrations of ~3.6 meq TAN/L. Finally, separation factors were calculated to compare TAN-K affinity, they were strongly ion-exchanger dosage dependent. SIR600 featured higher selectivity towards TAN for all dosages (αK = 1.63 and 2.95 for dosages of
Introduction to Difference-in-differences Design

Because it is difficult to conduct randomized controlled trials, observational studies are often used when evaluating the effects of health care policies. However, observational studies are subject to bias, such as a failure to eliminate the effects of trends in the outcome over time and permanent differences between treatment and control groups. The difference-in-differences design removes these biases by observing outcomes for the two groups at two time points. This article introduces the methods and assumptions for the difference-in-differences design and provides some examples of studies that have used this design.
An mmWave Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Gases Based on Real Refractive Index

We propose a millimeter-wave (mmWave) sensor to monitor gases and aerosols based on time-of-flight (ToF), thus, on the real refractive index. It utilizes an ultrawideband frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar operating from 72 to 92 GHz at a sampling rate of 500 Hz. Also, we introduce a model for simulation of the refractive index of arbitrary gases at mmWave frequencies using molecular spectroscopic data. Simulations then allow the identification of the respective gas under test. We characterized the performance of the sensor regarding the refractive index within various experiments. The precision is 0.027 ppm, and the 20-h long-term stability is better than 0.2 ppm. The linearity is at least 1.5 ppm. Due to sophisticated temperature compensation, the temperature drift is less than 10 ppm for 30 K. Since the sensor is accurate, precise, and robust, it is perfect for in-process real-time monitoring and classification of gases or aerosols in the industry.
Predictive control of induction motor drive

The work is devoted to the study of the possibilities of using the predictive torque control system instead of the currently widely used direct torque control system. Aspects of using the system of direct torque control of an induction motor are considered and it is found that its significant disadvantage is the variable frequency of semiconductor switches. As a further development of the direct torque control system, a predictive torque control system is analyzed, which contains blocks for estimating unmeasured state variables, as well as predicting the state of a dynamic system when applying possible control signals. The systems were compared by mathematical modeling in Matlab / Simulink.
Employee’s Job Satisfaction with Computer Mediated Communication System

To fill the gaps in the computer mediated communication literature and provide useful information on interpersonal relationships within an organization, this study aims to investigate how computer mediated communication (CMC) system have impacted on employee’s job satisfaction of Ceylon Electricity Board, Sri Lanka. An empirical research was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships based on a conceptual framework developed through a comprehensive literature review on CMC and job satisfaction. Through a literature support this model consisted of three independent variables (i.e., electronic mails, instant messaging and computerized maintenance management) in computer mediated communication system and a dependent variable which is job satisfaction. The sample of the study consisted of 100 respondents representing executive and medium level technical service (MLTS) staff of the transmission division of Ceylon Electricity Board in Sri Lanka. Self-administered questionnaire and the web-based questionnaire was used to collect primary data. The data were analyzed with Partial Least Squares path modeling (PLS) to test the hypotheses of the study. The research findings indicated that computerized maintenance management is the most significant factor impacting on the employees’ job satisfaction. Moreover, it also identified that there is a positive and statistically significant impact of instant messaging and electronic mails on employees’ job satisfaction. The results provide valuable input regarding the instant messaging and job satisfaction. Therefore, managers should have to pay their more and more attention in order to improve instant messaging as one of the communication media in an organization. In this research considered only three CMC dimensions which influence the job satisfaction. But there are more CMC dimensions used as organizational communication in future studies.
Molecular Detection of Feline Herpesvirus by Means Polymerase Chain Reaction

In the Feline Respiratory Complex, the Feline herpesvirus is a main etiological agent with worldwide distribution and affect domestic cats causing ocular and upper respiratory tract lesions. In Chile, only clinical diagnostic is used, unlike use several techniques in other countries and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) is the most recommended with best performing of them. For implemented an effective diagnostic method in our country, we select cats under one-year-old with clinical signs suggest feline herpesvirus infection, to detect thymidine kinase protein gen of herpesvirus, highly specific and conserved, by a nested PCR and subsequent determination of nucleotide identity percentage respect GenBank®, genomic database. As a result, we obtained a high detection rate (100 percent of samples and positive control), and a 92 percent of nucleotide identity in comparison with de genomic database GenBank® (accesion number E12463.1), proving that correspond to feline herpesvirus. Thus, achieved described an effective diagnostic method to be used as a complementation of clinical diagnostic.
Temperature-Dependent Order-to-Order Transition of Polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene Triblock Copolymer under Multilayered Confinement

The order-to-order transition (OOT) plays a key role in the nanotechnological applications of block copolymer (BCP) and is dramatically dependent on the spatial environment. A multilayer-confined space has been fabricated by layer-multiplying coextrusion technology to investigate the OOT mechanism of polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-co-butylene)-block-polystyrene triblock copolymer (SEBS) under multilayered confinement. The parallel oriented ordering front, whose OOT temperature is lower than that of the bulk due to higher free energy, is induced by the “substrate surface effect” in the SEBS layers of the multilayer specimens. The OOT temperature of SEBS is mainly decided by the volume fraction of ordering front. The propagation distance maximum of the “substrate surface effect” is about 220 nm. Only when the thickness of SEBS layer is less than this critical value is the whole SEBS layer fully filled with the ordering front. As a result, the OOT temperature first decreases rapidly and then tends to be a c.
The influence of anesthesiologist postoperative visit on patient satisfaction with anesthesia for reconstruction of the anterior cruciate knee ligament

Background / Aim. Patient satisfaction, when it comes to anesthesia, is more difficult to assess than in any other medical specialty. The aim of this study was to construct a tool for assessing patients' satisfaction with anesthesia, and then examine the effects of post-operative care provided by anesthesiologists on patients? satisfaction. Methods: The study included patients undergoing general anesthesia, who were considered ASA 1 and ASA 2 class. Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 included 74 patients who had postoperative visit performed by an attending anesthesiologist; Group 2 included 70 patients who had postoperative visit performed by a nurse anesthetist after surgery; and Group 3 included 74 patients who did not have postoperative visit during post-operative care by an anesthesiologist nor a nurse anesthetist. The tools used in the research were Anesthesia patient satisfaction questionnaire specially designed for this study and Post Anesthetic Recovery Scoring System (PAS). ANOVA and Pearson? s correlation coefficient were used for estimating the statistical significance of the obtained results between the groups. Results: Association between an objective assessment of the post-operative status of patients on day zero and satisfaction with the anesthesiologist's patient management shows statistical significance (p<0.05). Patients who had a post-operative visit by an anesthesiologists tolerated better preoperative and postoperative physical symptoms. Patients visited by an anesthesiologist were most satisfied with post-operative care (p<0.05). Conclusion: Use of a highly reliable questionnaire for evaluation of patient? s satisfaction with anesthesia could improve the post-operative condition of patients and enable faster recovery during post-operative period.
Laser Cooling and Trapping of Neutral Atoms, ed. by E. Arimondo, W. Phillips, and F. Strumia

In 1978, while I was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT, I read a paper by Art Ashkin (1978) in which he described how one might slow down an atomic beam of sodium using the radiation pressure of a laser beam tuned to an atomic resonance. After being slowed, the atoms would be captured in a trap consisting of focused laser beams, with the atomic motion being damped until the temperature of the atoms reached the microkelvin range. That paper was my first introduction to laser cooling, although the idea of laser cooling (the reduction of random thermal velocities using radiative forces) had been proposed three years earlier in independent papers by Hänsch and Schawlow (1975) and Wineland and Dehmelt (1975). Although the treatment in Ashkin’s paper was necessarily over-simplified, it provided one of the important inspirations for what I tried to accomplish for about the next decade. Another inspiration appeared later that same year: Wineland, Drullinger and Walls (1978) published the first laser cooling experiment, in which they cooled a cloud of Mg ions held in a Penning trap. At essentially the same time, Neuhauser, Hohenstatt, Toschek and Dehmelt (1978) also reported laser cooling of trapped Ba ions. Those laser cooling experiments of 1978 were a dramatic demonstration of the mechanical effects of light, but such effects have a much longer history. The understanding that electromagnetic radiation exerts a force became quantitative only with Maxwell’s theory of electromagnetism, even though such a force had been conjectured much earlier, partly in response to the observation that comet tails point away from the sun. It was not until the turn of the century, however, that experiments by Lebedev (1901) and Nichols and Hull (1901, 1903) gave a laboratory demonstration and quantitative measurement of radiation pressure on macroscopic objects. In 1933 Frisch made the first demonstration of light pressure on atoms, deflecting an atomic sodium beam with resonance radiation from a lamp. With the advent of the laser, Ashkin (1970) recognized the potential of intense, narrow-band light for manipulating atoms and in 1972 the first ‘‘modern’’ experiments demonstrated the deflection of atomic beams with lasers (Picqué and Vialle, 1972; Schieder et al., 1972). All of this set the
Accumulation of sugars and associated gene expression in highbush blueberries differ by cultivar, ripening stage, and storage temperature

BACKGROUND: The sweetness of highbush blueberries is a sensory quality standard for consumers. Changes in metabolites and expression of associated genes induce variation in the sensory quality of blueberries. OBJECTIVE: This work investigated the ripening mechanism of blueberries by measuring changes in organic acids and sugar content as well as the gene expression levels associated with sugar accumulation, such as β amylase, invertase, sucrose phosphate synthase, and tonoplast monosaccharide transporter genes, before and after harvesting. METHODS: We used three different blueberry cultivars (Duke, Sierra, and Elizabeth) that we harvested at two ripening stages in a randomized complete block design and then kept at room temperature or 4°C for 7 days. The organic acids and sugar content were measured via HPLC, and gene expression levels were analyzed by qPCR. RESULTS: Cultivars, ripening stage, and storage conditions affected the synthesis of sugars and degradation of organic acids to determine the sweetness in blueberries and the expression of tagged genes and analyses of compounds involved in the metabolic mechanism. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide insights into the mechanism underlying the ripening and the postharvest quality. This study may support the selection of suitable blueberry cultivars that meet customer demand.
SVM based multilevel Z source matrix converter with reduced power devices

Multilevel ultra sparse matrix converter is a condensed form of multilevel indirect matrix converter for unidirectional power flow operation. The main feature of this converter delivers quality of input and output waveforms using reduced size of input low pass filter elements. The major limitation of this converter is voltage gain and number of power devices used. To overcome this limitations, two new topologies are proposed in this paper. Moreover modulation technique required to operate the proposed converter is also discussed. To validate the proof of concept for proposed converter, MATLAB simulation has been performed.
Adaptive Feet for Quadrupedal Walkers

The vast majority of state-of-the-art walking robots employ flat or ball feet for locomotion, presenting limitations while stepping on obstacles, slopes, or unstructured terrain. Moreover, traditional feet for quadrupeds lack sensing systems that are able to provide information about the environment and about the foot interaction with the surroundings. This further diminishes their value. Inspired by our previous work on soft feet for bipedal robots, we present the SoftFoot-Q, an articulated adaptive foot for quadrupeds. This device is conceived to be robust and able to overcome the limitations of currently employed feet. The core idea behind our adaptive foot design is first introduced and validated through a simplified mathematical formulation of the problem. Subsequently, we present the chosen mechanical implementation to attempt overcoming current limitations. The realized prototype of adaptive foot is integrated and tested on the compliantly actuated quadrupedal robot ANYmal together with an ROS-based real-time foot pose reconstruction software. Both extensive field tests and indoor experiments show noticeable performance improvements, in terms of reduced slippage of the robot, with respect to both flat and ball feet.
Suicide attempts in children and adolescents – risk factors, methods and management of suicidal patient

Suicide is a major public health problem that affects people of all ages, including children. A child’s decision to commit suicide is influenced by many social and psychological factors, as well as mental illness and addiction. Aim of this paper is to discuss the large scale of suicidal behaviors among children and adolescents, to select the most common causes and methods of suicide and to present a practical approach to the problem. For this purpose comprehensive review of the literature has been conducted. The most common suicide methods among children and adolescents are: hanging, jumping from a height and poisoning. According to the existing studies, quick reaction in the event of a suicide attempt is essential. The key to life-saving moment is a proper guidance of the child in the emergency department. Children after suicide attempts require long-term care, in which many people are involved like doctors, nurses and parents.