Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neutron detection using scintillators with silicon photomultiplier readout and digital pulse processing

i CERTIFICATION . iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv PUBLICATION LIST . vi TABLE OF CONTENTS . vii LIST OF FIGURES . xii LIST OF TABLES . xxii PART I: INTRODUCTION & LITERATURE REVIEW
Enhancing Intersection Safety Through Roundabouts: A Proposed ITE Informational Report

The modern roundabout is a type of circular intersection that requires drivers to yield to traffic in the circle when entering and allows for continuous traffic flow at low speeds. Roundabouts are used throughout Europe and Australia to manage traffic at busy intersections, and are increasingly being used in the United States. When properly designed, roundabouts can provide substantial safety benefits compared with traditional intersections. Where roundabouts have been installed in the United States, motor vehicle crashes have declined by about 40 percent, and those involving injuries have been reduced by about 80 percent. Studies of intersections in Europe and Australia converted to roundabouts have reported reductions in injury crashes of 41 to 61 percent, and reductions in severe injury crashes of 45 to 75 percent. Crash reductions are accompanied by significant improvements in traffic flow, thus reducing vehicle delays, air pollution, and fuel consumption. Several features of roundabouts promote safety. At traditional intersections with stop signs or traffic signals, some of the most common types of crashes are right-angle, left-turn, and head-on collisions. These types of collisions can be severe because vehicles may be traveling through the intersection at high speeds. With roundabouts, these types of potentially serious crashes are virtually eliminated because vehicles travel in the same direction. Installing roundabouts in place of traffic signals also can reduce the likelihood of rear-end crashes and their severity by removing the incentive for drivers to speed up as they approach green lights and by reducing abrupt stops at red lights. The vehicle-to-vehicle conflicts that occur at roundabouts generally involve a vehicle merging into the circular roadway, with both vehicles traveling at low speeds (15-20 mph). To help synthesize and disseminate available information regarding safety aspects of roundabout design and operation, the ITE Transportation Safety Council is developing an informational report entitled Enhancing Intersection Safety Through Roundabouts. The report will identify safety benefits of modern roundabouts, as well as specific design practices and features that enhance safety at roundabouts. This paper lists the thirteen chapters in the proposed report.
Development of Algorithms to Convert Large Streams of Truck GPS Data into Truck Trips

This paper documents the development and validation of the algorithms and procedures used to convert large streams of raw GPS data available from the American Transportation Research Institute into a database of truck trips for use in analysis and modeling of statewide freight truck travel. Also presented are the results from the conversion of 4 months of raw GPS data from Florida, totaling more than 145 million GPS records, into a database of more than 1.2 million truck trips within, into, and out of Florida. The procedures and implementation details described in this paper will be useful to transportation planning agencies in converting raw GPS data streams into more usable truck trip databases for truck flow modeling and analysis at statewide and megaregional levels.
The development and evaluation of a team-based audit simulation in the introductory auditing course

For more than a decade, leaders in the accounting profession have been calling for changes to both the content and delivery of accounting courses. Three key concerns identified by these leaders are failure to incorporate in our courses: active learning activities, cooperative learning activities, and real-world examples. We address these concerns by designing a team-based audit simulation for use in the introductory auditing course. This paper describes not only the simulation, but also the evaluation of it using three measures: student response, practitioner response, and faculty response. All respondents judge the simulation as realistic. Further, students rated their learning and team experiences in working on the Proli simulation more favorably than they had anticipated ex ante, suggesting the active and cooperative learning features of the simulation are well-received by students. Practicing auditors assessed the simulation as a useful learning tool and confirmed the importance of the team experiences inherent in Proli. Given these results coupled with the adaptability of the simulation, we believe Proli makes an important and noteworthy contribution to accounting education in the new millennium.
Ideas for Designing Better Quizzes: A Literature Review and Suggestion

Regarded as a popular type of assessment to test students’ knowledge, quiz have a tendency of increasing student’s motivation and potential due to its informal, fast and easy to administer nature. It is also deemed as an efficient tool to administer response regarding comprehension of topics taught. This article discusses the practice of quiz as an assessment tool in testing learning outcomes through the results of literature review. Previous studies have shown that quizzes could be conducted to assess learning achievement in the form of score or training practice. The diversity of methods and types of quizzes was put forth to evaluate the learning outcomes of students not only on paper but also online. However, the design of quiz was not explicitly stated as the courses and learning objectives are diversified. Hence, this article has suggested some guidance to teachers in designing a more effective and systematic form of quizzes according to the needs and objectives stipulated.
Depth of invasion determined by MRI in cT1N0 tongue: is it an indicator for elective neck dissection?

Abstracts Background Depth of invasion (DOI) could be calculated by MRI preoperatively, whether MRI-determined DOI could predict the prognosis and whether it could be used as an indicator for neck dissection for cT1N0 tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain unknown, the main goal of the current study aimed to answer the questions. Methods Patients with surgically treated cT1N0 tongue SCC were retrospectively enrolled, MRI-determined DOI was measured based on T1-weigthed layers by a 1.5T scan. A multivariate logistic regression analysis model was used to determine the independent predictors for occult neck lymph node metastasis. The main study endpoints were locoregional control survival (LRC) and disease specific survival (DSS), the Cox model was used to determine the independent prognostic factors for the LRC and DSS. Results Occult neck lymph node metastasis was noted in 26 (17.2%) patients, ROC curve indicated the optimal cutoff value of MRI-determined DOI was 7.5mm for predicting neck lymph node metastasis with sensitivity of 86.9%. The factors of lymphovascular invasion, MRI-determined DOI, pathologic DOI, and pathologic tumor grade were significantly associated with the presence of neck lymph node metastasis in univariate analysis, further logistic regression analysis confirmed the independence of lymphovascular invasion, MRI-determined DOI, and pathologic DOI in predicting the neck lymph node metastasis. The 5-year LRC and DSS rates were 84% and 90%, respectively. Cox model analysis suggested the MRI-determined DOI was an independent prognostic factor for both the LRC and DSS. Conclusions Elective neck dissection is suggested if MRI-determined DOI is greater than 7.5mm in cT1N0 tongue SCC, and MRI-determined DOI ≥7.5mm indicates more risk for disease recurrence and cancer caused death.
Association between serum interleukin-6 levels with the risk and clinical severity of primary open-angle glaucoma

ABSTRACT Objectives To clarify the association between serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 with the risk and clinical severity of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Methods A case–control study was performed in 78 participants (40 POAG cases and 38 controls). The serum level of IL-6 was then quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A meta-analysis was conducted from available studies investigating serum IL-6 levels in POAG and controls. Results We found that serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in POAG cases (32.24 ± 14.42 pg/mL) than the controls (14.36 ± 6.89 pg/mL, p < 0.0001), which was also confirmed by pooled analysis (mean difference (MD) 5.977 ng/mL (95% CI = (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.979–10.975; p = 0.019). Our finding also indicated the association between elevated level of serum IL-6 and risk (OR = 48, 95% CI = 12.42–185.49, p = <0.0001) and severity (OR = 4.33, 95% CI = 1.15–16.32, p = 0.030) of POAG. Conclusion Serum IL-6 level plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and severity of POAG.
The Cingulate Structures in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Exploring Its Implication on Social Awareness and the Role of CNTNAP2

Backgrounds Although evidence suggests that the activity of the anterior cingulate cortex involves social cognition, there are inconsistent results regarding the aberrant cingulate gray matter (GM) and scanty evidence about altered cortical thickness and white matter (WM) of cingulate in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Evidence supports the association between the autism risk gene CNTNAP2 variants and altered brain connectivity. This study investigated the cingulate substructure and its association with social awareness deficits and the CNTNAP2 variants in individuals with ASD. Methods We assessed 122 individuals with ASD and 118 typically-developing controls (TDC) with MRI and clinical evaluation. The GM, WM volumes and cortical thickness of the cingulate gyrus were compared between ASD and TDC based on fine parcellation. Five SNPs of the CNTNAP2 linking to ASD and brain structural abnormality were genotyped. Results ASD individuals showed thinner cortical thickness in bilateral cingulate subregions than TDC but no significant group differences in GM and WM volumes. The WM volume of the right anterior cingulate gyrus was correlated with social awareness deficits in ASD. Two CNTNAP2 variants demonstrated the main effects on the WM volumes of the right middle cingulate gyrus and the cortical thickness of the right posterior ventral cingulate gyrus. Besides, the CNTNAP2 variants interacted with ASD status and age on the cortical thickness of the left anterior middle cingulate cortex.Limitations The CNTNAP2 variants selected in this study were based on the current literature that repeatedly revealed genetic associations with ASD and brain structures. Future studies may consider fine mapping or sequencing of this gene. Besides, we measured social awareness deficits by caregiver-report questionnaire. Although the observation from caregivers may reflect social function in daily life, a social cognition task may better provide a standardized measurement.Conclusions Our findings suggest that aberrant cingulate structure in ASD may be associated with the severity of autistic symptoms and genetic variants of the CNTNAP2. These novel findings need validation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01582256
ISSUES AND APPROACHES FOR ASSESSING RISKS FROM REPRODUCTIVE TOXICANTS: DBCP AS A CASE STUDY ∗

SUMMARY. This paper reviews several issues and statistical approaches for assessing risks from reproductive toxicants with emphasis on the study designs, data analysis techniques and most appropriate transformations for the response measures. Importance of time as a critical variable in this endeavor is also discussed. Selecting dibromochloropropane(DBCP) as a case study, the evidence of the reproductive risk of this toxicant from epidemiological studies are reviewed first. This is followed by a reanalysis of data from a rabbit inhalation fertility study where sperm concentration from individual rabbits exposed to one of four doses of DBCP vapor from pre-exposure, exposure and post-exposure phases constitute the response measure. The analysis use three transformations, logarithmic, cube root, and a transformation via additivity and variance stabilization and two longitudinal data analyses techniques using random-effects models and generalized estimating equations. Specific benchmark doses are calculated for alteration of spermatogenesis.Results show that the effects of DBCP on the sperm concentration varies within the period of experimentation, suggesting that chronic experiments must be continued until the estimate of the dose parameter stabilizes.
Sparsity-Aware Wireless Networks: Localization and Sensor Selection

Wireless networks have revolutionized nowadays world by providing real time cost-efficient service and connectivity. Even such an unprecedented level of service could not fulfill the insatiable desire of the modern world for more advanced technologies. As a result, a great deal of attention has been directed towards (mobile) wireless sensor networks (WSNs) which are comprised of considerably cheap nodes that can cooperate to perform complex tasks in a distributed fashion in extremely harsh environments. Unique features of wireless environments, added complexity owing to mobility, distributed nature of the network setup, and tight performance and energy constraints, pose a challenge for researchers to devise systems which strike a proper balance between performance and resource utilization. We study some of the fundamental challenges of wireless (sensor) networks associated with resource efficiency, scalability, and location awareness. The pivotal point which distinguishes our studies from existing literature is employing the concept of sparse reconstruction and compressive sensing (CS) in our problem formulation and system design. We explore sparse structures embedded within the models we deal with and try to benefit from the undersampling offered by incorporating sparsity and thereby developing sparsity-aware system-level solutions. We prove that looking at these challenges from our perspective not only guarantees an expected cost efficiency due to taking less measurements, but also if properly designed, can promise an acceptable accuracy.
A two-year follow-up Study: Validity of bioelectrical impedance analysis to detect alteration in appendicular lean mass in Arab men

The aim of current study was to determine the validity of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to detect a 2-year follow-up in body composition compared with dual-energy Xray absorptiometry (DXA). A follow-up repeated measure design was implemented. 51 healthy men with an average age 33.8 ±12.2 years, and average Body Mass Index (BMI) of 29.1 ±5.1 kg/m2 participated in the current study. The average appendicular lean mass (ALM) divided by height squared (ALM/ht2) and pre-sarcopenia as 1 SD below the average value based on specific reference values of young Saudi men were used. The reference value for DXA was 7.74 kg/m2 and for Tanita was 8.68 kg/m2. Results showed no significant differences in body composition between baseline and follow up measures using DXA and Tanita (P > 0.05). Tanita has a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 69.6% compared to DXA at baseline and had a sensitivity of 100.0% and specificity of 86.4% when compared to DXA. Bland-Altman analysis showed that the mean difference between the measure of Tanita at baseline and follow up was 0.17 with upper and lower limit for agreement 1.82 and -2.17 respectively, and the comparison for DXA at baseline and follow up showed mean difference -0.04 with upper and lower limit for agreement 2.35 and -2.43 respectively. In conclusion, a short-term 2-year follow-up measures showed no differences in body composition including ALM. Tanita MC-980 has a strong level of sensitivity and specificity in the follow up measure in comparison with DXA.
Ophiolite carbonation: Constraints from listvenite core BT1B, Oman Drilling Project

<p>The widespread occurrence of the quartz&#8211;carbonate alteration assemblage (listvenite) in ophiolites indicates that ultramafic rock represents an effective sink for dissolved CO<sub>2</sub>. However, the understanding of the carbonation mechanisms is almost exclusively based on surface samples, which adds significant uncertainty to the interpretation of fossil hydrothermal systems. Here we present novel insight into the reaction textures and mechanisms of ultramafic rock carbonation obtained from the 300 m deep BT1B drill hole, ICDP Oman Drilling Project. Hole BT1B recovered continuous drill core intersecting surface alluvium, 200 meters of altered ultramafic rock comprising serpentinite and listvenite, and 100meters of the underlying metamorphic sole. The ultramafic part of BT1B is dominated by listvenite with only two thin intercalated serpentinite bands at 90 m and 180 m depth. Microstructural analyses indicate an evolution beginning with non-equilibrium growth of spheroidal carbonate composed of interlayered magnesite and dolomite in the completely serpentinized harzburgite, and magnesite and Ca-magnesite in the listvenite. Carbonate spheroids are characterized by sectorial zoning resulting from radially oriented low-angle boundaries. In the listvenite spheroidal carbonate is overgrown by euhedral magnesite indicative of near-equilibrium growth. Carbonate clumped isotope thermometry indicates carbonate crystallization predominantly between 100&#176;C and 200&#176;C. The strong macroscopic brecciation and veining of listvenite indicate that carbonation was facilitated by significant tectonic deformation allowing for infiltration of reactive fluids over an extended duration. </p>
Parametric studies in industrial distillation

The minimum venture costs for eight distillation systems separating ternary feeds are compared. Minimum cost surfaces, plotted on feed-composition coordinates, lead to heuristics for choosing the best design, based on feed composition. The regions of optimality, defined by the surface intersections, vary with the species, but some designs are always preferred at particular feed compositions.
Lane-Changing Model in SUMO

SUMO is an open source microscopic traffic simulation. A major component of modelling microscopic vehicle behavior is the lane-changing behavior on multi-lane roads. We describe a new model which uses a 4-layered hierarchy of motivations to determine the vehicle behavior during every simulation step and motivate in which ways it improves the current lane-changing model.
TRANSPORTATION AND RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT LOCATION FACTORS

Policy tools used for economic development have passed through three phases. The current phase focuses on providing a family of services to firms. In this study, a mail survey was sent to economic development specialists in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska to measure their perceptions regarding different location factors. A ranked order of important location factors was calculated. Perceptions of economic development specialists and manufacturers were compared using a Spearman's rho correlation coefficient. A comparative analysis was also completed based on community sizes above and below 5,000 people. Results indicate that the correlation of perceptions between economic development specialists and manufacturers is statistically significant. However, rankings of some specific location factors differ greatly. This divergence in ranks suggests that economic development specialists may not be aware of factors that are important to manufacturers. This lack of awareness may cause important services to be excluded from the family of services. The most effective information delivery system for economic development specialists was also studied. Examination of the data processing capabilities revealed that many economic development specialists do not have a computer. Thus, a newsletter would be the best information delivery system. The newsletter may be supplemented with floppy disks for those with computer capabilities. This report is presented in six chapters. Chapter 1 is an Introduction. Chapter 2 presents the results of a literature review of the rural economy and transportation and, to obtain greater insights into firm-level decision-making, a review of location theory. In Chapter 3, the survey and methods used to examine the perceptions of economic development specialists and manufacturers are mapped out. The method used to determine the most efficient information delivery system is also addressed. The empirical results of the location factors are presented in Chapter 4. The results from the data processing capabilities analysis are presented in Chapter 5. Finally, the summary, conclusions, study limitations, and the need for further study are presented in Chapter 6.
Research on the Relationship between Structural Change and Economic Growth in Guangzhou——An Empirical Analysis Based on VAR Model

High-quality development is an active choice for socialism with Chinese characteristics to enter a new era. As one of the four first-tier cities, Guangzhou should set an example in promoting high-quality economic development. Based on the structural factors of economic development, this paper uses vector autoregressive model (VAR) to empirically analyze the dynamic relationship between consumption structure, industrial structure, ownership structure change and economic growth in Guangzhou from 1985 to 2017. The results show that there is a two-way Granger causality between Guangzhou’s consumption structure, industrial structure, ownership structure and economic growth. The two-way causal relationship between industrial structure change and economic growth is the most significant. From the results of variance decomposition, the consumption structure changes have the highest contribution to the trend of economic growth fluctuations.
The Open Source Traffic Simulation Package SUMO

Since the year 2000, the Institute of Transportation Research (IVF) at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) is developing a microscopic, traffic simulation package. The complete package is offered as open source to establish the software as a common testbed for algorithms and models from traffic research. Since the year 2003 the IVF also works on a virtual traffic management centre and in conjunction with this on traffic management. Several large-scale projects have been done since this time, most importantly INVENT where modern traffic management methods have been evaluated and the online-simulation and prediction of traffic during the world youth day (Weltjugendtag) 2005 in Cologne/Germany. This publication briefly describes the simulation package together with the projects mentioned above to show how SUMO can be used to simulate largescale traffic scenarios. Additionally, it is pointed out how SUMO may be used as a testbed for automatic management algorithms with minor effort in developing extensions.
Epistemic Akrasia

Chapter 9 argues that accessibilism is needed to explain the epistemic irrationality of epistemic akrasia—roughly, believing things you believe you shouldn’t believe. Section 9.1 defines epistemic akrasia and separates questions about its possibility and its rational permissibility. Section 9.2 argues from the premise that epistemic akrasia is never rationally permissible to the conclusion that the JJ principle is true. The remaining sections motivate the premise that epistemic akrasia is never rationally permissible: section 9.3 appeals to an epistemic version of Moore’s paradox, section 9.4 to the slogan that knowledge is the aim of belief, and section 9.5 to the connection between epistemic justification and reflection.