Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Just Doesn’t Look Right: Exploring the Impact of Humanoid Robot Integration into Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams

This chapter provides a critical analysis of the potential shortand long-term cultural, emotional, and ethical outcomes facing Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists working closely with anthropomorphic robots in daily team situations as viewed through the interdisciplinary lens of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) research. Effective small group communication and decision-making is especially critical for EOD teams. Communication failures cause immediate safety concerns, potential physical and psychological harm to EOD team members, and similar repercussions for any individuals in close physical proximity of the Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). The complexity of EOD Team duties, coupled with the inherent limitations of human performance, make it gravely important that technicians have tools that aid rather than hamper team goals. The U.S. Military is seeking a refinement of EOD robot design, including the incorporation of some humanlike characteristics such as biped design, upright walking ability, and responsiveness to human voice and gesture commands. These characteristics can be arguably useful for robots to move in human spaces, learn in a humanlike way, dexterously disarm munitions, and communicate efficiently with human users. But while humanoid design may move the role of the robot to one that becomes potentially more effective in some environments, it may complicate emotional and ethical issues in terms of how human team members view the robot – as an extension of self, an external tool, a team member, a pet, or other entity.
RF Optimization for call setup and analysis of GSM network using agilent tools

The Call Set up Success Rate, successful handovers, and maintaining the quality of call are most important features used by all mobile operators. So, it is extremely necessary and mandatory to identify possible means to measure these parameters and eliminate the existing problems in a GSM network. Therefore the different operators can use various type of optimization process. RF optimization is used to make proposals on how operators can optimize radio resources as well as provide the required of service quality to the subscribers. Since call drop and call failure are the major problems in the GSM networks. So this RF optimization technique helps to solve this problem. Key words: RF optimization, GSM network, Drive test, Call drop, Call failure, Post processing, urban and rural areas, Quality of service (Qos), Coverage
Enrofloxacin—The Ruthless Killer of Eukaryotic Cells or the Last Hope in the Fight against Bacterial Infections?

Enrofloxacin is a compound that originates from a group of fluoroquinolones that is widely used in veterinary medicine as an antibacterial agent (this antibiotic is not approved for use as a drug in humans). It reveals strong antibiotic activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, mainly due to the inhibition of bacterial gyrase and topoisomerase IV enzymatic actions. The high efficacy of this molecule has been demonstrated in the treatment of various animals on farms and other locations. However, the use of enrofloxacin causes severe adverse effects, including skeletal, reproductive, immune, and digestive disorders. In this review article, we present in detail and discuss the advantageous and disadvantageous properties of enrofloxacin, showing the benefits and risks of the use of this compound in veterinary medicine. Animal health and the environmental effects of this stable antibiotic (with half-life as long as 3–9 years in various natural environments) are analyzed, as are the interesting properties of this molecule that are expressed when present in complexes with metals. Recommendations for further research on enrofloxacin are also proposed.
Serine Palmitoyltransferase Gene Silencing Prevents Ceramide Accumulation and Insulin Resistance in Muscles in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

Skeletal muscles account for ~80% of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and play a key role in lipid metabolism. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) contributes to metabolic changes in muscles, including the development of insulin resistance. The studies carried out to date indicate that the accumulation of biologically active lipids, such as long-chain acyl-CoA, diacylglycerols and ceramides, play an important role in the development of insulin resistance in skeletal muscles. Unfortunately, it has not yet been clarified which of these lipid groups plays the dominant role in inducing these disorders. In order to explore this topic further, we locally silenced the gene encoding serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) in the gastrocnemius muscle of animals with HFD-induced insulin resistance. This enzyme is primarily responsible for the first step of de novo ceramide biosynthesis. The obtained results confirm that the HFD induces the development of whole-body insulin resistance, which results in inhibition of the insulin pathway. This is associated with an increased level of biologically active lipids in the muscles. Our results also demonstrate that silencing the SPT gene with the shRNA plasmid reduces the accumulation of ceramides in gastrocnemius muscle, which, in turn, boosts the activity of the insulin signaling pathway. Furthermore, inhibition of ceramide synthesis does not significantly affect the content of other lipids, which suggests the leading role of ceramide in the lipid-related induction of skeletal muscle insulin resistance.
Spectrum sensing for cognitive radios : improving robustness to impulsive noise

Many different types of promising spectrum sensing algorithms for Cognitive Radio (CR) have already been developed. However, many of these algorithms lack robustness with respect to signal statistical parameters uncertainties, such as the noise variance or the shape of its distribution (often assumed to be simply Gaussian). In conjunction with the low Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) requirements, this lack of robustness can often render interesting sensing algorithms impractical for real-life applications. In this thesis, we primarily focus on the impact of heavy-tail noise distributions on different CR detectors and the use of signal limiters (mostly the spatial sign function) to improve their robustness to such noise distributions. Introducing a non-linear transformation of the received signal prior to its processing by the detector fundamentally changes the signal distribution which in turn modifies the distribution of the detector statistic. In order to parametrize the detector and study its performance, it is then necessary to know the shape of the modified distribution.Three types of detectors are investigated: a generic second-order cyclic-feature detectors, a Scaled-Largest Eigenvalue (SLE) detector studied in the context of stationary time-series and a new Sequential Likelihood Ratio Test (SLRT) detector. The analysis conducted for each detector revolves around the influence of its parameters, the distribution of the detector statistic and several comparisons with similar detectors for various detection scenarios. Our results indicate that at the cost of a moderate performance loss in a Gaussian noise environment, all the detectors fitted with a signal limiter become robust to impulsive noise and noise parameters uncertainties. We provide analytical approximations for the detectors statistical distribution that allow us to use the detectors in such configurations as well as to study their performance for different signal limiters and noise distributions.
Using Pectoral Muscle Removers in Mammographic Image Process to Improve Accuracy in Breast Cancer

Cancer is a disease that attacks almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and invade adjacent parts of the body. The second highest incidence of cancer in Indonesia is breast cancer with 42.1 cases per 100,000 population with an average mortality rate of 17 per 100,000 population. Mammography is a special imaging modality with x-rays to produce detailed breast images with at least 2 viewpoints, namely Craniocaudal (CC) or top view and Medio Lateral Oblique (MLO) or side view. The chest muscle area on the MLO display often interferes with the cancer identification process on mammography images because it has a dominant density and is similar to the density of cancer tissue. This research proposes a framework consisting of pectoral muscle detection on MLO display, image enhancement process, segmentation, and feature extraction. This study succeeded in increasing the accuracy of the MLO display mammography image after using the pectoral muscle remover using gradual edge detection and Hough lines Transform with the ratios of accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity for images without pectoral muscle removers respectively were 33.59%, 30%, 11.49% and 80.48%. As for the images with pectoral muscle removers, the accuracy, precision, specificity, and sensitivity values respectively were 68.67%, 64.71%, 57.14%, and 80.49%. For future projects, this research can be developed using Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to improve accuracy. This is expected to help doctors and radiologists in the process of reading patient mammography so it can reduce mortality from breast cancer.
Fabrication and Characterization of the Micro-Heater and Temperature Sensor for PolyMUMPs-Based MEMS Gas Sensor

This work describes the fabrication and characterization of a Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) sensor for gas sensing applications. The sensor is based on standard PolyMUMPs (Polysilicon Multi-Users MEMS Process) technology to control the temperature over the sensing layer. Due to its compact size and low power consumption, micro-structures enable a well-designed gas-sensing-layer interaction, resulting in higher sensitivity compared to the ordinary materials. The aim of conducting the characterization is to compare the measured and calculated resistance values of the micro-heater and the temperature sensor. The temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of the temperature sensor has been estimated by raising and dropping the temperature throughout a 25–110 °C range. The sensitivity of these sensors is dependent on the TCR value. The temperature sensor resistance was observed to rise alongside the rising environmental temperatures or increasing voltages given to the micro-heater, with a correlation value of 0.99. When compared to the TCR reported in the literature for the gold material 0.0034 °C−1, the average TCR was determined to be 0.00325 °C−1 and 0.0035 °C−1, respectively, indicating inaccuracies of 4.6% and 2.9%, respectively. The variation between observed and reported values is assumed to be caused by the fabrication tolerances of the design dimensions or material characteristics.
Factors affecting road safety compliance in a low- and middle-income country: An observational study from Lebanon

Road traffic injury is a major public health problem in Lebanon. This study aims to assess compliance with safety measures including seatbelt and helmet use in adults and children, and the prevalence of distracted driving among road users across Lebanon different governorates. It further aims to investigate predictors of compliance with seatbelt and helmet use. A cross-sectional observational field study was conducted at multiple governorates in Lebanon. Data collected included information on vehicles, road users and passengers. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify trends in compliance with safety measures and distracted driving, and predictors of compliance. A total of 13,790 road users were observed. The rate of seatbelt and helmet use were 37.4% and 38.9%, respectively, among adults. Distracted behavior was present in 23.7% of car drivers and 22.8% of motorcyles adult riders. Compliance with seatbelt use was lower outside the capital city Beirut [OR = 5.236 (4.566–6.004), P <0.001], in males [OR = 1.688 (1.52–1.874), P <0.001], in drivers of taxi/vans [OR = 1.929 (1.71–2.175), P <0.001] or trucks [OR = 3.014 (2.434–3.732), P <0.001], and vehicles of lower price [OR = 3.291 (2.836–3.819), P <0.001]. Children vehicle passengers were 87.9% while motorcycles pillion riders were 12.1%. The rates for child car restraint and helmet use were 25.8% and 20.1%, respectively. Predictors of failure to use a child restraint system in vehicles were the youngest age group (0–5 years) [OR = 2.06, CI (1.40–3.02), P<0.001], sitting in the back seat [OR = 1.56, CI (1.09–2.23), P<0.001], ridding in the afternoon [OR = 1.43, CI (1.05–1.94), P = 0.02], and being outside Beirut [OR = 2.12, CI (1.41–3.17), P<0.00]. Public awareness efforts and better enforcement of road safety legislations are needed to increase the alarmingly low rates of compliance with safety measures and safeguard lives on the road.
Otimizando o diagnóstico automatizado de glaucoma a partir de imagens de fundo de olho

Glaucoma é a principal causa mundial de perda irreversível de visão. Afim de viabilizar a implantação de uma ferramenta de diagnóstico de glaucoma para a clínica médica, um trabalho base foi selecionado e otimizado. Ao unificar duas redes de segmentação reduzimos o tempo de processamento em 24,24%, e adicionando uma segunda rede de classificação direta aumentamos a sensitividade do modelo em 3%, em comparação com o trabalho base.
Safety Culture where you work and live: investigation findings from a man overboard event

Much has been written about developing effective safety culture within high reliability industries, and accordingly, the International Maritime Organization has recognised the importance of developing a strong safety culture amongst shipping companies and in individual seafarers. A recent safety investigation conducted by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has highlighted some of the complexities involved in supporting an effective safety commitment culture on board merchant ships. In most high risk industries, workers and leaders demonstrate their commitment to safety by consistently planning for and applying safe working procedures and practices. There is no requirement on them to apply these practices in their leisure time away from their workplace. Seafarers, however, live where they work. Their leisure time is spent in the same inherently risky environment, with available leisure activities bearing comparable risk to their work tasks. The investigation established that seafarers on board this ship (and likely many others) did not appreciate the importance of employing safe work practices and using safety equipment beyond their work tasks, for the conduct of their on board leisure time activities. This conceptual separation of work and leisure was indicative of a culture of safety compliance, rather than safety commitment. The investigation found that these attitudes and beliefs about when and when not to apply safe work practices contributed to the man overboard event and subsequent fatality.
A Novel Method to Broaden the Single-Mode Bandwidth of the Rectangular Waveguide

In this paper, a new class of broadband and low-loss transmission line called slotted rectangular waveguide (SRW) is proposed and analyzed. The proposed SRW consists of the rectangular waveguide and the inverted low-loss slotline, which can selectively suppress the higher-order mode (TE20 mode) and broaden the single dominant mode (TE10 mode) bandwidth in a rectangular waveguide (RW). The design principle and transmission characteristics of the SRW are illustrated and analyzed in this work. The transmission dominant mode bandwidth of the proposed SRW is analyzed and compared with the classic rectangular waveguide (RW), in which the dominant mode bandwidth of 60–155 GHz (88.4% bandwidth) is broader than the RW bandwidth of 60–116 GHz (63%). Two feed structures that can excite the two operating bandwidths (W and D band) of them separately are also designed. The SRW and transition exhibit broadband and low-loss characteristics from 75 GHz to 155 GHz, in which the transmission loss is lower than 0.68 dB and the return loss is over 18 dB.
Faecal DNA metabarcoding reveals novel bacterial community patterns of critically endangered Southern River Terrapin, Batagur affinis

Southern River Terrapin, Batagur affinis, is a freshwater turtle listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000. Many studies suggest that faecal DNA metabarcoding can shield light on the host-associated microbial communities that play important roles in host health. Thus, this study aimed to characterise and compare the faecal bacterial community between captive and wild B. affinis using metabarcoding approaches. A total of seven faeces samples were collected from captive (N = 5) and wild (N = 2) adult B. affinis aseptically, crossing the East and West coast of peninsular Malaysia. The DNA was extracted from the faeces samples, and the 16S rRNA gene (V3–V4 region) was amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplicon was further analysed using SILVA and DADA2 pipelines. In total, 297 bacterial communities taxonomic profile (phylum to genus) were determined. Three phyla were found in high abundance in all faeces samples, namely Firmicutes (38.69%), Bacteroidetes (24.52%), and Fusobacteria (6.95%). Proteobacteria were detected in all faeces samples (39.63%), except the wild sample, KBW3. Under genus level, Cetobacteriumwas found as the most abundant genus (67.79%), followed by Bacteroides (24.56%) and Parabacteroides (21.78%). The uncultured genus had the highest abundance (88.51%) even though not detected in the BK31 and KBW2 samples. The potential probiotic genera (75.00%) were discovered to be more dominant in B. affinis faeces samples. Results demonstrated that the captive B. affinis faeces samples have a greater bacterial variety and richness than wild B. affinis faeces samples. This study has established a starting point for future investigation of the gut microbiota of B. affinis.
Simulando padrões de acesso a memória com Wasserstein-GAN

Neste trabalho exploramos a possibilidade de simular traços de padrões de acesso a memória utilizando o mecanismo de redes neurais adversárias denominado Wasserstein-GAN (WGAN). A experimentação demonstrou que os padrões de footprint, diferença média entre endereços e reutilização de memória obtidos artificialmente são diferentes daqueles verificados a partir dos padrões reais. Este resultado sugere que o mecanismo de produção de traços artificiais não foi capaz de simular acessos com padrões realistas.
Adaptation and Mitigation to Water Stress in Safana Local Government Headquarters of Katsina State, Nigeria

The study assessed local perception on adaptation and mitigation to water stress in Safana town. The nature of water stress and its related adaptation and mitigation correlate with spatio-temporal patterns. Six (6) major parameters that influence adaptation and mitigation to water stress used in this study include; household size, water sources, water cost, distance from source, seasonal pattern, and agencies involved in water supply. Structured questionnaires, interview, and Focused Group Discussion was adopted for the primary data survey. A total of one hundred copies of questionnaire were administered using chance approach, while key informants were used for the interview. The study area was partitioned into four cardinal locations (N, S, E, & W) and questionnaires administered in that order (25:25:25:25). Both inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analysed and test the stated hypothesis. Findings indicates that the study area is characterised by large household sizes with about 57% households having 11- ≥20, major source of water supply is borehole (98%). The season with highest water stress is march-july, more than 40% have their water source at a distance of about 400 m away from their homes. A strong correlation exists between household size and daily domestic water supply. Limited distance is covered to accessed water and with the months of March to July (42%) being the period of water stressed in time past, but government effort has yielded positively. However, the existing water facility are still rated Fair (62%), increase in water storage facilities (44.55%) and cutting down on uses (26.73%) are practical coping strategies in use. Equally, the construction of more boreholes (40.57%) in the study area, effective management and maintenance of existing water facilities (12.26%), and synergizing community-Government partnership (12.26%) respectively are key to improving sustainability in domestic water supply. Other measures suggested rainfall harvesting; increase in the number of motorized solar powered boreholes; sitting of a treatment plant in Safana LGA with water being accessed from Zobe dam; Sinking more of ring wells within neighborhoods; and rehabilitation of rusty pipes supplying water from Dutsinma treatment plant, and networking of new pipes to emerging settlement location around the town.
Development and Effectiveness of a Mobile Health Intervention in Improving Health Literacy and Self-management of Patients With Multimorbidity and Heart Failure: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Patients with multimorbidity and complex health needs are defined as a priority by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union. There is a need to develop appropriate strategies with effective measures to meet the challenge of chronicity, reorienting national health systems. The increasing expansion of mobile health (mHealth) interventions in patient communication, the reduction of health inequalities, improved access to health care resources, adherence to treatment, and self-care of chronic diseases all point to an optimistic outlook. However, only few mobile apps demonstrate their effectiveness in these patients, which is diminished when they are not based on evidence, or when they are not designed by and for users with different levels of health literacy (HL). Objective This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of an mHealth intervention relative to routine clinical practice in improving HL and self-management in patients with multimorbidity with heart failure (HF) and complex health needs. Methods This is a randomized, multicenter, blinded clinical trial evaluating 2 groups, namely, a control group (standard clinical practice) and an intervention group (standard clinical practice and an ad hoc designed mHealth intervention previously developed), for 12 months. Results The contents of the mHealth intervention will address user-perceived needs based on the development of user stories regarding diet, physical exercise, cardiac rehabilitation, therapeutic adherence, warning signs and symptoms, and emotional management. These contents have been validated by expert consensus. The creation and development of the contents of the mHealth intervention (app) took 18 months and was completed during 2021. The mobile app is expected to be developed by the end of 2022, after which it will be applied to the experimental group as an adjunct to standard clinical care during 12 months. Conclusions The trial will demonstrate whether the mobile app improves HL and self-management in patients with HF and complex health needs, improves therapeutic adherence, and reduces hospital admissions. This study can serve as a starting point for developing other mHealth tools in other pathologies and for their generalization to other contexts. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04725526; https://tinyurl.com/bd8va27w International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/35945