Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AlgaeMask: An Instance Segmentation Network for Floating Algae Detection

Video surveillance on the offshore booster station and around the coast is a effective way to monitor floating macroalgae. Previous studies on floating algae detection are mainly based on traditional image segmentation methods. However, these algorithms cannot effectively solve the problem of extracting Ulva prolifra and Sargassum at different sizes and views. Recently, instance segmentation methods have achieved great success in computer vision applications. In this paper, based on the CenterMask network, a novel instance segmentation architecture named AlgaeMask is proposed for floating algae detection from the surveillance videos. To address the feature extraction ability of the network in the inter-dependencies for position and channel, we introduce a new OSA-V3 module with the dual-attention block, which consists of a position attention mechanism and channel attention mechanism. Meanwhile, scale-equalizing pyramid convolution is introduced to solve the problem of scale difference. Finally, we introduce the feature decoder module based on FCOS head and segmentation head to obtain the segmentation area of floating algae in each bounding box. The extensive experiment results show that the average precision of our AlgaeMask in the tasks of mask segmentation and box detection can reach 44.22% and 48.13%, respectively, which has 15.09% and 8.24% improvement over CenterMask. In addition, the AlgaeMask can meet the real-time requirements of floating algae detection.
Electromagnetic design of a disc rotor electric machine as integrated motor-generator for hybrid vehicles

This PhD presents the design of a disc rotor electric machine for the traction of hybrid vehicles. A complete state of the art enables the selection of the internal rotor axial flux machine which is the most suited to this application. Different geometries of the magnetic circuit are successively studied and compared with finite elements simulations. To maximize the efficiency of the machine losses generated in the magnetic circuit are studied. An analytic model on the skin effect in the copper conductors is proposed and validated with finite elements simulations. A second analytic model estimates the eddy current losses in the permanent magnets for every operating point of the machine based on only three finite element simulations enabling an important time-saving. Two dimensioning methods are compared: the manual dimensioning based on a tries/errors method and the multi-objectives optimization. This last method automates the dimensioning and enables a more refined optimization and a strong improvement of the performances. For example, the torque density has been improved by 29% in that case. The designed axial flux machine is compared to a state of the art radial flux machine for hybrid vehicle. This comparison shows the potential of the axial flux machine with an improvement of the torque density by more than 20%. Finally two prototypes have been built and measured to validate the simulations.
Establishing and validating an ADCP-related prognostic signature in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

With the progress of precision medicine treatment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), individualized cancer-related examination and prediction is of great importance in this high malignant tumor, and antibody-dependent cell phagocytosis (ADCP) with changed pathways highly enrolled in the carcinogenesis of PDAC. High-throughput data of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma were downloaded and 160 differentially expressed ADCP-related genes (ARGs) were obtained. Secondly, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses show that ADCP is a pivotal biologic process in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Next, CALB2, NLGN2, NCAPG and SERTAD2 are identified through multivariate Cox regression. These 4 genes are confirmed with significant prognostic value in PDAC. Then, a risk score formula is constructed and tested in PDAC samples. Finally, the correlation between these 4 genes and M2 macrophage polarization was screened. Some pivotal differentially expressed ADCP-related genes and biologic processes, four pivotal subgroup was among identified in the protein-protein network, and hub genes was found in these sub group. Then, an ADCP-related formula was set: CALB2* 0.355526 + NLGN2* -0.86862 + NCAPG* 0.932348 + SERTAD2* 1.153568. Additionally, the significant correlation between M2 macrophage-infiltration and the expression of each genes in PDAC samples was identified. Finally, the somatic mutation landscape and sensitive chemotherapy drug between high risk group and low risk group was explored. This study provides a potential prognostic signature for predicting prognosis of PDAC patients and molecular insights of ADCP in PDAC, and the formula focusing on the prognosis of PDAC can be effective. These findings will contribute to the precision medicine of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treatment.
Improved Lumped‐Parameter and Numerical Modeling of Unsaturated Water Flow and Stable Water Isotopes

Characterizing unsaturated water flow in the subsurface is a requirement for understanding effects of droughts on agricultural production or impacts of climate change on groundwater recharge. By employing an improved lumped‐parameter model (LPM) approach that mimics variable flow we have interpreted stable water isotope data (δ18O and δ2H), taken over 3 years at a lysimeter site located in Germany. Lysimeter soil cores were characterized by sandy gravel (Ly1) and clayey sandy silt (Ly2), and both lysimeters were vegetated with maize. Results were compared with numerical simulation of unsaturated flow and stable water isotope transport using HYDRUS‐1D. In addition, both approaches were extended by the consideration of preferential flow paths. Application of the extended LPM, and thus varying flow and transport parameters, substantially improved the description of stable water isotope observations in lysimeter seepage water. In general, findings obtained from the extended LPM were in good agreement to numerical modeling results. However, observations were more difficult to describe mathematically for Ly2, where the periodicity of seasonal stable water isotope fluctuation in seepage water was not fully met by numerical modeling. Furthermore, an extra isotopic upshift improved simulations for Ly2, probably controlled by stable water isotope exchange processes between mobile soil water and quasi‐immobile water within stagnant zones. Finally, although LPM requires less input data compared with numerical models, both approaches achieve comparable decision‐support integrity. The extended LPM approach can thus be a powerful tool for soil and groundwater management approaches.
The Quantum Theory of Motion

A lubrication and sealing system for the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine having a sleeve valve mounted for rotation therein, said sleeve valve having intake slots therethrough which register periodically, as the valve rotates, with air intake ports in the cylinder to permit air to enter the cylinder. The sleeve valve is provided with one or more helically shaped sealing rings carried in the wall of the valve facing the wall of the cylinder, which said rings, as the valve rotates, sweep the wall of the cylinder to circulate lubricant oil within the clearance space between the valve and the cylinder to thereby lubricate and seal the clearance space. The circulation of lubricant also has a beneficial cooling effect.
Local Fields and Their Extensions

Complete discrete valuation fields Extensions of discrete valuation fields The norm map Local class field theory I Local class field theory II The group of units of local number fields Explicit formulas for the Hilbert symbol Explicit formulas for the Hilbert pairing on formal groups The Milnor $K$-groups of a local field Bibliography List of notations Index.
Caffeine solubility in aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether 250: measurement and thermodynamic modeling

ABSTRACT Molar solubility of caffeine in polyethylene glycol dimethyl ether 250 (PEGDME 250) + water mixtures over all mass fractions of PEGDME 250 were determined at 293.15–313.15 K under atmospheric pressure (≈ 85 kPa). The crystal forms of the caffeine in equilibrium with neat solvents of PEGDME 250 and water were analysed using X-ray powder diffraction and the results compared with the original caffeine. Also, the Hansen solubility parameters of caffeine and PEGDME 250 + water mixtures in the absence of caffeine were predicted. The studies of apparent thermodynamic analysis presented an endothermic and enthalpy-driven dissolution of caffeine. Moreover, the solubility of caffeine were correlated using various models; the van’t Hoff, mixture response surface, Jouyban–Acree, Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff, the modified version of Jouyban–Acree–van’t Hoff, the CNIBS/R-K, the Buchowski–Ksiazczak, the modified Wilson and modified Wilson–van’t Hoff models, acquiring average relative deviation values that were lower than 14.7%.
Sparse‐sensing and superpixel‐based segmentation model for concrete cracks

Efficient image‐recognition algorithms to classify the pixels accurately are required for the computer‐vision‐based inspection of concrete defects. This study proposes a deep learning‐based model called sparse‐sensing and superpixel‐based segmentation (SSSeg) for accurate and efficient crack segmentation. The model employed a sparse‐sensing‐based encoder and a superpixel‐based decoder and was compared with six state‐of‐the‐art models. An input pipeline of 1231 diverse crack images was specially designed to train and evaluate the models. The results indicated that the SSSeg achieved a good balance between the recognition correctness and completeness and outperformed other models in both accuracy and efficiency. The SSSeg also exhibited good resistance to the interference of surface roughness, dirty stains, and moisture. The increased depth and receptive field of sparse‐sensing units guaranteed the representability; meanwhile, structured sparse characteristics protected the network from overfitting. The lightweight superpixel‐based decoder omitted skip connections, which greatly reduced the computation and memory footprint and enlarged the input size in the inference.
Calanus Oil Supplementation Does Not Further Improve Short-Term Memory or Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Older Women Who Underwent Exercise Training

Purpose In our study, we examined changes in short-term episodic memory and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in women after an exercise program alone or in combination with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) supplementation. Patients and Methods Fifty-five healthy elderly women (65–80 years) were randomly split into two groups: in the first group were women attending an exercise program while taking wax esters-rich oil (Calanus) supplementation (n = 28) and in the other group were women undergoing the same exercise program while taking placebo (n = 27). The 16-week exercise program consisted of functional circuit training (twice a week) and Nordic walking lessons (once a week). Short-term episodic memory was evaluated by the Czech screening Test “Pojmenování OBrázků A jejich Vybavení” (POBAV) baseline and after the program lasting 16 weeks. Results Our results show that short-term memory significantly improved following the exercise program, but there was no added value in using n-3 PUFA supplements. BDNF values did not differ between baseline and follow-up in either group. However, there was a statistically significant positive relationship between relative change (%) in the POBAV test and VO2peak in the placebo group (r = 0.49). Conclusion Despite the added value of n-3 PUFA supplementation not being proven, our results may strengthen the importance of physical activity in averting age-related memory decline and dementia.
Actin remodeling driven by circLIMA1: sperm cell as an intriguing cellular model

CircRNA cargo in spermatozoa (SPZ) participates in setting cell quality, in terms of morphology and motility. Cannabinoid receptor CB1 activity is correlated with a proper spermatogenesis and epididymal sperm maturation. Despite CB1 promotes endogenous skill to circularize mRNAs in SPZ, few notions are reported regarding the functional link between endocannabinoids and spermatic circRNA cargo. In CB1 knock-out male mice, we performed a complete dataset of spermatic circRNA content by microarray strategy. Differentially expressed (DE)-circRNAs, as a function of genotype, were identified. Within DE-circRNAs, we focused the attention on circLIMA1, as putative actin-cytoskeleton architecture regulator. The validation of circLIMA1 dependent-competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network (ceRNET) in in vitro cell line confirmed its activity in the regulation of the cytoskeletal actin. Interestingly, a dynamic actin regulation in SPZ nuclei was found during their epididymal maturation. In this scenario, we showed for the first time an intriguing sperm nuclear actin remodeling, regulated via a ceRNET-independent pathway, consisting in the nuclear shuttling of circLIMA1-QKI interactome and downstream in Gelsolin regulation. In particular, the increased levels of circLIMA1 in CB1 knock-out SPZ, associated with an inefficient depolymerization of nuclear actin, specifically illustrate how endocannabinoids, by regulating circRNA cargo, may contribute to sperm morpho-cellular maturation.
Fishing tactics and the effect of resource depletion and interference during the exploitation of local patches of flatfish

The fine-scale exploitation pattern of fishers and the interactions among fishing vessels determine their impact on exploited populations, habitats, and ecosystems. This study used a unique combination of high resolution data of fishing tracks (positions recorded at 1 and 6 min intervals) and catch rates of sole (Solea solea) and plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) per tow, to study how pulse trawl (PUL) and tickler chain beam trawl (TBT) fishers exploit patches of concealed flatfish. PUL and TBT fishers had similar tactics. Effort was concentrated in the core of the patch. PUL fishers trawled in a systematic manner with successive tows segments placed parallel to each other at a median distance of ∼200 m. In 45% of the cores, simultaneous trawling by multiple PUL vessels occurred. A total of 40% of the cores were revisited in the following week, of which 50% were re-exploited. Catch rate in the core was ∼50% higher than the background catch rate and decreased over time due to resource depletion and interference related to the response of flatfish to the fishing activities. Interference contributed up to 67% to the decline in catch rate and was larger in TBT than in PUL.
Guideline Adherence As An Indicator of the Extent of Antithrombotic Overuse and Underuse: A Systematic Review

Thromboembolic events are a common risk in adults with atrial fibrillation, those with previous cerebrovascular accidents and undergoing emergency or elective surgeries. The widespread availability of antithrombotic agents and differing guidelines contribute to practice variations and increased risk of complications and deaths. The objective of this review was to investigate the extent of overuse and underuse of antithrombotics for primary or secondary prevention as measured by deviation from prescribing guideline recommendations. We conducted a systematic review of Medline and EMBASE for quantitative articles published between 2000 and 2021 and used a modified version of the Hoy’s risk of bias assessment tool. Here we report evidence from the past decade about wide practice variations in hospitals and primary care, and discuss clinician and patient-driven determinants of non-adherence to guidelines. Finally, we summarise implications for practice, identify enhanced ways of measuring overuse and underuse, and propose potential solutions to the measurement challenges.
Field rice panicle detection and counting based on deep learning

Panicle number is directly related to rice yield, so panicle detection and counting has always been one of the most important scientific research topics. Panicle counting is a challenging task due to many factors such as high density, high occlusion, and large variation in size, shape, posture et.al. Deep learning provides state-of-the-art performance in object detection and counting. Generally, the large images need to be resized to fit for the video memory. However, small panicles would be missed if the image size of the original field rice image is extremely large. In this paper, we proposed a rice panicle detection and counting method based on deep learning which was especially designed for detecting rice panicles in rice field images with large image size. Different object detectors were compared and YOLOv5 was selected with MAPE of 3.44% and accuracy of 92.77%. Specifically, we proposed a new method for removing repeated detections and proved that the method outperformed the existing NMS methods. The proposed method was proved to be robust and accurate for counting panicles in field rice images of different illumination, rice accessions, and image input size. Also, the proposed method performed well on UAV images. In addition, an open-access and user-friendly web portal was developed for rice researchers to use the proposed method conveniently.
Is integrated auditing superior to separate auditing? Evidence from China

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to compare audit effectiveness and audit efficiency between companies that have integrated auditing of internal control over financial reporting (ICFR) and financial statements and companies that have separate auditing. We analyse a sample of Chinese public companies that disclosed their ICFR audit reports from 2011 to 2015. Using the full sample, sub-samples, and a propensity score matching (PSM) sample, we consistently find that companies having integrated auditing exhibit higher financial reporting quality measured by excess non-operating income. The findings regarding audit efficiency are mixed, with limited evidence indicating that an integrated auditor is potentially able to complete two audits without further delay. Overall, our results seem to suggest that integrated auditing is superior to separate auditing in that it enhances audit effectiveness and might improve audit efficiency. Such superiority might be due to knowledge spillover when two related audit services are jointly provided.
Pattern and polarization reconfigurable loop antenna with circular high‐impedance surface for 5G micro base station application

A novel type of loop antenna backed by four‐element circular high‐impedance surface (CHIS) for 5G micro base station application is presented. The CHIS is composed of four elements, each one in the shape of a truncated sector, and the complete CHIS acts as the reflection plane for the main radiating loop placed above. In all, the proposed antenna structure contains three variations, the size of which are all less than π × 322 × 7 mm3. By properly adjusting the distribution of excitations, the first antenna can steer its beam to all four quadrants with a tilted angle of θ = 15°, and the remaining two antennas are capable of changing its polarization state among arbitrary linear polarization, left‐handed circular polarization and right‐handed circular polarization. Particularly, the second four‐port antenna can also achieve pattern reconfiguration by steering its beam tilting towards four different quadrants, covering the space of −30° ≤ θ ≤ 30° with realized gain over 7.19 dBi. To validate the proposed concept, three antenna prototypes operating at 3.5 GHz are designed, fabricated and measured. The measured results agree well with the simulated ones, proving that the proposed antenna can achieve the desired reconfiguration.
Confidence interval estimation for vaccine efficacy against COVID-19

This article focuses on the construction of a confidence interval for vaccine efficacy against contagious coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in a fixed number of events design. Five different approaches are presented, and their performance is investigated in terms of the two-sided coverage probability, non-coverage probability at the lower tail, and expected confidence interval width. Furthermore, the effect of under-sensitivity of diagnosis tests on vaccine efficacy estimation was evaluated. Except for the exact conditional method, the non-coverage probability of the remaining methods may exceed the nominal significance level, e.g., 5%, even for a large number of total confirmed COVID-19 cases. The narrower confidence interval width from the Bayesian, approximate Poisson, and mid-P methods are on the cost of increased instability of coverage probability. When the sensitivity of diagnosis test in the vaccine group is lower than that in the placebo group, the reported vaccine efficacy tends to be overly optimistic. The exact conditional method is preferable to other methods in COVID-19 vaccine efficacy trials when the total number of cases reaches 60; otherwise, mid-p method can be used to obtain a narrower interval width.
Surveying Parents’ Awareness and Adherence to Influenza Vaccination Recommendations in Children in Southern Italy

Background: This study explored awareness and adhesion of parents to the recommendations for influenza vaccination for their children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March to June 2022 among parents of 6 months–6 years-old children in Southern Italy. Results: Only 22.1% of parents were aware that influenza vaccination was recommended for healthy children, and 31.8% reported at least one influenza vaccination in the four influenza seasons from 2018/2019 to 2021/2022. Adherence was higher among parents who had received influenza vaccination at least once, who knew the main childhood vaccinations, who knew that influenza can be prevented, that influenza vaccination is recommended for healthy children, who believe that it is useful, and who have been informed about it by physicians. Willingness to vaccinate their children in the upcoming season was 48.6% and was higher among parents who had vaccinated their children at least once, believed that influenza vaccination protects against severe complications, believed that it is useful, and that it is not better for children to acquire immunization through illness than through vaccination. Conclusions: These findings suggest that efforts should be devoted to educating parents on the risks associated with the disease and the benefits of the vaccine.