Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Harvest, Site Preparation, and Firebreak Effects on Hydrology and Sediment Transport in Coastal Plain Headwater Streams

The Dry Creek paired watershed study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of modern southeastern forestry best management practices (BMPs) by observing hydrology and sediment transport in four southwest Georgia headwater streams during pre-harvest, post-harvest, and post-site preparation (post-prep) periods. After collecting two years of baseline data on all four streams, two of the watersheds were harvested in accordance with the Georgia Forestry Commission's 1999 BMPs. Downstream sections of streamside management zones (SMZs) were partially harvested to the maximum extent allowable by BMP guidelines of 11.5 m2 ha-1 (50 ft2 acre-1) of remaining basal area, while upstream sections remained unthinned. Treatment data collection consisted of a one-year post-harvest period and a two-year post-prep period. After harvest, water yields increased by 92 to 267 mm year-1 and groundwater tables rose, as evidenced by the immediate appearance of toe-slope seeps in the treatment watersheds. Peak flow behavior displayed large variation among storm events and between watersheds but did not significantly change after harvest. Total suspended solid (TSS) yields and inorganic suspended solid (ISS) concentrations were variable across watersheds and years but did not reveal significant effects as a result of harvest or site preparation. Firebreaks plowed around the SMZs were an area of concern for sediment production. Occurrences of concentrated overland flow entering SMZs and streams increased in the treatment watersheds immediately after harvest but decreased to pretreatment levels within two years following harvest. Modern forestry BMPs were effective in preventing sediment increases due to harvest and site preparation within the studied streams.
Prevalence of depression and its associated factors among adolescents in China during the early stage of the COVID-19 outbreak

Background The outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) had a detrimental impact on adolescents’ daily life and studying, which could increase the risk of depression. This study examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms (depression hereafter) among Chinese adolescents and its associated factors. Methods An online survey was conducted during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. Adolescents aged 11–20 years who currently lived in China were invited to participate in the study. Data were collected with the “SurveyStar” platform using the Snowball Sampling method. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Results A total of 9,554 adolescents participated in the study. The prevalence of depression was 36.6% (95% CI [35.6%–37.6%]); the prevalence of mild and moderate-severe depression was 9.2% (95% CI [8.9%–9.5%]) and 27.4% (95% CI [26.9%–27.9%]), respectively. Female gender (OR = 1.235, P < 0.001), senior secondary school grade (OR = 1.513, P < 0.001), sleep duration of <6 h/day (OR = 2.455, P < 0.001), and living in Hubei province (total number of infected cases > 10,000) (OR = 1.245, P = 0.038) were significantly associated with higher risk of depression. Concern about COVID-19 (OR = 0.632, P < 0.001), participating in distance learning (OR = 0.728, P = 0.001), sleep duration of >8 h/day (OR = 0.726, P < 0.001), exercise of >30 min/day, and study duration of ≥4 h/day (OR = 0.835, P < 0.001) were associated with lower risk of depression. Conclusion Depression was common among adolescents in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Considering the negative impact of depression on daily life and health outcomes, timely screening and appropriate interventions are urgently needed for depressed adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Novel TCP congestion control scheme and its performance evaluation

A novel self-tuning proportional and derivative (ST-PD) control based TCP congestion control scheme is proposed. The new scheme approaches the congestion control problem from a control-theoretical perspective and overcomes several Important limitations associated with existing TCP congestion control schemes, which are heuristic based. In the proposed scheme, a PD controller is employed to keep the buffer occupancy of the bottleneck node on the connection path at an ideal operating level, and it adjusts the TCP window accordingly. The control gains of the PD controller are tuned online by a fuzzy logic controller based on the perceived bandwidth-delay product of the TCP connection. This scheme gives ST-PD TCP several advantages over current TCP implementations. These include rapid response to bandwidth variations, insensitivity to buffer sizes, and significant improvement of TCP throughput over lossy links by decoupling congestion control and error control functions of TCP.
Empirical Assessment of a Markovian Traffic Flow Model

Previous research efforts on developing traffic flow models to account for traffic flow dynamics over transportation networks have centered on macroscopic high-order models. It is unclear whether traffic flow dynamics can be well described using a high-order model formulation, but for real-time traffic control, it is important to have tractable yet accurate models. Described here is a set of tractable traffic flow models based on the Markovian compartment concept. The basic models can be further modified to produce effects analogous to high-order models in capturing unstable traffic behavior during congestion. Special treatments are also made to account for the effects of conflicting flow on the predicted turning exit flow at intersection approaches. The proposed models are evaluated using field data. The results indicate that all the model parameters, including traffic flow parameters and gap acceptance parameters, are reasonably estimated, and the underlying models provide good fits to the field data.
BRCA1/ATF1-Mediated Transactivation is Involved in Resistance to PARP Inhibitors and Cisplatin

Homologous recombination (HR)-deficient cells are sensitive to PARP inhibitors through a synthetic lethal effect. We previously developed an HR activity assay named Assay of Site-Specific HR Activity (ASHRA). Here, we evaluated the HR activity of 30 missense variants of BRCA1 by ASHRA and found that several BRCA1 variants showed intermediate HR activity, which was not clearly discerned by our previous analyses using a conventional method. HR activity measured by ASHRA was significantly correlated with sensitivity to olaparib. However, cells expressing the severely HR-deficient BRCA1-C61G variant were resistant to olaparib, and resistance was dependent on high expression of activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1), which binds to BRCA1 and activates the transcription of target genes to regulate cell proliferation. The BRCA1-C61G variant bound to ATF1 and stimulated ATF1-mediated transactivation similar to wild-type BRCA1. High expression of ATF1 conferred resistance to olaparib and cisplatin activating BRCA1/ATF1-mediated transcription without affecting HR activity in BRCA2-knockdown or RAD51-knockdown cells, but not in BRCA1-knockdown cells. These results suggest that ASHRA is a useful method to evaluate HR activity in cells and to predict the sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. The expression level of ATF1 might be an important biomarker of the effect of PARP inhibitors and platinum agents on HR-deficient tumors with the BRCA1-C61G variant or alteration of non-BRCA1 HR factors such as BRCA2 and RAD51. Significance: ASHRA could evaluate HR activity in cells and predict the sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. High expression level of ATF1 may predict the resistance of BRCAness tumors with alterations of non-BRCA1 HR factors to PARP inhibitors and platinum agents.
Printed dual-band dipole antenna with U-slotted arms for 2.4/5.2 GHz WLAN operation

Dual-band operation of a printed dipole antenna with U-slotted arms is presented. Due to the embedded U-shaped slots, two additional dipole arms are obtained in the proposed design, which form a second dipole antenna with a smaller length and which can generate a higher resonant mode for the 5.2 GHz band operation. By incorporating the original dipole arms designed for the 2.4 GHz band operation, the proposed antenna can perform WLAN operations in the 2.4 and 5.2 GHz bands.
Expectations for young job applicants’ digital identity related to company’s social media brand development strategies

ABSTRACT It is common for SMEs to include their employees’ social media image and followers in their brand development strategy. Thus, they consequently also make the social media image and followers of prospective employees’ part of their recruitment strategy. However, most students have not yet noticed this trend and are primarily focusing on goals set by their education programmes without focusing on the potential marketability of their own social media image. To address this gap, we conducted a literature review and interviewed representatives from recruiting companies. Our findings reveal that growth-oriented companies seek applicants with an excellent individual brand image because they perceive it as an indication for future gains in this regard. Moreover, we also found that companies should support new applicants’ skills in their orientation process, especially social media branding because it will help them align with the company’s brand vision.
The Fate of Periprosthetic Joint Infection Following Megaprosthesis Reconstruction

Background: A megaprosthesis may be used for reconstruction in patients with massive bone loss or a periprosthetic fracture. Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) may occur after a megaprosthesis reconstruction and may pose a major challenge. The outcomes of managing PJI in patients with a megaprosthesis is relatively unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical course and outcomes of PJI in patients with a megaprosthesis in place. Methods: From a total of 219 patients who underwent megaprosthesis replacement for non-oncologic conditions, 38 (17.4%) developed subsequent PJI. A retrospective review of the medical record was performed to ascertain the course of the PJI and treatment outcomes. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to evaluate the survival function, and the log-rank test was used to assess differences in outcome measures. Results: The surgical management of 33 patients with PJI included debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) (82%), consisting of DAIR with modular component exchange (19 patients) and DAIR without component exchange (8 patients); 2-stage exchange arthroplasty (9%); resection arthroplasty (6%); and a single-stage revision arthroplasty (3%). The Kaplan-Meier survivorship analysis demonstrated that the overall survival rate was 65.1% at 2 years. The mortality rate was 15%, with many patients undergoing salvage procedures including amputation (18%), arthrodesis (6%), and resection arthroplasty (6%). Conclusions: The rate of PJI after megaprosthesis reconstruction, 17% in this study, appears to be very high. The management of PJI in these patients is challenging, with 1 of 3 patients undergoing failed treatment. Despite the limited options available, DAIR seems to be an appropriate treatment strategy for some of these patients. Further data on a larger cohort are needed to assess the success of various surgical procedures and predictors of failure in this challenging patient population. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Determinants of Productive Efficiency of Public Service: What Effect of the Interaction of Corruption Control and Average Wage?

This paper seeks to analyze the determinants of the civil service productive efficiency in West African Economic Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries over the period 2003-2017. Using the two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model, our results show that the average productive efficiency of the public services studied is 87.4%. This suggests that there is room for improvement in the level of output of the public services, all other things being equal. We also found that the average wage, the square of corruption control, and the interaction term between corruption control and the average wage have a positive effect on productive efficiency. These findings suggest that before getting improvement in the productive efficiency of public service in the WAEMU region, countries should reach a higher level of corruption control and a substantial level of the average wage.
Rethinking prefabricated construction management using the VP‐based IKEA model in Hong Kong

Prefabricated construction is regarded by many as an effective and efficient approach to improving construction processes and productivity, ensuring construction quality and reducing time and cost in the construction industry. However, many problems occur with this approach in practice, including higher risk levels and cost or time overruns. In order to solve such problems, it is proposed that the IKEA model of the manufacturing industry and VP technology are introduced into a prefabricated construction process. The concept of the IKEA model is identified in detail and VP technology is briefly introduced. In conjunction with VP technology, the applications of the IKEA model are presented in detail, i.e. design optimization, production optimization and installation optimization. Furthermore, through a case study of a prefabricated hotel project in Hong Kong, it is shown that the VP‐based IKEA model can improve the efficiency and safety of prefabricated construction as well as reducing cost and time.
Influence of job insecurity on coal miners’ safety performance: the role of emotional exhaustion

Purpose Under the de-capacity circumstances of coal production in China, the purpose of this paper is to examine the processes underlying the association between job insecurity (JI) and miners’ safety performance, proposing that resource consumption is a prominent theoretical explanation for this association. By developing a mediation model, the authors examined the mediating role of emotional exhaustion (EE) between JI and miners’ safety performance. Design/methodology/approach Through the time-lagged survey method, the authors collected 349 samples from three coal mines in Shanxi Lu’an Group, the hypotheses were tested through confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation model analysis and bootstrapping in AMOS software. Findings Results shed light on that JI negatively predicts the safety performance subfactors, including safety compliance (SC) and safety participation (SP). EE plays a partial mediating role between JI and safety performance. In particular, the finding indicated that JI exerts a more significant impact on SP than SC, revealing that JI produces a more significant adverse effect on miners’ conscious safety behaviors than skill-based safety behaviors. Originality/value This study contributes to display the influence path of JI as a stressor on miners’ safety performance in the coal mine rather than a stimulus. The mediation model results not only help us understand the association between JI and safety performance but also provide a feasible way to mitigate the negative effects of JI.
Computer Aided Process of Designing the Mechatronic Silesian Greenpower Electric Car

"The Greenpower Corporate Challenge" is an annual race of four-wheeled electric vehicles organized on the tracks in the UK. Participants of the "The Greenpower Corporate Challenge" contest are students of high schools and universities which are involved in designing and construction process of an electric race car. The basic goal of GPCC competition is making the largest possible number of laps on the race track - for a limited time of 90 minutes. The main restriction is imposed by the organizers, the power source and type of the motor driving the car, which increases competition level and equalize the chances of teams. The design process of the vehicle was followed by the drawn intuitively, an iterative procedure. A simplified methodology for the design and construction of the vehicle has been adopted, which was based on a cyclic process of designing every mechatronic subsystems and gathering them all in one CAD model. During all designing and engineering tasks a mathematical model of the vehicle has been used. With using finite element method (FEM) and studies using an anthropometric drivers model there was a continuous control of the correctness of the solutions and results. This article describes the computer research methods used in the design process of selected systems and components of the vehicle Silesian Greenpower and their adequacy in relation to traditional methods.
Benchmarking Computational Fluid Dynamics for Application to PWR Fuel

The present study demonstrates a process used to develop confidence in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) as a tool to investigate flow and temperature distributions in a PWR fuel bundle. The velocity and temperature fields produced by a mixing spacer grid of a PWR fuel assembly are quite complex. Before using CFD to evaluate these flow fields, a rigorous benchmarking effort should be performed to ensure that reasonable results are obtained. Westinghouse has developed a method to quantitatively benchmark CFD tools against data at conditions representative of the PWR. Several measurements in a 5 x 5 rod bundle were performed. Lateral flow-field testing employed visualization techniques and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Heat transfer testing involved measurements of the single-phase heat transfer coefficient downstream of the spacer grid. These test results were used to compare with CFD predictions. Among the parameters optimized in the CFD models based on this comparison with data include computational mesh, turbulence model, and boundary conditions. As an outcome of this effort, a methodology was developed for CFD modeling that provides confidence in the numerical results. (authors)
Determining Optimum Acceptance Sample Size

What is the optimum acceptance sample size (n)? Recent research by Gharaibeh and colleagues found that when incoming lots are anticipated to be high quality, the optimum n is relatively small (n = 3 for many acceptance quality characteristics). The finding was received with some skepticism, and many questions were raised about the optimization model and underlying assumptions. This paper summarizes follow-up research that more closely examined the optimization model elements and assumptions in an attempt to confirm or refute the finding by Gharaibeh and colleagues. By using a somewhat modified model and assumptions based where possible on actual data, the conclusions reached by Gharaibeh and colleagues stayed basically the same and several new conclusions were drawn. Some cautions are presented concerning the state highway agency use of small sample sizes. Agencies are encouraged to perform their own optimization calculations. By doing so, agencies will gain a better understanding of their acceptance plan systems and associated costs and will have greater confidence in applying economic decision analysis principles to minimize expected costs and optimize statistical acceptance risks.
ROFF - A Romanian Twitter Dataset for Offensive Language

This paper describes the annotation process of an offensive language data set for Romanian on social media. To facilitate comparable multi-lingual research on offensive language, the annotation guidelines follow some of the recent annotation efforts for other languages. The final corpus contains 5000 micro-blogging posts annotated by a large number of volunteer annotators. The inter-annotator agreement and the initial automatic discrimination results we present are in line with earlier annotation efforts.
Quantitative Estimation of the Changes in Soil CEC after the Removal of Organic Matter and Iron Oxides

The removal of organic matter and iron oxides could increase and decrease soil CEC in tropical and subtropical regions, but the quantitative information is insufficient so far about the change of soil CEC, the influence factors and their contribution. In this study, the subhorizon soils of 24 soil series in the tropical and subtropical China were used, pH, particle size composition, organic matter, iron oxides of these samples were measured, and also CECs were measured and compared for the original soils and after the removal of organic matter and iron oxides. The results showed that, compared with CEC of the original soil, the eliminating organic matter increased soil CEC significantly by 2.28% - 56.50% with a mean of 24.02%, but the further obliterating iron oxides decreased soil CEC significantly by 0.75% - 20.30% with a mean of 7.73%. CEC after the removal of organic matter and iron oxides had positive correlation with iron oxides (p < 0.01) and negative correlation with sand content (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). CEC after organic matter eliminated was mainly decided by iron oxides (51.68%), followed by silt content (22.19%); while CEC after iron oxides obliterated was mainly determined by iron oxides (50.55%). The increase of CEC after organic matter eliminated was co-affected by the contents of clays, slits, iron oxides and pH (22.00% -27.34%), obliterated, CEC = 1.665 − 0.546pH − 0.024OM + 0.053Fe x O y − 0.001Silt + 0.007Clay + 0.972CEC original (R 2 was 0.923, RMSE was 1.55 cmol(+)∙kg −1 , p < 0.01). Further research is needed in the future as for exploring internal functional mechanism in view of soil electrochemistry and mineralogy.
Bending Load Capacity Enhancement Using an Asymmetric Tooth Profile

This research is to develop a new method to enhance the bending load capacity of gear tooth using asymmetric tooth profiles. For many power transmission devices operate in one direction, only one side of the tooth surfaces (the front of tooth) is in mesh. So the tooth is not necessary to be a symmetric form. The dimensions of the front and back profiles of the tooth could be designed individually. The back profile of the tooth that does not contact in running could be decided to decrease the maximum tensile stress at the root of tooth. Different standard pressure angles are used in the front and back profiles of an asymmetric tooth. Tooth root stress and bending stiffness of the asymmetrical tooth for several combinations of standard pressure angles were calculated by the use of finite element method. Based on the results of calculations, it is clarified that a larger standard pressure angle in the back profile of tooth makes the tooth root stress decrease remarkably and bending stiffness of tooth increase, but dose not change the load sharing ratio.
Alcohol and tobacco use and risk of multiple myeloma: A case‐control study

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological cancer and causes significant mortality and morbidity. Knowledge regarding modifiable risk factors for MM remains limited. This analysis of an Australian population‐based case–control family study investigates whether smoking or alcohol consumption is associated with risk of MM and related diseases. Incident cases (n = 789) of MM were recruited via cancer registries in Victoria and New South Wales. Controls (n = 1,113) were either family members of cases (n = 696) or controls recruited for a similarly designed study of renal cancers (n = 417). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional multivariable logistic regression. Heavy intake (>20 g ethanol/day) of alcohol had a lower risk of MM compared with nondrinkers (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50–0.93), and there was an inverse dose–response relationship for average daily alcohol intake (OR per 10 g ethanol per day = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86–0.99); there was no evidence of an interaction with sex. There was no evidence of an association with MM risk for smoking‐related exposures (p > 0.18). The associations between smoking and alcohol with MM are similar to those with non‐Hodgkin lymphoma. Further research into potential underlying mechanisms is warranted.