Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of Steady Convections Over Heat and Cool Islands

This paper concerns with properties of a thermal convection in a stably stratified Boussinesq fluid caused by partial heating or cooling of the lower boundary. For infinitesimal heating (cooling) the convective motion can be described by a linear theory. Introducing a suitable scaling, it is shown that the convection is controlled mainly by a non-dimensional parameter, R=ag*l4/k* where * is the vertical temperature gradient in the basic state, l is the half-width of the heated (cooled) area and the other symbols have conventional meanings. The convective motion is confined to the "frictional depth" introduced by Stommel and Veronis (1957). For a single slab-symmetric heating (cooling) the thickness (the lowest height at which the temperature perturbation vanishes) is given by hT=3.6 R-l/6 and the maximum horizontal velocity by u*max= 0.25,*\Th\ where Pr= */k and Th is the temperature difference between the heated (cooled) area and the surrounding area. The width of the upward (downward) motion area is close to the horizontal scale of the forcing area. The convection patterns for the finite-amplitude heating (cooling) were investigated by means of laboratory and numerical experiments for |Th|**l. It was observed that increase of the thickness of the boundary layer with Th is small. As for the convection caused by heating, however, the width of the upward motion area decreases with the increase of Th until the magnitude of the upward motion becomes comparable with that of the horizontal motion. As for the convection caused by cooling, the width of the downward motion area increases with |T h|, but the essential features of the convection pattern are similar to those for the infinitesimal cooling. These results are compared with available data of the convection due to the urban heat island effect.
“Could Patient Age and Gender, along with Mass Size, Be Predictive Factors for Benign Kidney Tumors?”: A Retrospective Analysis of 307 Consecutive Single Renal Masses Treated with Partial or Radical Nephrectomy

Due to the increased use of common and non-invasive abdominal imaging techniques over the last few decades, the diagnosis of about 60% of renal tumors is incidental. Contrast-enhancing renal nodules on computed tomography are diagnosed as malignant tumors, which are often removed surgically without first performing a biopsy. Most kidney nodules are renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after surgical treatment, but a non-negligible rate of these nodules may be benign on final pathology; as a result, patients undergo unnecessary surgery with an associated significant morbidity. Our study aimed to identify a subgroup of patients with higher odds of harboring benign tumors, who would hence benefit from further diagnostic examinations (such as renal biopsy) or active surveillance. We performed a retrospective review of the medical data, including pathology results, of patients undergoing surgery for solid renal masses that were suspected to be RCCs (for a total sample of 307 patients). Owing to the widespread use of common and non-invasive imaging techniques, the incidental diagnosis of kidney tumors has become increasingly common. Considering that a non-negligible rate of these tumors is found to be benign after surgery at pathological examination, it is crucial to identify features that can correctly diagnose a mass as benign or not. According to our study results, female sex and tumor size ≤ 3 cm were independent predictors of benign disease. Contrary to that demonstrated by other authors, increasing patient age was also positively linked to a greater risk of malign pathology.
Novel Strategies in the Early Detection and Treatment of Endothelial Cell-Specific Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Coronary Artery Disease

Although elevated cholesterol and other recognised cardiovascular risk factors are important in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack, the susceptibility of humans to this fatal process is distinct from other animals. Mitochondrial dysfunction of cells in the arterial wall, particularly the endothelium, has been strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of CAD. In this manuscript, we review the established evidence and mechanisms in detail and explore the potential opportunities arising from analysing mitochondrial function in patient-derived cells such as endothelial colony-forming cells easily cultured from venous blood. We discuss how emerging technology and knowledge may allow us to measure mitochondrial dysfunction as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and risk management. We also discuss the “pros and cons” of animal models of atherosclerosis, and how patient-derived cell models may provide opportunities to develop novel therapies relevant for humans. Finally, we review several targets that potentially alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction working both via direct and indirect mechanisms and evaluate the effect of several classes of compounds in the cardiovascular context.
Lower bounds for Betti numbers over fiber product rings

ABSTRACT In this paper we study the behavior of the Betti numbers of a finitely generated R-module over the fiber product ring , with R, S and T being local rings with common residual field. We investigate the Buchsbaum-Eisenbud-Horrocks and Total Rank Conjectures over , and as a consequence, positive answers are given for a certain class of quotients of power series rings. A positive answer for the question posed by Jorgensen and Leuschke is also provided.
Shotgun Metagenomic Sequencing Revealed the Prebiotic Potential of a Fruit Juice Drink with Fermentable Fibres in Healthy Humans

Fibre-based dietary interventions are at the forefront of gut microbiome modulation research, with a wealth of 16S rRNA information to demonstrate the prebiotic effects of isolated fibres. However, there is a distinct lack of data relating to the effect of a combination of soluble and insoluble fibres in a convenient-to-consume fruit juice food matrix on gut microbiota structure, diversity, and function. Here, we aimed to determine the impact of the MOJU Prebiotic Shot, an apple, lemon, ginger, and raspberry fruit juice drink blend containing chicory inulin, baobab, golden kiwi, and green banana powders, on gut microbiota structure and function. Healthy adults (n = 20) were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, receiving 60 mL MOJU Prebiotic Shot or placebo (without the fibre mix) for 3 weeks with a 3-week washout period between interventions. Shotgun metagenomics revealed significant between-group differences in alpha and beta diversity. In addition, the relative abundance of the phyla Actinobacteria and Desulfobacteria was significantly increased as a result of the prebiotic intervention. Nine species were observed to be differentially abundant (uncorrected p-value of <0.05) as a result of the prebiotic treatment. Of these, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and CAG-81 sp900066785 (Lachnospiraceae) were present at increased abundance relative to baseline. Additionally, KEGG analysis showed an increased abundance in pathways associated with arginine biosynthesis and phenylacetate degradation during the prebiotic treatment. Our results show the effects of the daily consumption of 60 mL MOJU Prebiotic Shot for 3 weeks and provide insight into the functional potential of B. adolescentis.
VPiP: Values Packing in Paillier for Communication Efficient Oblivious Linear Computations

The technique of packing multiple values into one message without losing homomorphic computation properties is the main workhorse that drives many exciting advances in applying lattice-based homomorphic encryption schemes to privacy-preserving Machine-Learning-as-a-Service (MLaaS). However, this technique does not directly work for the classic Paillier homomorphic encryption scheme, limiting the use of the Paillier scheme in the privacy-preserving MLaaS. To enrich the applications of Paillier in privacy-preserving MLaaS, we present a set of new methods for efficient linear computations over packed values under the Paillier scheme, such as vector multiplication, matrix multiplication, and convolutional calculation between ciphertexts and plaintexts. Different from the packing methods of lattice-based schemes, the Paillier packing method naturally allows higher packing capability for values in lower bit-length. This property can significantly benefit privacy-preserving MLaaS, as the values of user inputs and parameters of machine learning models are often quantized into low bits (e.g., 1–8 bits). We conduct comparisons based on different linear computation tasks, the proposed methods under the Paillier scheme clearly outperform the state-of-the-art in terms of communication and computational efficiency, especially in realistic scenarios. For example, compared to one of the recent arts CrypTFlow2 (Rathee et al., 2020), the communication cost of our solution can be $21.7\times $ smaller at best. Thanks to the reduction of communication cost, the runtime can be $2.46\times $ faster than CrypTFlow2 at the median-country-speed of current global mobile broadband.
Novel Insight into the Photophysical Properties and 2D Supramolecular Organization of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Permodified Cyclodextrins Polyrotaxanes at the Air–Water Interface

Two poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polyrotaxanes (PEDOT∙TMe-βCD and PEDOT∙TMe-γCD) end-capped by pyrene (Py) were synthesized by oxidative polymerization of EDOT encapsulated into TMe-βCD or TMe-γCD cavities with iron (III) chloride (FeCl3) in water and chemically characterized. The effect of TMe-βCD or TMe-γCD encapsulation of PEDOT backbones on the molecular weight, thermal stability, and solubility were investigated in depth. UV–vis absorption, fluorescence (FL), phosphorescence (PH), quantum efficiencies, and lifetimes in water and acetonitrile were also explored, together with their surface morphology and electrical properties. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering was used to study the hydrodynamic diameter (DH) and z-potential (ZP-ζ) of the water soluble fractions of PEDOT∙TMe-βCD and PEDOT∙TMe-γCD. PEDOT∙TMe-βCD and PEDOT∙TMe-γCD exhibited a sharp monodisperse peak with a DH of 55 ± 15 nm and 122 ± 32 nm, respectively. The ZP-ζ value decreased from −31.23 mV for PEDOT∙TMe-βCD to −20.38 mV for PEDOT∙TMe-γCD, indicating that a negatively charged layer covers their surfaces. Surface pressure–area isotherms and Brewster angle microscopy (BAM) studies revealed the capability of the investigated compounds to organize into sizeable and homogeneous 2D supramolecular assemblies at the air–water interface. The control of the 2D monolayer organization through the thermodynamic parameters of PEDOT∙TMe-βCD and PEDOT∙TMe-γCD suggests potential for a wide range of optoelectronic applications.
Preferred Mode of Therapy Among Patients in Rheumatoid Arthritis Saudi Database: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims and objectives: Current knowledge of patients’ preferences for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment is limited. Our goal was to determine the most favorable mode of therapy and the reasons behind choosing each route among RA patients in the Rheumatoid Arthritis Saudi Database (RASD). Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional, nationwide, qualitative study, we conducted interviews with 308 RA patients to assess their preferred mode of therapy (oral, subcutaneous (SC) injection, or intravenous (IV) infusion) and to determine the reasons behind their choice. The determining factors behind patients’ preferred mode of therapy were evaluated using a 10-point allocation system (1 = least important, 10 = most important). Results: We interviewed 308 RA patients (83.4% females, mean age, 48 years). Among all administration modes, the oral route was identified as the most preferred mode among our patients, with a percentage of 73.3%, followed by SC injection and IV infusion at 19.5% and 7.3%, respectively. Ease of drug administration was the most reported reason for patients who chose the oral route over the injection route (63.2%). Difficulty remembering to take the drug and finding it hard to swallow the pills were the highest-scored reasons for avoiding the oral route (24.9%). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates and emphasizes the importance of shared decision-making between patients and their physicians. The oral route of therapy is, by far, the most preferred mode among our cohort of RA patients.
Distance Laplacian Eigenvalues and Chromatic Number in Graphs

In the present paper we are interested in the study of the distance Laplacian eigenvalues of a connected graph with fixed order $n$ and chromatic number $\chi$. We prove lower bounds on the distance Laplacian spectral radius in terms of $n$ and $\chi$. We also prove results related to the distribution of the distance Laplacian eigenvalues with respect to the values of the chromatic number $\chi$. For some of the results, we characterize the extremal graphs, for others, we give examples of extremal graphs.
Neoadjuvant versus Concurrent Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Localized Prostate Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Simple Summary Multiple randomized trials have highlighted the importance of combining Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) and Radiotherapy in the management of localized intermediate (IR) and high-risk (HR) prostate cancer (PCa). Recent trials have shown that the moment of initiation of ADT seems to be clinically relevant. The purpose of our review was to compile the available evidence on behalf of the combination of RT and ADT, focusing on the sequencing of both modalities to provide recommendations on the optimal timing to start the hormonal therapy. Abstract Background: There is an ongoing debate on the optimal sequencing of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiotherapy (RT) in patients with localized prostate cancer (PCa). Recent data favors concurrent ADT and RT over the neoadjuvant approach. Methods: We conducted a systematic review in PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Databases assessing the combination and optimal sequencing of ADT and RT for Intermediate-Risk (IR) and High-Risk (HR) PCa. Findings: Twenty randomized control trials, one abstract, one individual patient data meta-analysis, and two retrospective studies were selected. HR PCa patients had improved survival outcomes with RT and ADT, particularly when a long-course Neoadjuvant-Concurrent-Adjuvant ADT was used. This benefit was seen in IR PCa when adding short-course ADT, although less consistently. The best available evidence indicates that concurrent over neoadjuvant sequencing is associated with better metastases-free survival at 15 years. Although most patients had IR PCa, HR participants may have been undertreated with short-course ADT and the absence of pelvic RT. Conversely, retrospective data suggests a survival benefit when using the neoadjuvant approach in HR PCa patients. Interpretation: The available literature supports concurrent ADT and RT initiation for IR PCa. Neoadjuvant-concurrent-adjuvant sequencing should remain the standard approach for HR PCa and is an option for IR PCa.
Instabilities and modeling of falling film flows

This manuscript presents a synthesis of research activities devoted to the study and low-dimensional modeling of long-wave instabilities in general and to falling film flows in particular. The different methodologies are discussed in Chapter~1 and applied to the modeling of inertial flows in a Hele-Shaw cell. Chapter~2 is devoted to the Kapitza instability of a falling film. Chapter~3 and 4 investigate the coupling of the Kapitza instability with the Marangoni (heated films) and the Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities (films running down fibers). Chapter~5 presents recent works on non-Newtonian falling films, films running on porous media and some current works on films sheared by a gas stream.
Educational Challenges in the 21st Century: A Literature Review

As we are already in the 21 st Century, there is a shift in the education system, especially in teaching English as a Second Language in Malaysia. This shift resulted in the challenges faced by both parties, teachers and students. This literature review paper highlights two main points: (1) information regarding Malaysia Education Blueprint to equip the teachers and students for 21 st -century learning and (2) the challenges faced by both parties. There are some challenges faced by Malaysian teachers, namely, inadequate knowledge of 21 st -century learning and teaching approaches, teachers’ dependency on traditional approaches, textbook reliance, time-consuming in preparing the teaching materials and time-consuming in carrying out the activities. Moreover, currently, students experience challenges such as low English proficiency level, limited vocabulary repertoire, insufficient resources and high power distance. Thus, it is hoped that the teachers could plan some measures to prepare themselves in addressing those challenges. A comprehensive understanding of 21 st -century learning skills will enable teachers to be more prepared in providing the students with the necessary input and selecting more effective teaching approaches. The authorities should provide sufficient infrastructure and experts to facilitate the teachers and students to address the challenges.
Electronic learning among students at public universities in Ghana

Abstract This study was planned to establish the extent of the usage and benefits of mobile technologies to learn by distance learners at the University of Ghana and the University of Education, Winneba. The study adopted an explanatory sequential mixed-method design. Structured questionnaires were administered to 400 distance learners selected by multi-stage sampling technique and phone interviews involving 20 participants selected by random sampling technique to collect data. Using the Relative Important Index and Thematic analysis, the findings show that respondents not only agreed to all the mobile learning academic activities and benefits raised in this study as relevant but fundamental to their studies. The five most important mobile learning activities by students are communicating with colleagues for information, participating in online courses, doing coursework assignments, holding meetings among colleagues and instructors, and forming networks with peers on a social media platform. The highest of the first five highest-ranked benefits is finding relevant material for coursework with ease, studying at own pace in different environments, learning anywhere and anytime, receiving real-time information, and having quick access to coursework content. The findings of this study can encourage institutions offering distance education to build strategic electronic learning implementation plans and design guidelines by taking into consideration the highest-ranked important benefits and uses of mobile learning identified in this study.
Mental Workload Assessment using Low-Channel Prefrontal EEG Signals

Objective: Monitoring stress using physiological signals has recently achieved a lot of attention since it has a significant adverse influence on an individual daily’s health and efficiency. As it has been proven that stress and mental workload are proportionally correlated, several studies have proposed algorithms for stress monitoring by increasing the mental workload. Despite the promising results reported in the literature, a majority of the proposed algorithms require the employment of several physiological signals which hinder their real-life application. Nonetheless, the advent of low-cost wearable devices has provided a new possibility for outdoor stress monitoring. The objective of this paper is to present an algorithm for stress detection using low-channel prefrontal electroencephalography (EEG) data. Methods: Firstly, artifacts in EEG signals are removed. Secondly, EEG signals are split into sub-bands using the discrete wavelet transform and two nonlinear parameter-free features are extracted. Thirdly, the extracted features are fed to three classifiers, i.e., support vector machine, Adaboost, and the K-Nearest Neighbours to discriminate stress from relaxed states. Main results: According to the obtained results, the highest accuracy (80.24%) was achieved using the AdaBoost classifier. Significance:Given that the proposed method does not require any parameter adjustment before processing, it has the potential to be used in real-world scenarios.
Does Risk Perception and Knowledge of Covid-19 Correspond with Vaccination Decision?

This research examines the correlation between perception of risk of Covid-19 and knowledge of Covid-19 to reach vaccination decisions. A number of researches have shown that among many factors that are associated with people’s decision to get vaccinated are the perception of how vulnerable are they to be infected by the virus and the perception of how severe is the impact of the virus on them as well as how knowledgeable are they about the disease being prevented. This research aims to investigate the same finding in the context of a group of respondents in Indonesia. With the online survey that collected data of more than three hundred research participants, the result of the data analysis in this research, however, does not corroborate the finding in the previous research. Part of the possible explanation is the approach to drive the vaccination through the implementation of the vaccine mandate. The policy of vaccine mandate in Indonesia was implemented since the vaccine was first available in the country. The proof of vaccination was used as a requirement to have access to public transportations and other public services. This vaccine mandate continued progressively to the second and even third or booster vaccination. This policy of mandatory vaccination became an approach to increase vaccine uptake, which was rather different from other vaccinations that allow some room for voluntary choices.
Unveiling the Predictive Effect of Students’ Perceived EFL Teacher Support on Academic Achievement: The Mediating Role of Academic Buoyancy

Recent studies have shown the crucial role of students’ perceived English as a foreign language (EFL) teacher support in their academic learning within their immediate social environments. Nevertheless, little is known about the intricate links among dimensions of perceived EFL teacher support and academic achievement as well as the mediating function of personalities (e.g., academic buoyancy). To close these gaps, in the current study, a quantitative approach was used to examine the effects of particular dimensions of students’ perceived EFL teacher support (i.e., academic, emotional, and instrumental support) on educational outcomes. The mediating role of academic buoyancy was also investigated. A total of 402 Chinese senior high school students who learn English as a foreign language were invited to complete the questionnaires to evaluate their academic buoyancy and three types of perceived EFL teacher support. The results of structural equation modelling indicate that none of these three dimensions of students’ perceived EFL teacher support could directly predict academic achievement. Students’ perceived EFL teacher support could only indirectly affect educational outcomes via the complete mediation of academic buoyancy. This study provides teachers with tips on fostering students’ personality traits and aiding their academic progress.