Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interpretation of Transverse Profiles to Determine the Source of Rutting within an Asphalt Pavement System

The transverse profilograph has been recognized as one of the most accurate devices for the measurement of rut depth. However, interpretation of surface transverse profile measurements poses a major challenge in determining the contributions of the different layers to rutting. A literature review has shown that the actual rutting mechanism can be estimated from a surface transverse profile for determination of the relative contribution of the layers to rutting. Unfortunately, much of the research yielded no verification or data. In addition, some techniques presented cannot be used if the rut depth is not well pronounced. Other techniques may be costly and time-consuming. The present research developed an approach that integrates (a) falling weight deflectometer and core data along with 3.6-m transverse profile measurements to assess the contributions of different pavement layers to rutting and (b) identifies the presence (or absence) of instability within the asphalt surface layer. This approach can be used regardless of the magnitude of the rut depth. On the basis of the analysis conducted, absolute rut depth should not be used to interpret the performance of the asphalt mixture. In addition, continued instability may not result in an increase in rut depth because the rutted basin broadens as traffic wander compacts or moves the dilated portion of the mixture. The approach developed appears to provide a reasonable way to distinguish between different sources of rutting. The conclusions drawn from analysis of the approach agreed well with observations from the trench cuts taken from four sections.
Point of Connection Voltage Regulation Strategies for AC Connected Large Offshore Wind Farms

The offshore wind energy generation industry is developing rapidly in the UK. The long submarine cable connection needed between the wind turbine generators and the onshore Point of Connection (PoC) introduces additional difficulties for compliance with the GB Grid Code reactive power requirement. To address this problem, this paper investigates different PoC voltage regulation strategies. The methods are compared in terms of control requirements, fault behaviour of the wind farm and economics. It is shown that for long connection distances to the PoC, additional dynamic reactive compensation equipment and/or a tap-changing transformer at the offshore platform will probably be needed for Grid Code Compliance. It is shown that a strategy where a STATCOM solely regulates the PoC voltage, leads to increased capital expenditure. However, this provides advantages in respect to its simplicity, speed of PoC voltage regulation and wind turbine behaviour for a fault at the PoC.
Multidimensional Aptitude Battery-Second Edition Intelligence Testing of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Training Candidates Compared with Manned Airframe Training Candidates

Abstract : The advancement of aviation drone technology has led to significant developments and improvements in the capabilities of military remotely piloted aircraft (RPAs, also known as drones). The prolific demand for RPA missions has led to an ever-increasing need for RPA pilots and to the development of a U.S. Air Force (USAF) RPA pilot career field. To date, there are limited objective data published on personnel who desire and self-select to USAF weapons bearing RPA pilots. This study evaluated the pre-training standardized general intelligence testing for three groups of pilot training candidates: Group 1 - newly commissioned officers who volunteered to become RPA pilots; Group 2 - pilot training candidates who completed undergraduate pilot training for a manned airframe but were reassigned to RPA pilot training; and Group 3 - training candidates who completed undergraduate pilot training and were assigned additional manned airframes. General intelligence testing consisted of the Multidimensional Aptitude Battery-Second Edition taken during initial medical flight screening prior to pilot training. Overall, the results of the study reveal the intellectual ability of those who are motivated and self-selected to pursue a career in RPA pilot training is very similar to those who are motivated to pursue manned airframe pilot training. However, performance in any demanding career field is more than a function of intellectual ability, and pilots are no exception. All three groups scored significantly higher than same-age peers in the general population on intellectual ability, but that does not mean that small differences in intellectual ability within these pre-screened, high-functioning populations will be insignificant when subsequently predicting performance and training success.
Analytical Fragility Curves for Ordinary Highway Bridges in Turkey

This study focuses on the development of analytical fragility curves for the ordinary highway bridges constructed after the 1990s. Four major bridge classes were employed based on skew angle, number of columns per bent, and span number (only multispan bridges). Nonlinear response-history analyses (NRHA) were conducted for each bridge sample using a detailed 3-D analytical model subjected to earthquake ground motions of varying seismic intensities. A component-based approach that uses several engineering demand parameters was employed to determine the seismic response of critical bridge components. Corresponding damage limit states were defined either in terms of member capacities or excessive bearing displacements. Lognormal fragility curves were obtained by curve fitting the point estimates of the probability of exceeding each specified damage limit state for each major bridge class. Bridges with larger skew angles or single-column bents were found to be the most seismically vulnerable.
Bridging Classical and Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory Research: A Longitudinal Analysis of a Large Population Study

The reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST) proposes that neurobiological systems mediate protective and appetitive behaviours and the functioning of these systems is associated to personality traits. In this manner, the RST is a link between neuroscience, behaviour, and personality. The theory evolved to the present revised version describing three systems: fight-flight-freezing, behavioural approach/activation (BAS), and behavioural inhibition (BIS). However, the most widely available measure of the theory, the BIS/BAS scales, only investigates two systems. Using a large longitudinal community survey, we found that the BIS/BAS scales can be re-structured to investigate the three systems of the theory with a BIS scale, three BAS scales, and a separate fight-flight-freezing system (FFFS) scale. The re-structured scales were age, sex, and longitudinally invariant, and associations with personality and mental health measures followed theoretical expectations and previously published associations. The proposed framework can be used to investigate behavioural choices influencing physical and mental health and bridge historical with contemporary research.
Binocular Summation Is Intact in Intermittent Exotropia After Surgery

Purpose: To determine binocular summation of surgically treated intermittent exotropia (IXT) patients by measuring the contrast threshold. Methods: We recruited 38 surgically treated IXT patients aged 8–24 years and 20 age-matched healthy controls. All participants had normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity (Snellen ≥ 20/20) in both eyes. The IXT patients had undergone the surgery at least a year prior to the study. Twenty-one of them obtained good alignment and 17 experienced a recurrence of exotropia. We measured the observers' monocular and binocular contrast sensitivities (CS) at six spatial frequencies (1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 cycles/degree) as an index of visual information processing at the threshold level. Binocular summation was evaluated against a baseline model of simple probability summation based on the CS at each spatial frequency and the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF). Results: The exo-deviation of IXTs with good alignment was −6.38 ± 3.61 prism diopters (pd) at 33 cm and −5.14 ± 4.07 pd at 5 m. For the patients with recurrence, it was −23.47 ± 5.53 pd and −21.12 ± 4.28 pd, respectively. There was no significant difference in the binocular summation ratio (BSR) between the surgically treated IXT patients, including those with good alignment and recurrence, and normal controls at each spatial frequency [F(2,55) = 0.416, P = 0.662] and AULCSF [F(2,55) = 0.469, P = 0.628]. In addition, the BSR was not associated with stereopsis (r = −0.151, P = 0.365). Conclusion: Our findings of normal contrast sensitivity binocular summation ratio in IXT after surgical treatment suggest that the ability of the visual cortex in processing binocular information is intact at the contrast threshold level.
Meta-QTL Analysis in Rice and Cross-Genome Talk of the Genomic Regions Controlling Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Cereal Crops Revealing Phylogenetic Relationship

The phenomenal increase in the use of nitrogenous fertilizers coupled with poor nitrogen use efficiency is among the most important threats to the environment, economic, and social health. During the last 2 decades, a number of genomic regions associated with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and related traits have been reported by different research groups, but none of the stable and major effect QTL have been utilized in the marker-assisted introgression/pyramiding program. Compiling the data available in the literature could be very useful in identifying stable and major effect genomic regions associated with the root and NUE-related trait improving the rice grain yield. In the present study, we performed meta-QTL analysis on 1,330 QTL from 29 studies published in the past 2 decades. A total of 76 MQTL with a stable effect over different genetic backgrounds and environments were identified. The significant reduction in the confidence interval of the MQTL compared to the initial QTL resulted in the identification of annotated and putative candidate genes related to the traits considered in the present study. A hot spot region associated with correlated traits on chr 1, 4, and 8 and candidate genes associated with nitrate transporters, nitrogen content, and ammonium uptake on chromosomes 2, 4, 6, and 8 have been identified. The identified MQTL, putative candidate genes, and their orthologues were validated on our previous studies conducted on rice and wheat. The research-based interventions such as improving nitrogen use efficiency via identification of major genomic regions and candidate genes can be a plausible, simple, and low-cost solution to address the challenges of the crop improvement program.
Social-Emotional Learning Interventions for Students With Special Educational Needs: A Systematic Literature Review

In the last decades, social-emotional learning interventions have been implemented in schools with the aim of fostering students’ non-academic competences. Evaluations of these interventions are essential to assess their potential effects. However, effects may vary depending on students’ variables. Therefore, the current systematic review had three main objectives: 1) to identify the effectiveness of social-emotional learning interventions with students with special educational needs, 2) to assess and evaluate those intervention conditions leading to effective outcomes in social-emotional competences for this population, and 3) to draw specific conclusions for the population of students with special educational needs. For this purpose, studies were retrieved from the databases Scopus, ERIC, EBSCO and JSTOR, past meta-analysis and (systematic) reviews, as well as from journal hand searches including the years 1994–2020. By applying different inclusion criteria, such as implementation site, students’ age and study design, a total of eleven studies were eligible for the current systematic review. The primary findings indicate that most of the intervention studies were conducted in the United States and confirm some positive, but primarily small, effects for social-emotional learning interventions for students with special educational needs. Suggestions for future research and practice are made to contribute to the improvement of upcoming intervention studies.
Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Protective Effects of Empagliflozin on Lipid Metabolism in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Empagliflozin is a novel type of sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitor with diverse beneficial effects in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Although empagliflozin impacts NAFLD by regulating lipid metabolism, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated transcriptional regulation pathways affected by empagliflozin in a mouse model of NAFLD. In this study, NAFLD was established in male C57BL/6J mice by administration of a high-fat diet; it was then treated with empagliflozin and whole transcriptome analysis was conducted. Gene expression levels detected by transcriptome analysis were then verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, protein levels detected by Western Blot. Differential expression genes screened from RNA-Seq data were enriched in lipid metabolism and synthesis. The Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results showed decreased lipid synthesis and improved lipid metabolism. Empagliflozin improved NAFLD through enhanced triglyceride transfer, triglyceride lipolysis and microsomal mitochondrial β-oxidation. This study provides new insights concerning the mechanisms by which sodium-glucose cotransporter two inhibitors impact NAFLD, particularly in terms of liver lipid metabolism. The lipid metabolism-related genes identified in this experiment provide robust evidence for further analyses of the mechanism by which empagliflozin impacts NAFLD.
Proof of Concept: Game-Based Mobile Learning—The First Experience With the App Actionbound as Case-Based Geocaching in Education of Veterinary Neurology

Case-based learning is a valuable tool to impart various problem-solving skills in veterinary education and stimulate active learning. Students can solve imaginary cases without the need for contact with real patients. Case-based teaching can be well performed as asynchronous remote-online class. In time of the COVID-19-pandemic, many courses in veterinary education are provided online. Therefore, students report certain fatigue when it comes to desk-based online learning. The app “Actionbound” provides a platform to design digitally interactive scavenger hunts based on global positioning system (GPS)—called “bounds” —in which the teacher can create a case study with an authentic patient via narrative elements. This app was designed for multimedia-guided museum or city tours initially. The app offers the opportunity to send the students to different geographic localizations for example in a park or locations on the University campus, like geocaching. In this way, students can walk outdoors while solving the case study. The present article describes the first experience with Actionbound as a tool for mobile game-based and case-orientated learning in veterinary education. Three veterinary neurology cases were designed as bounds for undergraduate students. In the summer term 2020, 42 students from the second to the fourth year of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover worked on these three cases, which were solved 88 times in total: Cases 1 and 2 were each played 30 times, and case 3 was played 28 times. Forty-seven bounds were solved from students walking through the forest with GPS, and 41 were managed indoors. After each bound, students evaluated the app and the course via a 6-point numerical Likert rating scale (1 = excellent to 6 = unsatisfactory). Students playing the bounds outdoors performed significantly better than students solving the corresponding bound at home in two of the three cases (p = 0.01). The large majority of the students rated the course as excellent to good (median 1.35, range 1–4) and would recommend the course to friends (median 1.26, range 1–3). Summarizing, in teaching veterinary neurology Actionbound's game-based character in the context of outdoor activity motivates students, might improve learning, and is highly suitable for case-based learning.
Young people in Latvia and Georgia: identity formation and the imprints of traditions and globalization

ABSTRACT Youth in the post-Soviet countries have faced the challenges of identity formation in concomitance with the processes of state-building in newly independent states. This paper focuses on young people aged 14 to 19 in seemingly different post-Soviet countries, Georgia and Latvia, who grew up after the collapse of the Soviet Union in independent countries striving towards Europe and its values. Based on qualitative interviews conducted in schools for the <#funding-source;>Horizon 2020 CHIEF project, the paper discusses some aspects of young people’s identity formation, and how they see themselves in national and European contexts. Along with some similarities evident in both countries, such as young people reporting a very strong sense of national belonging and identity, the data also show important differences when it comes to young people’s perceptions of Europe in Latvia and Georgia, as the latter report some reluctance in regards to accepting European identity and values.
Genetic Diversity of the Ankober Serin (Crithagra ankoberensis) at Simien Mountains National Park and Guassa Community Conservation Area, Ethiopia

The genetic diversity of the Ethiopian endemic Ankober Serin Crithagra ankoberensis was studied in two populations at Simien Mountains National Park and Guassa Community Conservation Area using five microsatellite markers. Blood samples were taken from 16 and 14 birds, respectively. Three molecular markers resulted in relatively low, though noticeable differences between the two populations. The analysis also showed the presence of shared alleles, indicating current gene flow between the two populations. Two markers from Simien Mountains National Park and two markers from Guassa Community Conservation Area revealed obvious deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We interpret these deviations in both populations as limited population size and restricted gene flow. The genetic differentiation between the two populations thus could be explained by their geographical separation (more than 360 km), reinforced by barriers, such as steep mountains, deep valleys and extensive plains (isolation by distance). On the other hand, a stepping-stone mechanism between geographically intermediate populations across small distances might explain the observed gene flow. Further studies are needed to better reconstruct the biogeographic history and conservation needs of the Ankober Serin populations in Ethiopia.
RELIABILITY ANALYSIS OF PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE PREDICTION

The prediction of road pavement performance may be facilitated by appropriate models developed by analyzing sets of historical data or data collected from accelerated pavement testing facilities. However, there may be systematic or random errors in these data sets and also the data sets may not be complete or represent the full range of conditions likely to occur in the field. As a result the predictions made by the models may not be fully accurate and include a degree of uncertainty. Therefore, ideally the behavioral modeling of long-term pavement performance should include a procedure for taking into account the uncertainty in the data and quantify it accordingly. This paper presents such a methodology that first defines the reliability of pavement performance predictions and its associated risk using a probabilistic approach. It then demonstrates how the reliability of pavement performance predictions can be estimated by considering the variability of the parameters (such as pavement strength, cumulative equivalent standard axle load and initial pavement roughness) that make up the performance model. A framework is presented that uses the Monte Carlo simulation to evaluate the effect of the model parameters variability on the allowable cumulative equivalent standard axle load applications. The analysis demonstrates that data variability has a significant influence on the reliability of pavement performance prediction.
Defining assistive technologies ‐ a discussion

Definitions of assistive technology are varied and sometimes contradictory and this raises particular issues for a new Journal seeking to address this area. A preference for loose and wide definitions is seen as leading to a more inclusive grasp of the field. Disability itself is a contested concept and this has affected the approach taken to technology use for groups that have been identified as having special educational needs. A key focus of the Journal of Assistive Technologies is on the practices of technology use, rather than the tools themselves, and this is discussed in the light of the social model of inclusion. The use of the term e‐Inclusion leads to a discussion of a tentative taxonomy of this area: technology to train and rehearse; technology to assist learning and technology to enable learning. Practitioners and researchers from a range of backgrounds are invited to contribute to the debates raised in this article.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Associated Colitis: From Mechanism to Management

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), as one of the innovative types of immunotherapies, including programmed cell death-1 (PD-1), programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors, have obtained unprecedented benefit in multiple malignancies. However, the immune response activation in the body organs could arise immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Checkpoint inhibitor colitis (CIC) is the most widely reported irAEs. However, some obscure problems, such as the mechanism concerning gut microbiota, the confusing differential diagnosis with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the optimal steroid schedule, the reintroduction of ICIs, and the controversial prognosis features, influence the deep understanding and precise diagnosis and management of CIC. Herein, we based on these problems and comprehensively summarized the relevant studies of CIC in patients with NSCLC, further discussing the future research direction of this specific pattern of irAEs.
Metal-Organic Frameworks and Their Composites Towards Biomedical Applications

Owing to their unique features, including high cargo loading, biodegradability, and tailorability, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and their composites have attracted increasing attention in various fields. In this review, application strategies of MOFs and their composites in nanomedicine with emphasis on their functions are presented, from drug delivery, therapeutic agents for different diseases, and imaging contrast agents to sensor nanoreactors. Applications of MOF derivatives in nanomedicine are also introduced. Besides, we summarize different functionalities related to MOFs, which include targeting strategy, biomimetic modification, responsive moieties, and other functional decorations. Finally, challenges and prospects are highlighted about MOFs in future applications.