Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning to Solve 3-D Bin Packing Problem via Deep Reinforcement Learning and Constraint Programming

Recently, there is a growing attention on applying deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to solve the 3-D bin packing problem (3-D BPP). However, due to the relatively less informative yet computationally heavy encoder, and considerably large action space inherent to the 3-D BPP, existing DRL methods are only able to handle up to 50 boxes. In this article, we propose to alleviate this issue via a DRL agent, which sequentially addresses three subtasks of sequence, orientation, and position, respectively. Specifically, we exploit a multimodal encoder, where a sparse attention subencoder embeds the box state to mitigate the computation while learning the packing policy, and a convolutional neural network subencoder embeds the view state to produce auxiliary spatial representation. We also leverage an action representation learning in the decoder to cope with the large action space of the position subtask. Besides, we integrate the proposed DRL agent into constraint programming (CP) to further improve the solution quality iteratively by exploiting the powerful search framework in CP. The experiments show that both the sole DRL and hybrid methods enable the agent to solve large-scale instances of 120 boxes or more. Moreover, they both could deliver superior performance against the baselines on instances of various scales.
Long-term experiments of composite beams and connections

Composite steel–concrete solutions are commonly used in Australia for floor building applications. In these situations secondary beams are usually connected to primary beams or columns by means of composite web side plate connections, also known as fin or single plate joints, with the slab continuous at the connection. The rigidity of this arrangement can lead to extensive cracking at the joint and to significant compressive forces in the web side plate connection, which can compromise one of the design limit states. In this context, this paper focuses on serviceability limit state and presents the results of two sets of experiments aimed at investigating how the time-dependent behaviour of the concrete affects the response of such joints. The first set included six simply supported specimens subjected to a sustained negative moment with the connection placed at their mid-span. These were used to study the behaviour of the negative moment region of a continuous floor beam in isolation. The second set cons.
Metabolic risk factors of ovarian cancer: a review

Ovarian cancer continues to be the leading cause of death from gynecological cancers. Despite inconsistent results, patients with metabolic abnormalities, including obesity and diabetes mellitus (DM), have poorer outcomes, showing a correlation with ovarian cancer incidence and ovarian cancer survival. Since ovarian cancer is the most common cancer in women, and considering the increasing prevalence of obesity and DM, this paper reviews the literature regarding the relationship between the aforementioned metabolic derangements and ovarian cancer, with a focus on ovarian cancer incidence, mortality, and likely mechanisms behind them. Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have shown that obesity is associated with a higher incidence and poorer survival in ovarian cancer. Although more studies are required to investigate the etiological relation of DM and ovarian cancer, sufficient biological evidence indicates poorer outcomes and shorter survival in DM women with ovarian cancer. A variety of pathologic factors may contribute to ovarian cancer risk, development, and survival, including altered adipokine expression, increased levels of circulating growth factors, altered levels of sex hormones, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, and chronic inﬂammation. Thus, obesity and DM, as changeable risk factors, can be targeted for intervention to prevent ovarian cancer and improve its outcomes.
The COVID-19 disaster and mental health—assessing, responding and recovering

Abstract The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic is a disaster that has impacted lives globally. The purpose of this paper is to understand the linkage between COVID-19 and its impact on mental health. To reach this aim, we reviewed the literature on COVID-19 and mental conditions. Based on the literature, we identified COVID-19 as an unexpected, large-scale event that disrupted communities and caused death, destruction and trauma which upended normal existence. For mental conditions, effects of the pandemic are likely to manifest in different ways: development of symptoms in previously healthy individuals, new episodes in those with predisposition to mental disorders and development of symptoms that do not meet diagnostic criteria. The level of mental health problems varies depending on the stage of the pandemic, country, population groups and types of conditions. This also applies to the level of suicide, although suicides do not seem to have increased during the pandemic. Yet, we identified a net of factors contributing to mental conditions, in general. These factors include demographic factors (e.g. female gender, younger and older age), social factors (e.g. economically disadvantaged), mental factors (e.g. pre-existing mental conditions) and relationship factors (e.g. stressful relationship, lack of relationships). Additionally, we identified COVID-19-specific factors such as threat to own life and threat to life of loved ones, containment measures and interruption of services and social life. We further explored potentially additional suicide-related risk factors. Regardless of differences, health care and psychosocial systems were in many countries not prepared to respond to a viral disaster. Viral disaster requires that responses not only include direct care but also responses to populations that may need support due to known determinants of mental health.
Key performance and training parameters in primary total hip arthroplasty – an expert consensus using the Delphi technique

Aims: Primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a commonly performed and successful operation which orthopaedic trainees must demonstrate competence in prior to completion of surgical training. An assessment of agreement between surgical trainers regarding the critical steps of a primary THA has never been undertaken. The aim of this study was to define and rank the key steps of a primary THA regards ease of teaching and their importance in achieving the best patient outcome. Materials and methods: The Delphi technique with 3 iterative rounds was used to establish expert group consensus. The benchmark for consensus was set at an 80% agreement in any category for each step of a THR. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to report on the inter- and intra-rater reliabilities between and within participants responses respectively in rounds 2 and 3. Results: 50 consultant orthopaedic hip surgeons completed round 2, and 28 completed round 3. Overall, 27 steps (54 parameters) were identified, with 16 parameters achieving consensus agreement for their impact on patient outcome, and 17 for ease of teaching. The inter-rater ICC for patient outcome parameters was 0.89 and 0.92 in rounds 2 and 3 respectively while for teaching parameters it was 0.82 and 0.73. 50% of surgeons agreed that acetabular reaming, assessing and accurately restoring leg length, and acetabular cup anteversion were the 3 most difficult steps to teach trainees, while 90% agreed these 3 steps were substantially important to patient outcome. Another 5 steps achieved consensus for their substantial impact on patient outcome but failed to achieve consensus for ease of teaching. Conclusions: The results of this expert consensus have produced a rank-order list of the key steps in primary THA, which may be used for orthopaedic curriculum development and guiding focused improvements for surgical training in primary THR including simulation.
Mode-locked and Q-switched Yb-doped fiber lasers with graphene saturable absorber

We report high pulse energy generation from an Yb-doped fiber laser mode-locked or passively Q-switched by a graphene saturable absorber. In the case of mode-locked operation, a ring cavity was used. The average output power is 170 mW and the repetition rate is 1.04 MHz, corresponding to single pulse energy of 163 nJ. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest pulse energy reported for fiber lasers mode-locked with graphene saturable absorber. In the case of passively Q-switched operation, a linear cavity was used. The average output power is 12 mW and the repetition rate is 257 kHz, corresponding to single pulse energy of 46 nJ with pulse width of 70 ns. We believe we are among the first to report the stable passively Q-switched operation by graphene saturable absorber in a Yb-doped fiber laser as well. Graphene-based saturable absorber shows promising potential to replace SESAM as mode-locker or Q-switcher for pulsed lasers in the near future because of the good performance, easy fabrication, low cost and wide availability.
Prion protein polymorphisms in Michigan white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

ABSTRACT Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), a well-described transmissible spongiform encephalopathy of the Cervidae family, is associated with the aggregation of an abnormal isoform (PrPCWD) of the naturally occurring host prion protein (PrPC). Variations in the PrP gene (PRNP) have been associated with CWD rate of infection and disease progression. We analysed 568 free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 9 CWD-positive Michigan counties for PRNP polymorphisms. Sampling included 185 CWD-positive, 332 CWD non-detected, and an additional 51 CWD non-detected paired to CWD-positives by sex, age, and harvest location. We found 12 polymorphic sites of which 5 were non-synonymous and resulted in a change in amino acid composition. Thirteen haplotypes were predicted, of which 11 have previously been described. Using logistic regression, consistent with other studies, we found haplotypes C (OR = 0.488, 95% CI = 0.321–0.730, P < 0.001) and F (OR = 0.122, 95% CI = 0.007–0.612, P < 0.05) and diplotype BC (OR = 0.340, 95% CI = 0.154–0.709, P < 0.01) were less likely to be found in deer infected with CWD. As has also been documented in other studies, the presence of a serine at amino acid 96 was less likely to be found in deer infected with CWD (P < 0.001, OR = 0.360 and 95% CI = 0.227–0.556). Identification of PRNP polymorphisms associated with reduced vulnerability to CWD in Michigan deer and their spatial distribution can help managers design surveillance programmesand identify and prioritize areas for CWD management.
A Center of Mass Estimation and Control Strategy for Body-Weight-Support Treadmill Training

Walking disorders are common in post-stroke. Body weight support (BWS) systems have been proposed and proven to enhance gait training systems for recovering in individuals with hemiplegia. However, the fixed weight support and walking speed increase the risk of falling and decrease the active participation of the subjects. This paper proposes a strategy to enhance the efficiency of BWS treadmill training. It consists in regulating the height of the BWS system to track the height of the subject’s center of mass (CoM), whereby the CoM is estimated through a long-short term memory (LSTM) network and a locomotion recognition system. The LSTM network takes the walking speed, body-height to leg-length ratio, hip and knee joint angles of the hemiplegic subjects’ non-paretic side from the locomotion recognition system as input signals and outputs the CoM height to a BWS treadmill training robot. Besides, the hip and knee joints’ ranges of motion are increased by 34.54% and 25.64% under the CoM height regulation compared to the constant weight support, respectively. With the CoM height regulation strategy, the stance phase duration of the paretic side is significantly increased by 14.6% of the gait cycle, and the symmetry of the gait is also promoted. The CoM height kinematics by adjustment strategy is in good agreement with the mean values of the 14 non-disabled subjects, which demonstrated that the adjustment strategy improves the stability of CoM height during the training.
Freeze‐dried platelets are a promising alternative in bleeding thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies

Thrombosomes are trehalose‐stabilized, freeze‐dried group O platelets with a 3‐year shelf life. They can be stockpiled, rapidly reconstituted, and infused regardless of the recipient's blood type. Thrombosomes thus represent a potential alternative platelet transfusion strategy. The present study assessed the safety and potential early signals of efficacy of Thrombosomes in bleeding thrombocytopenic patients. We performed an open‐label, phase 1 study of single doses of allogeneic Thrombosomes at three dose levels in three cohorts, each consisting of eight patients who had hematologic malignancies, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding. Adverse events, dose‐limiting toxicities (DLTs), World Health Organization (WHO) bleeding scores, and hematology values were assessed. No DLTs were reported. The median age was 59 years (24–71). Most patients had AML (58%) or ALL (29%), followed by MDS (8%) and myeloproliferative neoplasm (4%). The WHO scores of 22 patients who were actively bleeding at a total of 27 sites at baseline either improved (n = 17 [63%]) or stabilized (n = 10 [37%]) through day 6. Twenty‐four hours after infusion, 12 patients (50%) had a clinically significant platelet count increase. Of eight patients who received no platelet transfusions for 6 days after Thrombosomes infusion, 5 had a clinically significant increase in platelet count of ≥5000 platelets/μL and 2 had platelet count normalization. Thrombosomes doses up to 3.78 × 108 particles/kg demonstrated safety in 24 bleeding, thrombocytopenic patients with hematological malignancies. Thrombosomes may represent an alternative to conventional platelets to treat bleeding. A phase 2 clinical trial in a similar patient population is underway.
Comparative Implementation of a Brief App-Directed Protocol for Delirium Identification by Hospitalists, Nurses, and Nursing Assistants

BACKGROUND Systematic screening improves delirium identification among hospitalized older adults. Little data exist on how to implement such screening. OBJECTIVE To test implementation of a brief app-directed protocol for delirium identification by physicians, nurses, and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in real-world practice relative to a research reference standard delirium assessment (RSDA). DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Large urban academic medical center and small rural community hospital. PARTICIPANTS 527 general medicine inpatients (mean age, 80 years; 35% with preexisting dementia) and 399 clinicians (53 hospitalists, 236 nurses, and 110 CNAs). MEASUREMENTS On 2 study days, enrolled patients had an RSDA. Subsequently, CNAs performed an ultra-brief 2-item screen (UB-2) for delirium, whereas physicians and nurses performed a 2-step protocol consisting of the UB-2 followed in those with a positive screen result by the 3-Minute Diagnostic Assessment for the Confusion Assessment Method. RESULTS Delirium was diagnosed in 154 of 924 RSDAs (17%) and in 114 of 527 patients (22%). The completion rate for clinician protocols exceeded 97%. The CNAs administered the UB-2 in a mean of 62 seconds (SD, 51). The 2-step protocols were administered in means of 104 seconds (SD, 99) by nurses and 106 seconds (SD, 105) by physicians. The UB-2 had sensitivities of 88% (95% CI, 72% to 96%), 87% (CI, 73% to 95%), and 82% (CI, 65% to 91%) when administered by CNAs, nurses, and physicians, respectively, with specificities of 64% to 70%. The 2-step protocol had overall accuracy of 89% (CI, 83% to 93%) and 87% (CI, 81% to 91%), with sensitivities of 65% (CI, 48% to 79%) and 63% (CI, 46% to 77%) and specificities of 93% (CI, 88% to 96%) and 91% (CI, 86% to 95%), for nurses and physicians, respectively. Two-step protocol sensitivity for moderate to severe delirium was 78% (CI, 54% to 91%). LIMITATION Two sites; limited diversity. CONCLUSION An app-directed protocol for delirium identification was feasible, brief, and accurate, and CNAs and nurses performed as well as hospitalists. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE National Institute on Aging.
Covered stents: Initially life‐saving but long‐term consequences persist

• Despite performing more complex percutaneous coronary interventions, the risk of perforation remains stable. • Newer covered stents are lower profile, easier to deliver, and have high initial success rates but similar to older covered stents, the risk of thrombosis and restenosis remains. • We propose routine intravascular imaging to optimize covered stents, avoid reversal of anticoagulation until hardware is removed from the coronary and vigilant follow-up for thrombosis and/or restenosis.
Age Trajectories of Perceptual Speed and Loneliness: Separating Between-Person and Within-Person Associations

Abstract Objectives We aimed at examining between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and loneliness in old age. Method We applied multilevel models to 4 waves of data collected over 6 years from 1,491 participants of the Berlin Aging Study II (60–88 years at baseline, 50% women) to disentangle between-person and within-person associations across age trajectories of perceptual speed and both emotional and social loneliness. Sex and education were considered as relevant individual characteristics and included as covariates in the model. Results Analyses revealed that on average perceptual speed exhibited moderate within-person age-related declines, whereas facets of loneliness were rather stable. Perceptual speed did not predict age trajectories of emotional or social loneliness, at either the between- or within-person level. In contrast, loneliness discriminated individuals at the between-person level, such that those feeling emotionally or socially more lonely showed lower cognitive performance than those feeling emotionally or socially less lonely. Predictive effects of social loneliness were stronger for relatively young people (i.e., in their mid to late 60s) than for relatively older participants (i.e., in their 80s). In addition, predictive effects of social loneliness for perceptual speed at the within-person level were modest and deviated in direction and size from between-person social loneliness effects among those in their mid- to late 60s, whereas they did not among those in their 80s. Discussion We conclude that loneliness may serve as a precursor for basic cognitive functioning in old age and suggest routes for further inquiry.
Genes identified in rodent studies of alcohol intake are enriched for heritability of human substance use

Background Rodent paradigms and human genome-wide association studies (GWASs) on drug use have the potential to provide biological insight into the pathophysiology of addiction. Methods Using GeneWeaver, we created rodent alcohol and nicotine gene-sets derived from 19 gene expression studies on alcohol and nicotine outcomes. We partitioned the SNP-heritability of these gene-sets using four large human GWASs: 1) alcoholic drinks per week, 2) problematic alcohol use, 3) cigarettes per day and 4) smoking cessation. We benchmarked our findings with curated human alcoholism and nicotine addiction gene-sets and performed specificity analyses using other rodent gene-sets (e.g., locomotor behavior) and other human GWASs (e.g., height). Results The rodent alcohol gene-set was enriched for heritability of drinks per week, cigarettes per day, and smoking cessation, but not problematic alcohol use. However, the rodent nicotine gene-set was not significantly associated with any of these traits. Both rodent gene-sets showed enrichment for several non-substance use GWASs, and the extent of this relationship tended to increase as a function of trait heritability. In general, larger gene-sets demonstrated more significant enrichment. Finally, when evaluating human traits with similar heritabilities, both rodent gene-sets showed greater enrichment for substance use traits. Conclusion Our results suggest that rodent gene expression studies can help to identify genes that capture heritability of substance use traits in humans, yet the specificity to human substance use was less than expected due to various factors such as the genetic architecture of a trait. We outline various limitations, interpretations and considerations for future research.
Investigation of P and PD Controllers' Performance in Control Systems with Steady-State Error Compensation

In the paper, performance of P and PD controllers in control systems with steady-state error compensation is investigated and compared with a performance of ordinary PI and PID control systems. The investigation is carried out by computer simulation of the control systems in controlling the processes with various dynamic parameters. Performance of P controller is also investigated by operating in the control system with steady-state error compensation and the control system adaptation to time-varying operating conditions. The investigation results show that that the P and PD controllers in the systems with steady-state error compensation outperform the ordinary PI and PID control systems, respectively. Ill. 6, bibl. 6, tabl. 1 (in English; abstracts in English and Lithuanian). DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.eee. 121.5. 1654
Probing for co-exploring

Designers are facing new kinds of design tasks beyond their traditional expertise that call for tools and practices to facilitate design collaboration. This article focuses on the relations between probing and issues of collaboration and participation. It first introduces the probes approach and then describes how it has been applied to support collaboration and participation in case studies which have been conducted in the context of design research and company collaboration in Finland. The article also discusses the role of probing in enhancing collaboration. It proposes that the probes approach can have roles in supporting an iterative co-exploring of the design space, as well as in facilitating collaboration with various stakeholders in co-design.
Deep Web Data Integration with near Duplicate Free

Deep web data integration has become the center of many research efforts in the recent few years. Near duplicate detection is very important for deep web integration system, there are seldom researches focusing on integrating deep web Integration and near duplicate detection together. In this paper, we develop a integration system, DWI-ndfree to solve this problem. The wrapper of DWI-ndfree consists of four parts: the form filler, the navigator, the extractor and the near duplicate detector. To find near duplicate records, we propose efficient algorithm CheckNearDuplicate. DWI-ndfree can integrate deep web data with near duplicate free and has been used to execute several web extraction and integration tasks efficiently.
Removing EOG Artifacts from the EEG signal of Methamphetamine Addicts

EEG can be used to characterize the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex, but it is also susceptible to interference. Compared with the other artifacts, Electrooculogram (EOG) artifacts have a greater impact on EEG processing and are more difficult to remove. Here, we mainly compared the regression and ICA algorithms both based on the EOG channels for the effect of removing EOG artifacts in the Stroop experiment of methamphetamine addicts. From the perspective of time domain and power spectral density, the ICA algorithm based on the EOG channels is more effective. However, the regression algorithm based on the EOG channels is less complex, more time-saving, and more suitable for real-time tasks.Clinical Relevance— For clinical purposes, this research has a certain reference value for selecting appropriate methods of removing EOG artifacts when processing the EEG of methamphetamine addicts.