Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing African Vultures as Biomonitors and Umbrella Species

African vulture populations are rapidly declining, yet funding and other resources available for their conservation are limited. Improving our understanding of which African vulture species could best serve as an umbrella species for the entire suite of African vultures could help conservationists save time, money, and resources by focusing their efforts on a single vulture species. Furthermore, improving our understanding of the suitability of African vultures as biomonitors for detecting environmental toxins could help conservation authorities to detect changes in ecosystem health. We used a systematic approach based on criteria selected a priori to objectively evaluate the potential of each of the 10 resident African vulture species as (i) an umbrella species for all of the African vulture species, and (ii) an avian biomonitor. For each criterion, we scored the respective African vulture species and summed the scores to determine which species was best suited as an umbrella species and as an avian biomonitor. Our results showed that, overall, certain aspects of vulture ecology (large population sizes, large body sizes, long lifespans, and their ability to be monitored over numerous seasons) support their suitability as biomonitors, while other ecological traits, including their diets and the public's perceptions of vultures, could diminish their suitability. The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) was the best fit of the 10 vulture species in our assessment as both an avian biomonitor and an umbrella species for all African vulture species. Meanwhile, significant knowledge gaps for other species inhibit their utility as biomonitors. Due to their large home-range sizes, African vultures may only be useful as biomonitors at a regional scale. However, there could be value in using the White-backed Vulture as an umbrella species, as an aid to conserve the entire suite of African vulture species.
Psychometric Validation of the Dutch Version of the Promotive and Prohibitive Voice Scale

The aim of this three-study report was to validate the Dutch version of the promotive and prohibitive voice scale and to further embed the constructs of promotive and prohibitive voice within their nomological network. Promotive voice refers to the expression of suggestions for improving work practices, whereas prohibitive voice refers to the expression of concerns about practices and behaviors that are detrimental. In Study 1 (N = 121), confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) provided evidence for the two-factor structure, which was replicated in the other two studies. In Study 2 (NT1 = 209/NT2 = 107), we investigated the convergent and discriminant validity of the promotive and prohibitive voice scale, and tested measurement invariance across gender and time. Results provided validity evidence, partial scalar invariance for gender, and scalar invariance across time. In Study 3 (N = 149), we expanded the nomological network of the promotive and prohibitive voice scales through their relationship with personal initiative, approach temperament, and risk propensity. Taken together, our results provide strong evidence for the validity of the Dutch version of the promotive and prohibitive voice scale.
Targeting Tumor-Stromal Interactions in Pancreatic Cancer: Impact of Collagens and Mechanical Traits

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst outcomes among cancers with a 5-years survival rate of below 10%. This is a result of late diagnosis and the lack of effective treatments. The tumor is characterized by a highly fibrotic stroma containing distinct cellular components, embedded within an extracellular matrix (ECM). This ECM-abundant tumor microenvironment (TME) in PDAC plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and resistance to treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), being a dominant cell type of the stroma, are in fact functionally heterogeneous populations of cells within the TME. Certain subtypes of CAFs are the main producer of the ECM components of the stroma, with the most abundant one being the collagen family of proteins. Collagens are large macromolecules that upon deposition into the ECM form supramolecular fibrillar structures which provide a mechanical framework to the TME. They not only bring structure to the tissue by being the main structural proteins but also contain binding domains that interact with surface receptors on the cancer cells. These interactions can induce various responses in the cancer cells and activate signaling pathways leading to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ultimately metastasis. In addition, collagens are one of the main contributors to building up mechanical forces in the tumor. These forces influence the signaling pathways that are involved in cell motility and tumor progression and affect tumor microstructure and tissue stiffness by exerting solid stress and interstitial fluid pressure on the cells. Taken together, the TME is subjected to various types of mechanical forces and interactions that affect tumor progression, metastasis, and drug response. In this review article, we aim to summarize and contextualize the recent knowledge of components of the PDAC stroma, especially the role of different collagens and mechanical traits on tumor progression. We furthermore discuss different experimental models available for studying tumor-stromal interactions and finally discuss potential therapeutic targets within the stroma.
Changes of Brain Functional Connectivity in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis Without Cognitive Decline

Background: Functional connectivity detected by resting-state functional MRI (R-fMRI) helps to discover the subtle changes in brain activities. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) have impaired brain networks. However, the functional changes of brain networks in patients with ESRD undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) have not been fully delineated, especially among those with preserved cognitive function. Therefore, it is worth knowing about the brain functional connectivity in patients with PD by using R-fMRI. Methods: This case-control study prospectively enrolled 19 patients with ESRD receiving PD and 24 age- and sex- matched controls. All participants without a history of cognitive decline received mini-mental status examination (MMSE) and brain 3-T R-fMRI. Comprehensive R-fMRI analyses included graph analysis for connectivity and seed-based correlation networks. Independent t-tests were used for comparing the graph parameters and connectivity networks between patients with PD and controls. Results: All subjects were cognitively intact (MMSE > 24). Whole-brain connectivity by graph analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups with decreased global efficiency (Eglob, p < 0.05), increased betweenness centrality (BC) (p < 0.01), and increased characteristic path length (L, p < 0.01) in patients with PD. The functional connections of the default-mode network (DMN), sensorimotor network (SMN), salience network (SN), and hippocampal network (HN) were impaired in patients with PD. Meanwhile, in DMN and SN, elevated connectivity was observed in certain brain regions of patients with PD. Conclusion: Patients with ESRD receiving PD had specific disruptions in functional connectivity. In graph analysis, Eglob, BC, and L showed significant connectivity changes compared to the controls. DMN and SN had the most prominent alterations among the observed networks, with both decreased and increased connectivity regions. Our study confirmed that significant changes in cerebral connections existed in cognitively intact patients with PD.
Lipidomic, Transcriptomic, and BSA-660K Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Profiling Reveal Characteristics of the Cuticular Wax in Wheat

Plant epidermal wax helps protect plants from adverse environmental conditions, maintains the function of tissues and organs, and ensures normal plant development. However, the constituents of epidermal wax and the regulatory mechanism of their biosynthesis in wheat have not been fully understood. Wheat varieties with different wax content, Jinmai47 and Jinmai84, were selected to comparatively analyze their waxy components and genetic characteristics, using a combination of lipidomic, transcriptomic, and BSA-Wheat 660K chip analysis. Through lipidomic analysis, 1287 lipid molecules were identified representing 31 lipid subclasses. Among these, Diacylglycerols (DG), (O-acyl)-ω-hydroxy fatty acids (OAHFA), wax ester (WE), Triacylglycerols (TG), and Monoradylglycerols (MG) accounted for 96.4% of the total lipids in Jinmai84 and 94.5% in Jinmai47. DG, OAHFA, and WE were higher in Jinmai84 than in Jinmai47 with the content of OAHFA 2.88-fold greater and DG 1.66-fold greater. Transcriptome sequence and bioinformatics analysis revealed 63 differentially expressed genes related to wax biosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be involved with the OAHFA, DG, and MG of synthesis pathways, which enriched the wax metabolism pathway. Non-glaucous and glaucous bulks from a mapping population were used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) via 660K chip analysis. Two loci centered on chromosomes 2D and 4B were detected and the locus on 4B is likely novel. These data improve understanding of complex lipid metabolism for cuticular wax biosynthesis in wheat and lay the foundation for future detailed investigation of mechanisms regulating wax metabolism.
ER-Phagy and Microbial Infection

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an essential organelle in cells that synthesizes, folds and modifies membrane and secretory proteins. It has a crucial role in cell survival and growth, thus requiring strict control of its quality and homeostasis. Autophagy of the ER fragments, termed ER-phagy or reticulophagy, is an essential mechanism responsible for ER quality control. It transports stress-damaged ER fragments as cargo into the lysosome for degradation to eliminate unfolded or misfolded protein aggregates and membrane lipids. ER-phagy can also function as a host defense mechanism when pathogens infect cells, and its deficiency facilitates viral infection. This review briefly describes the process and regulatory mechanisms of ER-phagy, and its function in host anti-microbial defense during infection.
Performances of Homogeneous and Heterogenized Methylene Blue on Silica Under Red Light in Batch and Continuous Flow Photochemical Reactors

Methylene blue was efficiently immobilized on silica micro- and nanoparticles by electrostatic interactions and the performances of the heterogenized photocatalysts were compared against the homogeneous conditions using the photooxidation of citronellol as a model reaction under red light, in a batch and a continuous flow photochemical reactor. In batch, the heterogeneous photocatalyst outperforms the homogeneous one, presumably due to kinetic and stability effects. The two catalytic systems are also compared in a flow reactor displaying improved mass transfer properties. We demonstrate that this results in a dramatic enhancement in photocatalyst stability, reactivity and productivity. This study highlights the importance of photocatalyst stability under homogeneous versus heterogenized conditions and in batch versus flow photochemistry.
Implementation Opass Confirmation Procedure System for Mobile Application

Safety is a major focus of awareness for operators and users of the website and its many applications, among the difficult problems still inefficiently addressed is identity authentication for purposes of associating a particular user with particular services and authorizations. A request is a way to classify users such that forging recommendation is difficult for adversaries, while providing strong authentication of their chosen identifiers remains easy and convenient for users. Text Based Password is the most popular form of user authentication on websites due to its convenience and simplicity. However, users' passwords are prone to be stolen and compromised under different threats and vulnerabilities. Firstly, users often select weak passwords and reuse the same passwords across different websites. Routinely reusing passwords causes a domino effect; when an adversary compromises one password, she will exploit it to gain access to more websites. Second, typing passwords into untrusted computers suffers password thief threat. An adversary can launch several password stealing attacks to snatch passwords, such as phishing, key loggers and malware. In this paper, we design a user authentication protocol named oPass which leverages a user's cell phone and short message service to thwart password stealing and password reuse attacks. oPass only requires each participating website possesses a unique phone number, and involves a telecommunication service provider in registration and recovery phases. Through oPass, users only need to remember a long-term password for login on all websites. After evaluating the oPass prototype, we believe oPass is efficient and affordable compared with the conventional web authentication mechanisms.
Optimization of the Aerodynamic Plasma Actuator as an Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Electrical Device

Electrohydrodynamic plasma actuators have proven effective for flow attachment in internal and external aerodynamics, and for modification of the lift, drag, and stall angle of airfoils. The performance of plasma actuators has been studied with such classical aerodynamic tools as wind tunnels, drag balances, Pitot tubes, smoke flow visualization, and fluid dynamic modeling programs. However, the physical processes and power flows that occur in plasma actuators, before the plasma ions transfer their momentum to the neutral background gas, are those of an electrical device. Optimization of such actuators needs to include the methods of electrical engineering and plasma physics, including classical electrical discharge physics. To implement a program of optimization, we have conceptually divided the power flow through a plasma actuator into the following four sinks: 1. ) Reactive power losses due to inadequate impedance matching of the power supply to the actuator; 2. ) Dielectric heating of the actuator insulating materials; 3. ) Power required to maintain the atmospheric pressure plasma; and 4. ) Power coupled to the neutral gas flow by ion-neutral collisions. These four power flows can be, and usually are, of comparable magnitude. In this paper, we review our progress in understanding and minimizing the first three power flows, and maximizing the fourth by adjustment of the actuator geometry and materials, as well as such plasma parameters as the RF frequency and RMS voltage.
Tactile sensor: stretching the limits

A new, conformable, tactile array sensor is presented along with its applications in intelligent environments. The sensor consists of an array of thin force sensing elements that are supported by freestanding, spiral shaped electrodes. These spirals create planar springs that allow each sensor element to move outside the sensor's plane. The resulting sensor array can conform to irregular surfaces. The application of this sensor in creating intelligent furniture, beds and body suits is discussed.
Idea of Applying “Broken Windows Theory” to Clinical Laboratories as a Quality Tool to Increase the Success of Proactive Risk Management Strategies

E rrors in the processes of clinical laboratories, which are an important component of patient safety, can lead to serious consequences for patients. Therefore, these errors must be managed and improvement plans must be implemented to reduce them. 1 – 4 Six Sigma and Lean methodologies have caused revolution-ary changes in quality management to reduce the error rates and found wide use in clinical laboratories. 5 – 9 With the Six Sigma strategy, the degree of deviation from the targeted values in any process can be mea- sured as defects per million. 5,7,8 The Lean concept is a quality-improvement tool that focuses on providing “ value ” and improving performance by systematically eliminating waste, which is defined as anything that does not add value to the final product or service. 6,9 In addition, it is widely accepted that the risk of error could also minimized by the use of quality indicators. 10 – 12 Quality indicators are frequently used as a suit-able tool in monitoring and achieving improvement and had ultimate purpose to keep the error risk at a level that minimizes the likelihood of patient harm. 10 of remain high. 4,13 such management risks quality systems clinical is 14,15 Risk management strategies promote error prevention through simplification, systems, and compen- sate the less-than-perfect performance. guidelines, procedures, and policies are written and 14 judgment, laboratories,
A 20 kW, 20 kHz unity power factor boost converter for three-phase motor drive applications from an unregulated single-phase supply

A three-phase, medium-power standard AC motor can be operated from a single-phase, highly-distorted and unregulated AC source by the use of a diode bridge rectifier/boost chopper/inverter cascade. The integration of a boost chopper unit employing an inductor made of amorphous metal (Metglas) into the system results in unity power factor at the AC supply side, low harmonic content line currents and high efficiencies and power densities. Laboratory and field test results have shown that this system constitutes a reliable, cost-competitive and almost maintenance-free alternative to other drive options, especially for auxiliary systems in electric locomotives where squirrel-cage induction motors are chosen as auxiliary driving machines.
Home Automation and RFID-Based Internet of Things Security: Challenges and Issues

Internet of Things (IoT) protection refers to the software field related to securing the Internet of Things and associated linked devices and systems. The IoT is a system of interconnected computers, sensors, actuators, or people on the World Wide Web (WWW). All these different devices have a unique identity in the IoT and must convey data across the network automatically. If computers are not adequately secured, allowing them to connect to the Internet exposes them to a range of serious vulnerabilities. Because the consequences of IoT failures are severe, it is necessary to observe and analyze security issues related to IoT. The prime goal of IoT security is to protect personal safety, while also guaranteeing and ensuring accessibility. In the context of IoT technology, the present study conducts a systematic literature review that analyzes the security problems associated with commercial and educational applications of home automation and details the technical possibilities of IoT with respect to the network layer. In this systematic review, we discuss how current contexts result in the inability of designers of IoT devices to enhance their cyber-security initiatives. Typically, application developers are responsible for training themselves to understand recent security advancements. As a result, active participation on the ridge scale with passive improvement can be achieved. A comparative analysis of the literature was conducted. The main objective of this research is to provide an overview of current IoT security research in home automation, particularly those using authentication methods in different devices, and related technologies in radio frequency identification (RFID) on network layers. IoT security issues are addressed, and various security problems in each layer are analyzed. We describe cross-layer heterogeneous integration as a domain of IoT and demonstrate how it can provide some promising solutions.
Choroidal Vascularity Index as a Biomarker for Visual Response to Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatment in Diabetic Macular Edema

Purpose To investigate the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) as a prognostic factor for the visual efficacy of antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment in diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods We retrospectively reviewed 92 DME eyes receiving anti-VEGF treatment, which were stratified as responders (≥5 letters gained) and nonresponders (<5 letters gained or lost). Baseline systematic features and optical coherence tomography features, including the CVI, adjusted ellipsoid zone (EZ) reflectivity, subretinal fluid (SRF), and disorganization of the retinal inner layers (DRIL), were evaluated between the two groups. Results The baseline CVI was significantly lower in nonresponders than in responders (0.66 ± 0.05, 0.69 ± 0.05, and 0.72 ± 0.05, p = 0.014). After adjusting for other factors, the baseline CVI, DRIL, SRF, and adjusted EZ reflectivity were significantly associated with visual outcomes (CVI: odds ratio (OR) = 0.17, p = 0.006; adjusted EZ reflectivity: OR = 0.56, p = 0.007; DRIL: OR = 6.71, p = 0.001; and SRF: OR = 0.29, p = 0.008). Conclusion DME patients with a higher CVI, higher adjusted EZ reflectivity, the presence of SRF, and the absence of DRIL at baseline were more likely to gain >5 letters in visual acuity after anti-VEGF treatment. CVI may serve as a novel biomarker for visual response to anti-VEGF treatment in DME.
Using uncertainty techniques to aid defect classification in an automated visual inspection system

This research investigates how Artificial Intelligence techniques can be applied to an Automated Visual Inspection (AVI) system to enable the construction of a defect classification scheme. Whilst there are many defect detection systems on the market, there are few commercial products which also provide satisfactory classification. It is suggested there are two reasons why classification techniques are difficult to apply. First, most problems assume that a description of what is to be classified already exists. In many applications this is not the case. Second, the working environment of many `real world' applications is continually open to change. The knowledge acquisition task is not a one off process since the data which describes the objects to be classified will vary over time. This research analyses how Uncertainty Management Techniques (UMT) can be applied to improve the classification process. (10 pages)
EKSPLORASI STRUKTUR SERAT TANAMAN KENAF (HIBISCUS CANNABINUS L.) PADA TEKNIK TENUN ATBM SEBAGAI BAHAN BAKU TEKSTIL

Tanaman kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) adalah tanaman yang berkembang di Indonesia sejak tahun 1979/1980 sebagai karung goni. Namun, pada abad ke-21, tanaman ini kembali dikembangkan sebagai fiberboard untuk mobil oleh industri otomotif. Berkembangnya isu ‘keberlanjutan’ membuat material alam dilirik oleh berbagai macam industri, salah satunya industri fashion, terutama di bidang tekstil. Serat tanaman kenaf memiliki potensi sebagai bahan baku tekstil, karena karakter seratnya yang berbentuk filamen serta tidak menggunakan bahan kimia dalam jumlah banyak pada saat pengolahan. Melalui eksperimen dan eksplorasi pada pengolahan serat tanaman kenaf, terutama pada teknik reka struktur tekstil dengan menggunakan teknik tenun ATBM, membuka potensi bagi serat tanaman kenaf tersebut untuk dijadikan bahan baku tekstil. Penelitian ini tidak hanya membuka potensi sebagai bahan baku tekstil, namun juga sebagai produk pakai, khususnya pada produk aksesoris fashion, yaitu tas. // //
A transmit/receive active antenna with fast low-power optical switching

An X-band active antenna element for half-duplex transmit/receive (T/R) applications with efficient optical switching is presented. The antenna element is designed to be a unit cell of a quasi-optical array with fast switching between T and R and with built- in phase-shifterless beamforming. The measured performance of the active element is 14 dB gain contributed by the power amplifier (PA) in transmission, 16 dB gain contributed by the LNA in reception, with 30 dB isolation between T and R. The switching is accomplished with only 1 /spl mu/W of optical power for 1.7 /spl mu/s switching time, and a rise time of 2 ns at 10 GHz with 7 mW of optical power. The design, implementation and measured performance of the optically-controlled transmit/receive circuit are presented here in detail.