Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller Design for Trajectory Tracking of Unmanned Vehicles

The trajectory tracking issue of unmanned vehicles has attracted much attention recently, with the rapid development and implementation of sensing, communication, and computing technologies. This paper proposes a nonlinear model predictive controller (NMPC) for the trajectory tracking application of an unmanned vehicle (UV). First, a two-degree-of-freedom (2-DOF) kinematics model of this UV is used to derive the desirable controller with two control variables as forward velocity and yaw angle. Next, the one-step Euler method is employed to establish the nonlinear prediction model, then a nonlinear optimization objective function is formulated to minimize the tracking errors of forward velocity and yaw angle from a preset time-varying reference road. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed NMPC scheme is assessed under two different driving scenarios via MATLAB simulations. The simulation results confirm that the proposed NMPC scheme reveals better control accuracy and computational efficiency than the standard MPC controller under two different prescribed roads. Moreover, an outdoor field test is conducted to verify the performance of the proposed NMPC scheme, and the results show that the proposed NMPC can be applied to the real vehicle and can improve the tracking accuracy and the driving stability of trajectory tracking.
An Approach of Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix to Vehicle Detection

Now these days' automotive manufacturers have equipped vehicles with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for safe driving, like collisions with other road users. Our research work gives the ideas for monocular vision which based on the vehicle detection. A system which may robustly detect and also track the various vehicles in an image. It consist three major modules: shape analysis is based on HOG is used as the main feature descriptor. It is a machine learning part which is based on support vector machine for vehicle verification and recent days these techniques is applied for feature extraction by using the concept of gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). we are also explore detection of cars from different viewpoints of camera and diverse lightning conditions like night, sunlight, normal day light and further handling occlusion. Experiments have been processed on large numbers of car images with various angles. Results and future work would be discussed.
Biomechanical Assessment of Post-Stroke Patients’ Upper Limb before and after Rehabilitation Therapy Based on FES and VR

Stroke is a medical condition characterized by the rapid loss of focal brain function. Post-stroke patients attend rehabilitation training to prevent the degeneration of physical function and improve upper limb movements and functional status after stroke. Promising rehabilitation therapies include functional electrical stimulation (FES), exergaming, and virtual reality (VR). This work presents a biomechanical assessment of 13 post-stroke patients with hemiparesis before and after rehabilitation therapy for two months with these three methods. Patients performed two tests (Maximum Forward Reach and Apley Scratching) where maximum angles, range of motion, angular velocities, and execution times were measured. A Wilcoxon test was performed (p = 0.05) to compare the variables before and after the therapy for paretic and non-paretic limbs. Significant differences were found in range of motion in flexion–extension, adduction–abduction, and internal–external rotation of the shoulder. Increases were found in flexion–extension, 17.98%, and internal–external rotation, 18.12%, after therapy in the Maximum Forward Reach Test. For shoulder adduction–abduction, the increase found was 20.23% in the Apley Scratching Test, supporting the benefits of rehabilitation therapy that combines FES, exergaming, and VR in the literature.
EFEITO DE EXTRATOS AQUOSOS DE PLANTAS NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DE PLUTELLA XYLOSTELLA (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: PLUTELLIDAE) EM COUVE

RESUMO Avaliou-se o efeito de extratos aquosos de plantas na concentração de 10%, no desenvolvimento de Plutella xylostella, sobre discos de folhas de couve, imersos no extrato. Os discos tratados foram colocados em placas juntamente com 12 lagartas recém-eclodidas avaliando-se a viabilidade e duração das fases larval e pupal e peso de pupa após 24 horas. A mortalidade larval foi afetada pelos extratos de Enterolobium contortisilliquum, Nicotiana tabacum Sapindus saponaria e Trichilia pallida, resultando em 100% de mortalidade, seguidos dos extratos de T. pallida (93,8%), Azadirachta indica (89,6%), Symphytum officinale (77,1%), Bougainvillea glabra (72,9%), Achillea millefolium (70,8%) e Chenopodium ambrosioides (70,8%). A duração da fase larval variou de 8,2 dias (testemunha) a 10,7 dias (A. indica). Houve correlação direta entre a duração e a mortalidade de larvas, sendo que os extratos que causaram maior mortalidade, causaram também aumento na duração larval. A maior diferença no peso de pupa em relação à testemunha foi observada no tratamento com extrato de B. glabra, que causou redução de 1,2 mg. Em todos os parâmetros avaliados, T. pallida apresentou maior toxicidade em relação a Trichilia catiguae os ramos foram mais tóxicos que as folhas em ambas as espécies, diferença observada também entre as partes vegetais de S. saponaria, sendo os frutos mais tóxicos que as folhas.
Measuring Cyber Dating Violence: Reliability and Validity of the Escala de CiberViolencia en Parejas Adolescentes (Cib-VPA) in Spanish Young Adults

The aim of this study was to obtain validity evidence of the Escala de Ciber-Violencia en Parejas Adolescentes (Cib-VPA) in the Spanish young adults. A total of 298 undergraduate students (222 women, 75 men and 2 people who identified themselves as ‘other’) completed the Cib-VPA and other related measures of offline and online dating violence. Internal consistency and construct, convergent and discriminant validity were evaluated. In line with the original validation study, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) provided evidence for an 18-item model comprising 2 subscales, with 2 factors per subscale. All had acceptable internal consistency values. Total and subscale scores correlated positively with online and offline dating violence measures, with these correlations being stronger in subscales evaluating violence in the same direction (perpetrated or victimisation). As expected, no differences were observed according to gender. This study shows validity evidences of Cib-VPA scores, which can be quickly and inexpensively administered to large samples of young adults.
Asymmetric, nonbroadened waveguide structures for double QW high-power 808nm diode laser

In this paper, we propose an asymmetric epitaxial layer structre for designing 808nm diode laser. In this asymmetric sructure, the p-waveguide is reduced in thickness and the p-cladding is doped for increasing the thermal conductivity and consequently better heat extraction. The main purpose of using such design is enhancing the laser gain by reduction of loss in laser cavity, and reduction of electrical and thermal resistivity of the diode laser.
Heavy Metal Pollution and Soil Quality Assessment under Different Land Uses in the Red Soil Region, Southern China

The influences of different land uses associated with human activities on soil quality and the redistribution of heavy metal in soil have been widely concerned. Surface soil samples were obtained to assess comprehensive soil quality in a typical red soil region of southern China, combining the heavy metal pollution evaluation with fertility evaluation. It can be learned from the results that the overall level of soil fertility was at medium and lower level, and soil heavy metal pollution risk in the study area in a few regions had reached warning line and slight pollution line, and there was a risk of potential pollution. TOPSIS evaluation results showed that the comprehensive soil quality was mainly good quality and moderate quality, accounting for 31.7% and 29.0% of the total land area, respectively. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) model results showed that transportation source contributes a lot in terms of Cd and Pb. As for Cr, natural source contributes 53.8%. In terms of Cu and Zn, agriculture source contributes 50.7% and 38.7%, respectively. In a word, the comprehensive soil quality assessment in red soil region of southern China provides an important basis for the scientific management and sustainable utilization of soil resources.
Can Acute Exercise Lower Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity? Findings from a Scoping Review

Exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to and delayed recovery from stress increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the future. While exercise training has been shown to attenuate stress-induced cardiovascular reactivity and enhance recovery from stress, the effects with acute exercise are less characterized. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the range and characteristics of published evidence regarding acute exercise on cardiovascular reactivity and stress recovery. The secondary objective was to highlight research gaps and implications for future research. A total of 36 articles met the review inclusion/exclusion criteria, involving 1200 participants from various age groups, fitness and health status. Blood pressure (BP) reactivity was the most measured outcome, followed by heart rate (HR) reactivity, and to some extent, heart rate variability. Overall, acute exercise particularly of the moderate-intensity aerobic type effectively reduced stress-induced BP reactivity in the general population. The effects on HR reactivity and cardiovascular recovery were inconclusive. Further research would be recommended to establish if other forms of exercise intensity or type are equally beneficial to lower exaggerated cardiovascular responses to stress. Despite methodological differences and limitations, the available evidence supports the therapeutic potential of acute exercise in addressing the ill effects of stress on cardiovascular health.
Educational Futures for the Construction Industry

This article sets the UK construction industry in its European context and presents a series of proposals for unifying higher education courses and hence for developing a less fragmented profession. The education and status of engineers, architects and other professions involved in the industry are examined on an international basis. Current and recent developments in the reform of the UK industry are outlined and three main proposals are presented: the formation of a Council for Construction Education and Training; the formation of a network of Centres for the Built Environment; and a double degree combining the training of professionals involved in the industry.
A novel framework for assessing the criticality of retrieved information

: Data created by microblogging platforms provide an exceptional opportunity to mine valuable insights; however, their application in critical information retrieval is still at its inflection point. Taking advantage of Deep Learning (DL) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, this paper proposes a novel framework for retrieving critical information from Twitter to manage emergencies e ff ectively. The proposed framework classifies the tweets into relevant and irrelevant classes using Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT). Subsequently, relevant tweets are clustered using a k-means algorithm based on textual semantic similarity obtained using Universal Sentence Encoder (USE). Finally, the critical value of tweets is computed to segregate the relevant information that may assist the management teams to plan and organize their operations e ffi ciently. The proposed work was tested on a real-world dataset of Uttarakhand Floods that occurred in February 2021. The critical information retrieved may be deployed to quickly manage disastrous situations and take the appropriate measures in time.
The experiences of community-dwelling individuals with newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes in using patient-reported outcomes in a municipal setting

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of citizens with newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes when using a newly developed and implemented patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire as part of clinical practice in a municipal setting. Specifically, the citizens’ experiences in completing the PRO questionnaire and using the PRO data in consultations were examined. Methods The study was based on participant observations and semi-structured interviews and conducted at the Centre for Diabetes in Copenhagen and online. Participants were recruited deliberately to represent different cases of citizens with type-2 diabetes. Ten citizens were observed during consultation with an healthcare professional (HCP) and subsequently interviewed. The interviews were recorded as audio or video and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was performed on the basis of previously described guidelines. Results The PRO instigated reflections and enlightened citizens on disease-specific matters and motivated citizens to engage in self-management activities. During the citizen-HCP consultations, the PRO data prepared the actors before the meeting and enabled structured, effective and relevant conversations. However, the PRO questionnaire lacked response options, triggered citizen concerns about future health conditions and made them unsure if their answers were correct and aware that they lacked disease-specific knowledge. The experiences were linked to the citizens' situation as newly diagnosed with type-2 diabetes. Conclusion The informants found the PRO questionnaire and data meaningful and useful. However, adjustments are needed if the PRO instrument is to resemble the disease situation of citizens with newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes.
Developing Model and Psychological Competencies Scale of 100 Meter Runner Student Athletes

The main aim of research is to develop model and instrument psychological competencies scale (PCS) of 100 Meter Student Athletes. This research use a mixed methods approach. 1st Study, used a qualitative approach, identifying the constructs and dimensions of elite 100 meter runner student athletes. Using literature review and interview of 2 elite athletes and 2 coaches. The results of the first study is psychological competencies model consists of goal setting, goal setting, motivation, concentration, emotion regulation, focus, self talk, self confidence, and persistence. Another result is 10 items of multidimentional measure of PCS. Each items in the scale were responded on five point level. Leveling describes psychological abilities based on behavior. 2nd Study, using a quantitative approach, instrument validation and reliability testing. We recruited 50, age 18-22 years from 100 meters runner student athletes voluntarily participated in this study. We assessed construct validity by examining how well the measures discriminated groups expected to differ based on their competencies, using Corrected Item-Total Correlation with a minimum limit of 0.300 to be declared a valid item. We assessed internal consistency of PCS using the Cronbach Alpha coefficient. The result of Corrected Item-Total Correlation obtained results All items are valid because they have a Corrected Item-Total Correlation value greater than the minimum limit of 0.300. The internal consistency of the (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient) was 0.841. It can be concluded that PCS is valid and reliable for measuring for 100 meter runner student athlete.
Periprocedural Pericardial Effusion Complicating Transcatheter Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion: A Report From the NCDR LAAO Registry

Background: Pericardial effusion (PE) is a potential complication of transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence, associated characteristics, and outcomes of PE following left atrial appendage occlusion. Methods: Patients in the NCDR LAAO Registry who underwent a Watchman procedure between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2019 were included. The primary outcome was in-hospital PE requiring intervention (percutaneous drainage or surgery). Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for adverse event rates associated with PE. Results: The study population consisted of 65 355 patients. The mean patient age was 76.2±8.1 years, and the mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.6±1.5. PE occurred in 881 patients (1.35%). Clinical variables independently associated with PE included older age, female sex, left ventricular function, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, prior bleeding, lower serum albumin, and preprocedural dual antiplatelet therapy; procedural variables included number of delivery sheaths used, sinus rhythm during the procedure, and moderate sedation rather than general anesthesia. PE was associated with increased risk of in-hospital stroke (OR, 6.58 [95% CI, 3.32–13.06]; P<0.0001), death (OR, 56.88 [95% CI, 39.79–81.32]; P<0.0001), and the composite of death, stroke, or systemic embolism (OR, 28.64 [95% CI, 21.24–38.61]; P<0.0001). PE during the index hospitalization was associated with increased risk of death (OR, 3.52 [95% CI, 2.23–5.54]; P<0.0001) and the composite of death, stroke, or systemic embolism (OR, 3.42 [95% CI, 2.31–5.07]; P<0.0001) between discharge and 45-day follow-up. Conclusions: In-hospital PE during transcatheter left atrial appendage occlusion is infrequent but associated with a substantially higher risk of adverse events, including in-hospital and early postdischarge mortality. Strategies to minimize PE are critical to improve the risk-benefit ratio for this therapy.
Visual attribution for deep learning segmentation in medical imaging

Despite the widespread use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for segmentation in medical imaging, there is yet to be a validated method to determine what regions of input images inform the models’ decisions. To advance the field, we have 1) modified three general, prevalent methods of classification-attribution to be applicable for use with segmentation models, 2) developed a novel method of attribution explicitly for segmentation models, and 3) formulated validation metrics for these attributions so results can be quantitatively compared. To adapt existing methods of classification-attribution, we newly employed a weighted sum across attribution maps from each post-bottleneck layer. For our novel method of attribution (Kernel-Weighted Contribution), a weighted sum of activations from each kernel across all post-bottleneck layers was weighted by each kernel’s dependent and independent contributions to the segmentation. We used the generated attribution maps to mask the input images and generate new predicted segmentations. The methods were then scored based on their sensitivity to region importance (Prediction Preserved) and ability to only attribute relevant regions (Image Preserved). All three adapted classification-attribution methods showed a significant increase in both Prediction Preserved and Image Preserved scores. Kernel-Weighted Contribution showed a median decreased Image Preserved score of 2-12% and increased Prediction Preserved score of 12-21% compared with modified classification attribution methods. These new methods provide insight into how segmentation models use regions of input images. Clinically relevant features can consequently be extracted from both foreground and relevant background regions. Additionally, the metrics of validation facilitate a quantitative and objective comparison of segmentation-attribution methods.
Isolation of Endophytic Bacteria and Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Cajanus cajan and Lablab purpereus

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the major compounds posing environmental and health problems worldwide. In the present study, phytoremediation of PAHs using Cajanus cajan and Lablab purpereus in addition to isolation of endophytic bacteria associated with the plant tissues was undertaken. Soil samples contaminated with PAHs were collected from a mechanic workshop in Sokoto metropolis and analysed using standard laboratory procedures. Seeds of the two plants species were sown in the contaminated soil and irrigated for eight weeks to determine the plantsâ€™ ability to remediate PAHs. Bacterial count revealed that the plantsâ€™ tissues contained 2. 3Ã—104 cfu/g and 2. 7Ã—104 cfu/g of endophytes. The endophytes were identified to be the members of Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Bacillus, Rhodococcus and Flavobacterium. GC-MS analysis revealed that the soil samples contained 19.21 ppm PAHs, which were reduced to 2.34 ppm (12.18%) and 4.88 ppm (25.40%) in soils treated with C. cajan and L. purpureus, respectively. Naphthalene was completely degraded in both cases, whereas pyrene, flourene and flouranthene were either completely degraded or significantly reduced. Only indeno (1,2,3 cd) pyrene was least degraded with more than 50% residual concentration. Therefore, the plant species was considered as an important tool in the remediation of PAHs contaminated soil and the role of their endophytes in degradation was thoroughly investigated.
Episodic remembering and affective metacognition

The aim of this article is to clarify, in the light of philosophical and psychological research on affective metacognition, the nature of the episodic feeling, which determines what it is like to remember or relive in one’s mind an episode from one’s own past. The hypothesis defended is that the episodic feeling is a metacognitive experience, which rests on mechanisms that monitor the source of the relevant information. Although there is presently no direct psychological evidence for the existence of the episodic feeling, studies on a specific kind of feelings of knowing, which are especially tied to episodic memory, can help cast light on the nature of the episodic feeling. Overall, the hypothesis that the episodic feeling is a metacognitive experience squares well with a general theory of metacognition. It leads to a two-tiered account of episodic remembering. On this account, the phenomenology characteristic of episodic remembering is extrinsic to the memory state itself. When we have a memory, it feels episodic only if it is properly monitored at the metacognitive level. However, an episodic memory can be attributed to a subject in the absence of an episodic feeling. The memory itself can be a mere unconscious mental condition, as in some cases of tip-of-the-tongue experiences, or its content can be transparent to the subject via a conscious imagining.
Biomarcadores tomográficos en el edema macular diabético

El edema macular diabético (EMD) es la primera causa de disminución de la visión entre los pacientes diabéticos. Puede empezar en cualquiera de las etapas de la retinopatía diabética y estar asociada a comorbilidades que pueden afectar varios sistemas del organismo. Muchas veces el paciente diabético con edema macular necesita un manejo multidisciplinario por el que recibe atención inicial de especialistas no oftalmólogos. Existe evidencia que respalda que el diagnóstico precoz y el tratamiento oportuno del EMD puede minimizar la pérdida visual permanente. Los especialistas no oftalmólogos que atienden pacientes diabéticos pueden contribuir a detectar precozmente el EMD que pudiera tener su paciente para recibir la atención oftalmológica correspondiente. El propósito de esta revisión es proveer a la comunidad médica de información sobre la contribución de la tomografía de coherencia óptica en el diagnóstico del EMD y cómo reconocer los biomarcadores tomográficos que permitan pronosticar el resultado visual de su tratamiento.