Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between Metacomprehension and Reading Comprehension in Spanish as a Second Language

The importance of reading proficiency in a second language (L2) is growing worldwide. Reading in a L2 involves many questions about the abilities of reading comprehension, including metacomprehension, a core reading ability in native speakers (L1) that allows them to be aware of their reading comprehension level and to regulate their learning. However, its link to L2 has not been sufficiently researched. This study examines the relationship between the reading comprehension scores of diverse texts and metacomprehension, assessed by the ECOMPLEC test and PROLEC-R reading task, in Portuguese students studying Spanish as a L2. Similar to the results found in L1 research, we found a significant relationship between reading comprehension and metacomprehension in expository and discontinuous texts: students with low reading comprehension scores overestimated their metacomprehension while metacomprehension abilities of students with high reading comprehension abilities were more accurate. These results provide a frame of reference for future studies on metacomprehension in L2. La relación entre la metacomprensión y la comprensión lectora en español como segunda lengua
Managing Organisation/ Business Readiness towards IT/IS Implementation: A Model Comparison

Phenomenal growth of the internet has revolutionized business processes, leading to the development of IT-based technologies such as e-commerce. Proven benefits of the applications of e- commerce tools in industries including construction had encouraged organizations to invest in IT/IS. However, there is also ample evidence that showed failure of IT/IS to deliver the expected return. The main attributes of the high percentage of IT/IS failure was found to be the 'soft issues' that involves people and their readiness prior to the implementation of IT/IS in an organization. As such, failure of IT/IS implementation in current evaluation models may be due to its focus on the 'hard issues' aspect such as speed and profit instead of on the 'soft issues' aspect. It is therefore important to assess the readiness level of the organization prior to planning and adopting IT/IS. Hence, this paper will review and comment on the current available readiness model highlighting their suitability to the construction industry. It is anticipated that review and recommendation from this research will create awareness among the construction industry players on the importance of assessing their readiness level in order to successfully implement IT/IS in their organizations. Differences between the models/tools discussed in this paper are expected to enrich knowledge, thus broadening the area of readiness research in construction industry.
Offline contexts of online jobs: Platform drivers, decent work and informality in Lagos, Nigeria

Funding information Katarzyna Cieslik acknowledges the support of Philomathia Social Science fellowship and grant. Summary Motivation: The Sustainable Development Goals targets include decent work for all by 2030 but progress in subSaharan Africa has been slow. Over the past five years, the platform work sector (ehailing platforms in particular) has expanded considerably on the continent, providing work opportunities to the growing urban populations. The quality of this work, however, is heavily contested. Purpose: We deepen and extend our understanding of the gig economy in subSaharan Africa and assess its potential for creating decent work. Our unique contribution lies in looking at the gig economy in comparison to the local threshold (the informal economy) as opposed to wage employment. Methods and approach: We first review the literature on the gig economy, the informal sector, and decent work in lowand lowermiddleincome countries. We then draw on a case study of ehailing in Lagos, Nigeria, to assess the sector’s potential to create decent work. We discuss our findings against the four pillars of the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda: productive employment, labour standards, social protection, and social dialogue. Findings: We find that ehailing platforms may offer certain gains compared to regular taxiing in the informal sector but these are contextand platformspecific. Examples include access to insurance, credit, and cash transfers. Gig work remains embedded in the informal economy: it is unregulated and does not abide by labour standards nor offer social protections. We also find evidence of wellorganized labour movements. Policy implications: Ehailing may be productive work, as platform intermediation facilitates outreach and matching, translating into increased wages. This happens with the added cost of longer working hours in the absence of labour standards. We propose exploring the role of digital records kept by platforms (e.g. income volume and regularity, or customer ratings data) to facilitate the progressive transition of transport workers towards formality. We also recommend fostering industry standards (such as fair work certification) to protect workers’ rights.
“Assessment for Learning” Practices Amongst the Primary School English Language Teachers: A Mixed Methods Approach

This study aimed to investigate the practices of the AfL strategies and the stages of assessment in pedagogy by English language teachers in primary schools. In Phase I: the Quantitative Strand, the Assessment for Learning Audit Instrument (AfLAi) was distributed to a total of 89 primary schools in the Hulu Langat district. The AfLAi results determined the cut-off points and the divergent categories to be further investigated in Phase II: Qualitative Strand. The 244 respondents were clustered into two subset participants of four higher and four lower scorers in the AfLAi who were investigated via a semi-structured interview and/or observation. The results from the AfLAi cum the cut-off points were Mean=3.7 on QCD (SD=0.74), sharing LOSC (SD=0.79) and FB (SD=0.77), and mean=3.3 on PSA (SD=0.87). From Phase I, 15 divergent categories were selected. Phase II findings on the 115 recurring categories were divided into three profiles: the higher scorers (29 categories), the lower scorers (26 categories) and the consensus (60 categories). Consequently, the 15 divergent categories were explained in a joint display to observe the similarities and the differences of practised amongst the higher and the lower scorers in the AfLAi. The joint display affirmed that 11 categories were practiced similarly. The four differences were on the “Availability of LOs”, “Questioning strategies”, “Compliment with FB”, and “Pupils’ progress report/self-assess”. It indicated that regardless of their scores, the participants had contributed some practical approaches to the study framework, which were beneficial beyond disciplines and classroom situations.
Ultrasonic driven revolving coil

In this paper, an induction coil that can revolve by driving a high frequency source up to ultrasonic range is presented. It has a resonant-tank circuit on the rotor. The operating principle of the coil is introduced to explain why it can revolve by a high frequency source. A prototype of two-phase four-pole high frequency fan was implemented to demonstrate the practicability of the theory.
Real life experience of patients with locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy: a Turkish oncology group study

Abstract Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) and gastric cancer (GC) was shown to improve survival in recent studies. We aimed to share our real-life experience of patients who received NACT to compare the efficacy and toxicity profile of different chemotherapy regimens in our country. This retrospective multicentre study included locally advanced GC and GEJ cancer patients who received NACT between 2007 and 2021. Relation between CT regimens and pathological evaluation were analysed. A total of 794 patients from 45 oncology centers in Turkey were included. Median age at the time of diagnosis was 60 (range: 18–86). Most frequent NACT regimens used were FLOT (65.4%), DCF (17.4%) and ECF (8.1%), respectively. In the total study group, pathological complete remission (pCR) rate was 7.2%, R0 resection rate 86.4%, and D2 dissection rate was 66.8%. Rate of pCR and near-CR (24%), and R0 resection (84%) were numerically higher in FLOT arm (p > 0.05). Patients who received FLOT had also higher chemotherapy-related toxicity rate compared to patients who received other regimens (p > 0.05). Median follow-up time was 16 months (range: 1–154 months). Estimated median overall survival (OS) was 58.4months (95% CI: 35.2–85.7) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 50.7 months (95% CI: 25.4–75.9). The highest 3-year estimated OS rate was also shown in FLOT arm (68%). We still do not know which NACT regimen is the best choice for daily practice. Clinicians should tailor treatment regimens according to patients’ multifactorial status and comorbidities for to obtain best outcomes. Longer follow-up period needs to validate our results.
Preparation of biocompatible chitosan nanoparticles loaded with Aloe vera extract for use as a novel drug delivery mechanism to improve the antibacterial characteristics of cellulose-based fabrics

The primary goal of this study was to develop nanotechnology-based controlled drug delivery devices. As a nano carrier for Aloe vera extract, chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs) were used. The ionic gelation method was used to make CSNPs from chitosan solution using tripolyphosphate (TPP). The generated high-performance CSNPs were then loaded with Aloe vera extract to create Aloe vera-laden chitosan nanoparticle nanocomposites. The nanocomposite is then employed as a superb antibacterial material with the least amount of toxicity. To impart antibacterial activity without cytotoxicity, cotton (100%) and viscose (100%) samples were treated with varied doses of this compound. The treated fabrics with chitosan nanoparticles and their nanocomposite with various concentrations prevented the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, according to the findings. The embedding of chitosan nanoparticles into fabrics and their bioactive material loaded were revealed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) research. Finally, the cytotoxicity of CSNPs and Aloe vera extract loaded CSNPs nanocomposite was assessed using a cell viability assay, confirming that the produced nanocomposite is non-toxic and tissue compatible, just like CS.
An Inherent Gain Error Tolerance Noise-Shaping SAR-Assisted Pipeline ADC With Code-Counter-Based Offset Calibration

This article presents an inherent gain error-tolerant noise-shaping (NS) successive approximation register (SAR)-assisted pipelined analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The architecture is hybrid with a pure passive-feedforward (FF) NS SAR ADC in the first stage of the pipeline, realizing an <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-0 (2-0) multistage NS sigma–delta (MASH). The <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$N$ </tex-math></inline-formula>th order from the first stage shapes not only the quantization error and comparator noise but also the interstage gain and nonlinearity error, which greatly relaxes the gain accuracy constraint in the conventional pipelined architecture. In addition to gain, a code-counter-based (CCB) background offset calibration is introduced to mitigate the interstage offset with low cost. The prototype further adopts partial interleaving in the first stage for high speed while sharing the integration capacitors in the feed-forward (FF) structure for a compact area. The 2-0 MASH runs at 400 MS/s and achieves 25-MHz bandwidth with 8 <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> OSR, consuming 1.26-mW power from a 1-V supply. Within a gain error range of −16% to +12%, the SNDR of the ADC deviates less than 3 dB from the nominal 75-dB SNDR. Fabricated in a 28-nm CMOS process, it exhibits a 178-dB Schreier figure of merit (FoM<sub>S</sub>).
On the audibility of all-pass phase in electroacoustical transfer functions

Audible effects of second-order all-pass sections with center frequencies in the range of 1-12 kHz were studied in headphone listening experiments. All-pass sections give rise to two effects. 1) A perception of "ringing" or "pitchiness," which is related to an exponentially decaying sinusoid in the impulse response of all-pass sections with high Q factors. The ringing is especially audible for impulsive sounds, whereas it is often masked with everyday sounds such as speech and music. With an impulse signal the ringing was found to be audible when the decay time constant for the sinusoid exceeds approximately 0.8 ms (peak group delay of 1.6 ms), independent of the center frequency within the frequency range studied. 2) A lateral shift of the auditory image, which occurs when an all-pass section is inserted in the signal path to only one ear. The shift is related to the low-frequency phase and group delays of the all-pass section, and it was found to be audible whenever these exceed approximately 35 μs, independent of the signal.
INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK TO INVESTIGATE VALUE INNOVATIONS

A conceptual framework has been developed to investigate value innovations within construction companies. A visual metaphor has been defined to model the innovation system where the elements of the model are objectives, strategies, environmental barriers/drivers, and organizational factors. The major idea is that none of the elements of the model alone can explain the innovative capability, and elements as well as their interrelations should be considered concurrently to investigate how the innovation system works in construction companies. An application of the framework has been demonstrated by 11 cases taken from the Turkish construction industry. General findings of the research have been reported as well as specific company examples that demonstrate the major mechanisms of the innovation system. The research findings have revealed that environmental factors can have both hindering and supporting impacts on the innovation system, depending on other elements of the framework. The type of innovations is.
Predicting Surface Roughness in Turning Operation Using Extreme Learning Machine

Prediction model allows the machinist to determine the values of the cutting performance before machining. According to literature, various modeling techniques have been investigated and applied to predict the cutting parameters. Recently, Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) has been introduced as the alternative to overcome the limitation from the previous methods. ELM has similar structure as single hidden layer feedforward neural network with analytically to determine output weight. By comparing to Response Surface Methodology, Support Vector Machine and Neural Network, this paper proposed the prediction of surface roughness using ELM method. The result indicates that ELM can yield satisfactory solution for predicting surface roughness in term of training speed and parameter selection.
Impact of Educational Intervention on Rational Antibiotic Use In Pediatric Ward

Introduction: Antibiotics are a class of natural and synthetic compounds that inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms. Overuse of antibiotic is one of the most important factors for the development and spread of resistance in the hospital, as well as in the community. Present study was designed to describe antibiotic use in children and to assess the impact of an educational intervention on antibiotic prescription. Methods: The present study was conducted in pediatric ward of a tertiary care institute. The study population included two groups of children – each having 250 children. The first group consisted of 250 consecutive children admitted in one unit of the pediatric ward and they were analyzed for antibiotic use without any prior priming of the members of the unit regarding rationality of antibiotic use. This was followed by an intervention in the form of a 3hour workshop for all members of the unit. The second group included another 250 children consecutively admitted in the wards after this intervention. Results: In Pre intervention group 55 (44%) children received antibiotics in rational way, while in Post intervention group 90(60.40%) children received antibiotic in rational way. One hundred and thirty-six children (49.4%) received antibiotics for respiratory tract infections, this being the commonest disease for which antibiotics were received. As seen in the table, unindicated use of antibiotic was significantly reduced in Post intervention group (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The present study included 500 children. There were 285 (57%) males and 215 (43%) females. Amongst these 500 patients, 178 (35.6%) were below 1 year of age. This group had the highest number of patients. In the Pre intervention group, 55 (44%) children received antibiotics rationally, while in Post intervention group 90(60.40%) children received antibiotic rationally.
High-order fully actuated system approaches: Part X. Basics of discrete-time systems

A basic introduction to high-order fully actuated (HOFA) approaches for discrete-time systems is given. Firstly, it is shown that, different from the continuous-time systems, general dynamical discrete-time systems can be represented by two types of discrete-time HOFA models, namely, the step forward HOFA models and the step backward HOFA models. Secondly, controllers for the step backward HOFA models are designed, which result in constant linear closed-loop systems with arbitrarily assignable eigenstructures. The related problem of feasibility is also discussed. The well-known discrete-time feedback linearisable systems and strict-feedback systems are shown to be equivalent to both the step forward and step backward HOFA models. Finally, a generalised step backward HOFA model containing control vectors of different time instants is proposed and investigated and demonstrated with a type of proposed pseudo feed-forward systems. The contribution in this paper has laid a fundamental basis for discrete-time HOFA approaches. Further analysis and design problems can be naturally established parallel to the continuous-time system case.
FLEXURAL TESTS OF TWO FULL-SCALE COMPOSITE TRUSSES

Steel trusses acting compositely with concrete slabs on wide rib profile steel deck have proven to be an economical system for long span floors. The flexural behaviour of two composite trusses with a span of 11.5 m was studied. The truss configuration consisted of hollow structural section chords with double angle web members welded on either side. The flexural tests showed that ductile behaviour up to failure can be obtained without failure of the web members, provided that the design is based on the ultimate tensile strength of the bottom chord, and the web members and shear connection are designed for the concomitant forces. The maximum moments attained were about 1.2 times the unfactored ultimate moment predicted by CSA Standard S16.1. The maximum strain in the bottom chord of both trusses was significantly higher than the yield strain, but did not reach the ultimate strain due to premature shear connection failure. The failure mode of the first composite truss demonstrated the need for additional rul.
Main axes servo systems of the VLT

The altitude and azimuth axes of the VLT telescopes will be controlled by special designed servo controllers. These controllers are designed to minimize the effect of disturbances. The properties of all elements of these servo systems: mechanical system, motors, amplifiers, tachometer, encoder and finally the servo controller itself will be presented. Aspects like sensor noise, hysteresis, friction and bandwidth limits are described and the effect of each of them on the servo performance is evaluated. A systematic analysis of the effect of external disturbances to the servo system, mainly the wind, is included. The frequency spectrum of the wind that can be expected in the VLT enclosure is compared with disturbance sensitivity of the servo system. This analysis provides the power spectral density of the axial rotation. The reduction of this rotation with an autoguider and/or field stabilization (a fast servo system, which includes a tip/tilt of the secondary mirror) can then be judged. The data for the analysis has been derived from the present status of the VLT main structure design. The servo elements as described above are now in a well-defined state.
The paleoecology of Pleistocene giant megatheriid sloths: stable isotopes (δ13C, δ18O) of co-occurring Megatherium and Eremotherium from southern Brazil

The Pampa in subtropical Brazil (State of Rio Grande do Sul) is the only area of South America known so far where fossils of the Pleistocene giant megatheriid sloths Megatherium americanum, characteristic of subtropical-temperate areas, and Eremotherium laurillardi, widespread in the tropical zone, were discovered in the same deposits (Pessegueiro Creek and Chuí Creek), but it is not clear whether this co-occurrence is a product of taphonomic mixture, or co-existence, which would imply niche partitioning. In order to understand their paleoecology and reconstruct the associated paleoenvironments, dentin samples of both megatheriids from the two sites were analyzed for their carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios. The δ13C values of Megatherium indicate mixed diet of C3-C4 plants with higher content of the latter in Pessegueiro Creek, whereas the δ13C values of Eremotherium indicate C3-dominated diets, the more negative value in Pessegueiro Creek possibly related to the canopy effect. The δ18O of Eremotherium points to 18O-depleted water sources, possibly also influenced by the diet, whereas Megatherium ingested 18O-enriched water. The results show that co-existence of both megatheriids would have been ecologically possible, and that the Pampa was occupied by open grasslands/woodlands, with closed forests in Pessegueiro Creek. The δ13C of Eremotherium from intertropical Brazil indicate a more generalist habit than Megatherium from subtropical Brazil and Argentina, which probably facilitated its dispersion from the tropics up to subtropical areas along two different routes, one along the coastal plain, and the other along the Paraná River Basin across central South America, following the southward expansion of riparian forests during warmer stages. The reduction of those forests during intervening cold stages possibly led to its disappearance in southern Brazil. Keywords: Quaternary, paleobiogeography, stable isotopes, Pampa, coastal plain, megafauna.