Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What is BIM? A Need for A Unique BIM Definition

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has rapidly developed in the construction industry recently; it is also considered as one of the core concepts in the Industry 4.0. However, BIM understanding is always seen as a significant problem for BIM implementation. Therefore, this paper aims to provide the insights into BIM awareness of the construction practitioners with the focus on the BIM definition in the New Zealand construction industry where BIM is still in its early stages. 22 interviews were conducted with 26 construction experts holding important positions in their companies and having at least eight years’ experience in the industry. The results indicated that BIM has a variety of meanings to the interviewees. Four different definitions including Building Information Model, Building Information Modelling, Building Information Management, and Software/Technology were identified which was considered inappropriate, the fallacies of definition, for the construction industry. Also, most of the construction practitioners are seen as not well-aware of BIM, especially the SMEs. Furthermore, the results also indicated that the BIM survey potentially provided a false result at least regarding the BIM adoption rate in the New Zealand construction industry, which urges the BIM survey host to clarify the BIM definition before conducting the survey. The results of this paper are hoped to alarm the government and construction organizations to have a unique BIM definition for BIM development in New Zealand to ensure the consistent understanding among the industry.
Growth of tree saplings of Azadirachta indica Juss (Neem) under fertigation with untreated and treated domestic wastewater

Effect of irrigation to Azadirachta indica Juss saplings by untreated domestic wastewater (N1), wastewater treated by phytoremediation (N2) and tap water as control (N3) on their establishment and growth were compared. Constructed wetland (CW) was able to reduce BOD, N, P and K to a significant level. Growth measured in terms of morphological and bio-chemical parameters was in the order N1> N2 > N3. Concentration of heavy metals in biomass (μg/g) varied in the order Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr under all treatments. Total uptake of iron under three treatments varied in the order N1 > N2 > N3 while uptake of Zn, Cu and Cr was in the order N3 > N2 ≈ N1.
Anomaly Detection in Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: A Survey, Analysis, and Research Challenges

In Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), ensuring road safety has paved the way for innovative advancements such as autonomous driving. These self-driving vehicles, with their variety of sensors, harness the potential to minimize human driving errors and enhance transportation efficiency via sophisticated AI modules. However, the reliability of these sensors remains challenging, especially as they can be vulnerable to anomalies resulting from adverse weather, technical issues, and cyber-attacks. Such inconsistencies can lead to imprecise or erroneous navigation decisions for autonomous vehicles that can result in fatal consequences, e.g., failure in recognizing obstacles. This survey delivers a comprehensive review of the latest research on solutions for detecting anomalies in sensor data. After laying the foundation on the workings of the connected and autonomous vehicles, we categorize anomaly detection methods into three groups: statistical, classical machine learning, and deep learning techniques. We provide a qualitative assessment of these methods to underline existing research limitations. We conclude by spotlighting key research questions to enhance the dependability of autonomous driving in forthcoming studies.
Detection and mapping of bracken fern weeds using multispectral remotely sensed data: a review of progress and challenges

Abstract Bracken fern is one of the major invasive plants distributed all over the world currently threatening socio-economic and ecological systems due to its ability to swiftly colonize landscapes. The study aimed at reviewing the progress and challenges in detecting and mapping of bracken fern weeds using different remote sensing techniques. Evidence from literature have revealed that traditional methods such as field surveys and modelling have been insufficient in detecting and mapping the spatial distribution of bracken fern at a regional scale. The applications of medium spatial resolution sensors have been constrained by their limited spatial, spectral and radiometric capabilities in detecting and mapping bracken fern. On the other hand, the availability of most of these data-sets free of charge, large swath width and their high temporal resolution have significantly improved remote sensing of bracken fern. The use of commercial satellite data with high resolution have also proven useful in providing fine spectral and spatial resolution capabilities that are primarily essential to offer precise and reliable data on the spatial distribution of invasive species. However, the application of these data-sets is largely restricted to smaller areas, due to high costs and huge data volumes. Studies on bracken fern classification have extensively adopted traditional classification methods such as supervised maximum likelihood classifier. In studies where traditional methods performed poorly, the combination of soft classifiers such as super resolution analysis and traditional methods of classification have shown an improvement in bracken fern classification. Finally, since high spatial resolution sensors are expensive to acquire and have small swath width, the current study recommends that future research can also consider investigating the utility of the freely available recently launched sensors with a global footprint that has the potential to provide invaluable information for repeated measurement of invasive species over time and space.
Investigation of Mountain Waves in the Mesosphere over the Andes Mountains

An image processing algorithm has been developed to analyze data from a NIR All-Sky Imager of OH airglow emission (from about 87 km altitude), located in the Andes, with the purpose of investigating the atmospheric gravity waves generated when low level wind blows over the high mountains (referred to as Mountain Waves). These types of waves are a special case of atmospheric gravity waves, which carry significant momentum and exert strong forcing to the background upper atmosphere. The imager is located at the Andes Lidar Observatory (ALO) at Cerro Pachón, Chile (30°S, 71°W), which also houses a Na Doppler Lidar and other passive optical instruments. This thesis work reports the successful identification of numerous strong mountain wave events during the austral winters (2010 – 2014) when low level horizontal winds are eastward and exceed 40 m/s. These events span hundreds of kilometers in the night sky with average wavelengths of 20 to 40 km. A database of high resolution videos and statistics on the wave parameters has been produced. Additionally, an airglow imager simulation model has been built for testing the image processing algorithm.
The Role of Reverse Edges on Consensus Performance of Chain Networks

The minimal real part of all the nonzero eigenvalues of Laplacian matrix, also known as the dominant convergence rate, characterizes the consensus performance of multiagent systems on a directed graph. The effect of adding the second reverse edge to a directed chain graph on the dominant convergence rate is investigated. According to the relative positions of the two reverse edges, three cases are discussed, respectively. It is revealed that the dominant convergence rate of the whole network is determined only by the ranges and the relative positions of the reverse edges. Moreover, the consensus performance will not get better with the new reverse edge being added, and it decreases as the reverse range increases. Finally, the theoretical results are illustrated by some numerical examples.
An Enhanced GPS/INS Integrated Navigation System with GPS Observation Expansion

In Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) integrated navigation, the low sampling rate of GPS receivers reduces the observability of state variables. GPS observation expansion is proposed to enhance the GPS/INS integrated navigation system. During the process of observation expansion, the state variables are updated by the same GPS information repeatedly. According to uncertainty theory, the probability density function of GPS observation information is analysed to demonstrate the feasibility of GPS observation expansion. The formula and calculation method of an adaptive filter algorithm are presented to control the uncertainty of GPS observation expansion. Furthermore, an experiment is performed to validate the new algorithm. The results indicate that compared with GPS/INS integrated navigation without observation expansion, the enhanced GPS/INS integrated navigation system can improve the position, velocity and attitude accuracy significantly, especially while a land vehicle is in slow motion. At the same time, the adaptive filter factor is introduced into the new algorithm, which can control the uncertainty caused by the expanded GPS observation.
An Evidence-Based Update on the Potential for Malignancy of Oral Lichen Planus and Related Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Simple Summary Lichen planus (LP) is a chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disease of autoimmune nature and unknown etiology, which can affect the oral mucosa, skin, nails, scalp, genitalia, and other mucous membranes. The anatomical location most frequently affected by LP is the oral cavity—called oral lichen planus (OLP)—where white reticular lesions may also be accompanied by erosive, atrophic, bullous, papular, or plaque lesions. The most important feature of OLP is its capacity to develop into oral cancer throughout the course of the disease, which is why OLP is currently recognized as an oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD). New primary-level studies (n = 20; 11,512 patients suffering from OLP or related lesions) have been published in the last 5 years on this topic. In the present meta-analysis, we provide an updated OLP malignant transformation ratio, which is higher than what was previously reported; resolve some remaining controversies; and provide new recommendations for clinical practice in the management of OLP patients. Abstract A systematic review and a meta-analysis is presented on published articles on the malignant transformation of oral lichen planus (OLP) and related conditions, which, based on current evidence, updates an earlier systematic review published by our research group that included publications until November 2018. In this updated study (Nov-2023) we searched MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. We evaluated the methodological quality of studies (QUIPS tool) and carried out meta-analyses. The inclusion criteria were met by 101 studies (38,083 patients), of which, 20 new primary-level studies (11,512 patients) were published in the last 5 years and were added to our updated study. The pooled malignant transformation ratio was 1.43% (95% CI = 1.09–1.80) for OLP; 1.38% (95% CI = 0.16–3.38) for oral lichenoid lesions; 1.20% (95% CI = 0.00–4.25) for lichenoid reactions; and 5.13% (95% CI = 1.90–9.43) for OLP with dysplasia. No significant differences were found between the OLL or LR groups and the OLP subgroup (p = 0.853 and p = 0.328, respectively), and the malignant transformation was significantly higher for the OLP with dysplasia group in comparison with the OLP group (p = 0.001). The factors that had a significant impact with a higher risk of malignant transformation were the presence of epithelial dysplasia, a higher methodological quality, the consumption of tobacco and alcohol, the location of lesions on the tongue, the presence of atrophic and erosive lesions, and infection by the hepatitis C virus. In conclusion, OLP behaves as an oral potentially malignant disorder (OPMD), whose malignancy ratio is probably underestimated as a consequence essentially of the use of inadequate diagnostic criteria and the low methodological quality of the studies on the subject.
Presence of nitrate NO3 a ects animal production, photocalysis is a possible solution

Farmers and ranchers depend on the successful combination of livestock and crops. However, they have lost in the production by nitrate pollution. Nitrate poisoning in cattle is caused by the consumption of an excessive amount of nitrate or nitrite from grazing or water. Both humans and livestock can be affected. It would appear that well fertilised pasture seems to take up nitrogen from the soil and store it as nitrate in the leaf. Climatic conditions, favour the uptake of nitrate. Nitrate poisoning is a noninfectious disease condition that affects domestic ruminants. It is a serious problem, often resulting in the death of many animals. When nitrogen fertilizers are used to enrich soils, nitrates may be carried by rain, irrigation and other surface waters through the soil into ground water. Human and animal wastes can also contribute to nitrate contamination of ground water. A possible method to decontaminate polluted water by nitrates is with methods of fabrication of zero valent iron nanoparticles (FeNps) are found to affect their efficiency in nitrate removal from water.
IgLON5 deficiency produces behavioral alterations in a knockout mouse model

Background Anti-IgLON5 disease is a neurological disorder characterized by autoantibodies against IgLON5 and pathological evidence of neurodegeneration. IgLON5 is a cell adhesion molecule of unknown function that is highly expressed in the brain. Our aim was to investigate the impact of IgLON5 loss-of-function in evaluating brain morphology, social behavior, and the development of symptoms observed in an IgLON5 knockout (IgLON5-KO) mouse model. Methods The IgLON5-KO mice were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Immunohistochemistry on fixed sagittal brain sections and Western blotting brain lysates were used to confirm IgLON5 silencing and to evaluate the presence of other cell surface proteins. Two- month-old IgLON5-KO and wild-type (WT) mice underwent a comprehensive battery of behavioral tests to assess 1) locomotion, 2) memory, 3) anxiety, 4) social interaction, and 5) depressive-like behavior. Brain sections were examined for the presence of anatomical abnormalities and deposits of hyperphosphorylated tau in young adult (2-month-old) and aged (22-month-old) mice. Results Mice did not develop neurological symptoms reminiscent of those seen in patients with anti-IgLON5 disease. Behavioral testing revealed that 2-month-old IgLON5-KO mice showed subtle alterations in motor coordination and balance. IgLON5-KO females exhibited hyperactivity during night and day. Males were observed to have depressive-like behavior and excessive nest-building behavior. Neuropathological studies did not reveal brain morphological alterations or hyperphosphorylated tau deposits. Conclusion IgLON5-KO mice showed subtle alterations in behavior and deficits in fine motor coordination but did not develop the clinical phenotype of anti-IgLON5 disease.
Motexafin gadolinium (MGd) combined with prompt whole brain radiation therapy (RT) prolongs time to neurologic progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases: Results of a phase III trial.

7014 Background: In a previous randomized study, RT plus MGd prolonged time to neurologic progression (TNP) in NSCLC patients (pts) with brain metastases (BM) (p=0.048). METHODS This Phase 3 trial randomized pts with BM from NSCLC and KPS ≥70 to RT (30 Gy) or RT+MGd, 5 mg/kg qd x 10. A sample size of 550 was based on α=0.001, β=0.8, hazard ratio (HR)=0.65, with a primary endpoint of TNP determined by a blinded events review committee. RESULTS 554 pts received RT (N=275) or RT+MGd (N=279), 348 in North America (NA), 206 in Europe and Australia (EA). Treatment arms were balanced for factors of known prognostic importance. Most pts had multiple BM (81%), extracranial metastases (51%) and presented with neurologic deficits (84%). Treatment with MGd was well tolerated, with >92% of intended doses administered. Most common MGd-related grade 3+ adverse events were hypertension (4%), ALT increase (3%), and fatigue (3%). TNP improved from 10 months (mo) for RT to 15.4 mo for RT+MGd, p=0.12, HR=0.78. Time to neurocognitive progression was also improved, p=0.089, HR=0.79. More RT pts required salvage brain surgery or radiosurgery than RT+MGd pts (41 RT, 19 RT+MGd). In NA pts, statistically significant prolongation of both TNP, from 8.8 mo for RT to 24.2 mo for RT+MGd, p=0.004, HR=0.53, and time to neurocognitive progression, p=0.04, HR=0.69, were observed. In NA, RT was started sooner after the diagnosis of BM than in EA (median/mean 1.6/2.2 weeks NA vs. 3.0/6.5 weeks EA). There was a significant interaction between earlier RT and MGd benefit, p=0.017. When RT was initiated within 3 weeks of BM diagnosis, regardless of region, TNP was significantly prolonged by addition of MGd (N=378, p=0.006, HR=0.59). When initiation of RT was delayed beyond 3 weeks after BM diagnosis (N=176, 21% of NA pts, 50% of EA pts), MGd benefit was lost. A major reason for RT delay was use of chemotherapy as initial treatment for BM in 41 pts, 17% NA, 83% EA. CONCLUSIONS MGd significantly prolonged TNP in NSCLC patients with BM receiving prompt RT in this randomized Phase 3 trial. The majority of patients in NA received prompt RT (79%), leading to a statistically and clinically significant benefit when combined with MGd. [Table: see text].
LMS tables for waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio among Colombian children and adolescents: The FUPRECOL study

Background: Indices predictive of central obesity include waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). The aims of this study were 1) to establish a Colombian youth smoothed centile charts and LMS tables for WC and WHtR and 2) to evaluate the utility of these parameters as predictors of overweight and obesity. Method: A cross-sectional study whose sample population comprised 7954 healthy Colombian schoolchildren [boys n=3460 and girls n=4494, mean (standard deviation) age 12.8 (2.3) years old]. Weight, height, body mass index (BMI), WC and WHtR and its percentiles were calculated. Appropriate cut-offs point of WC and WHtR for overweight and obesity, as defined by the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) definitions, were selected using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The discriminating power of WC and WHtR was expressed as area under the curve (AUC). Results: Reference values for WC and WHtR are presented. Mean WC increased and WHtR decreased with age for both genders. We found a moderate positive correlation between WC and BMI (r= 0.756, P < 0.01) and WHtR and BMI (r= 0.604, P < 0.01). The ROC analysis showed a high discrimination power in the identification of overweight and obesity for both measures in our sample population. Overall, WHtR was slightly a better predictor for overweight/obesity (AUC 95% CI 0.868-0.916) than the WC (AUC 95% CI 0.862-0.904). Conclusion: This paper presents the first sex- and age-specific WC and WHtR percentiles for both measures among Colombian children and adolescents aged 9–17.9 years. By providing LMS tables for Latin-American people based on Colombian reference data, we hope to provide quantitative tools for the study of obesity and its comorbidities.
Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Black Garlic

Black garlic (BG) is a fermented form of garlic (Allium sativum L.), produced at precisely defined temperatures, humidities, and time periods. Although garlic has been used for thousands of years, black garlic is a relatively new discovery. There are many bioactive compounds in black garlic that give it medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. In our review article, we present scientific studies examining the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects of black garlic. According to research, this effect is mainly due to the reduction in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the ability to scavenge free oxygen radicals and induce apoptosis. In addition, the phytochemicals contained in it have antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties and inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Black garlic is a valuable source of biologically active substances that can support anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. Compared to Allium sativum, black garlic has fewer side effects and is easier to consume.
“A labor of love”: Integrating mental health and HIV care: Lessons from a multicountry mental health learning network

Mental health conditions among people living with HIV (PLWH) are important to address as they adversely affect quality of life, impede adherence to HIV treatment and increase mortality. Planning for integrating mental health care in resource-limited HIV care settings requires substantial effort. Learning networks are a useful way to exchange knowledge between countries about best and current practices in planning mental health care for PLWH. This paper describes the launch of a mental health learning network within a global health implementing center and the lessons learned across participating members from six countries: the United States, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Zimbabwe, Malawi and India. Lessons learned from the learning network sessions spanned four broad domains: (i) the need for routine and integrated mental health data collection, (ii) developing standardized protocols to implement mental health care, (iii) adequate training and supervision of health care staff and (iv) prioritization of mental health care integration by program funders. We find that time and resource constraints can be barriers to shared leadership and sustainability of learning networks. Prioritizing learning networks as an important component of integrated HIV and mental health care programs is one of the potential strategies to ensure long-term continuity.
Velocity Profile Assessment for Debris Flow Hazards

Debris flows are a special category of fluid and mass now phenomena in which natural runoff processes combine with mass failure processes resulting in a now with extremely high concentrations of sediment. The sediment-water mixture has properties that can be different from those of clear water and are potentially more damaging. Debris flows occur as natural hazards in many parts of the world, particularly in disturbed watersheds such as those experiencing volcanic activity or those burned by fire. This paper presents practical methods to assess the velocity profile characteristics and estimate the impact force for a debris now for a given set of physical and geometric conditions. The methods can be used to estimate the capacity of natural or man-made channels to convey debris flows. Once the channel capacity is estimated, areas that are prone to debris flow damage can be more readily identified and appropriate mitigation measures can be prescribed. Measured debris now data from The People's Republic of China and from the U.S. are used to illustrate the principles of the approach described herein. Although the method approaches debris now analysis from a laminar flow perspective it is also useful in the characterization of turbulent debris flows.