Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How Prepared are Students for Postgraduate Study? A Comparison of the Information Literacy Skills of Commencing Undergraduate and Postgraduate Information Studies Students at Curtin University

This paper describes a study comparing the information literacy skills of commencing undergraduate and postgraduate Information Studies students at Curtin University. The study was conducted by means of an online multiple choice survey, which students completed during the first few weeks of their course. The results show that a number of both undergraduates and postgraduates have problems with basic information literacy skills, particularly those related to the use of traditional library tools, such as library catalogues. The study found that the only factors associated with differences in performance were postgraduate and undergraduate status (the primary variable examined), age, and previous work experience.
Differentially-Private Deep Learning With Directional Noise

With the popularity of deep learning applications, the privacy of training data has become a major concern as the data sources may be sensitive. Recent studies have found that deep learning models are vulnerable to privacy attacks, which are able to infer private training data from model parameters. To mitigate such attacks, differential privacy has been proposed to preserve data privacy by adding randomized noise to these models. However, since deep learning models usually consist of a large number of parameters and complicated layered structures, an overwhelming amount of noise is often inserted, which significantly degrades model accuracy. We seek a better tradeoff between model utility and data privacy, by choosing directions of noise w.r. t. the utility subspace. We propose an optimized mechanism for differentially-private stochastic gradient descent, and derive a closed-form solution. The form of the solution makes the mechanism ready to be deployed in real-world deep learning systems. Experimental results on a variety of models, datasets, and privacy settings show that our proposed mechanism achieves higher accuracies at the same privacy guarantee compared to the state-of-the-art methods. Further, we extend the privacy guarantee to a mutual information bound, and propose a general form to the utility-privacy problem.
Quantum simulations of an ultrashort channel single-gated n-MOSFET on SOI

We present quantum mechanical simulations of a single-gated ultrashort channel MOSFET on silicon-on-insulator (SOI). Ballistic transport is assumed, in order to investigate ideal device performance. In particular, the electrical characteristics and the dependence on the SOI body thickness variation and doping of source and drain is elaborated. The results show that excellent performance can be achieved for devices with channel lengths down to 15 nm for a single-gated device layout. The influence of the SOI-film roughness is investigated with an SOI body thickness down to 2.5 nm. Extremely high transconductances far in excess of today's state-of-the-art devices can be expected if the doping level in source and drain is chosen appropriately. We give the relevant design rules for the fabrication of such devices.
The H3Africa Consortium: Publication Outputs of a Pan-African Genomics Collaboration (2013 to 2020)

attempts to identify biological parameters that could estimate the risk of stroke, the SIREN study investigated the role of cIMT as a risk factor using data from 555 participants from Nigeria. The results not only showed a strong association of cIMT with stroke but also demonstrated that it outper-formed multivariable risk prediction schemes such as the Framingham’s Risk Score (FRS) and the Omnibus Risk Score (ORS) in estimating the overall risk of stroke Akpa, and Agunloye 2016). Electrocardiographic profiles among 1020 acute stroke patients identified 90% with abnormal left ventricu-lar (LV) geometry and 30% with systolic dysfunction, and showed that severe LV systolic was significantly associated with one-month mortality The high predictive value and regional variations in cIMT call for more large-scale pan-African studies to intro-duce risk screening and timeous interventions.
A case study of surface tension gripping: the watch bearing

This paper reports the modeling and experimental work done for the design of a microgripper using surface tension forces for the handling of submillimetric balls of a watch bearing. Its originality lies in the adaptation of existing capillary forces models to this microassembly case study and in the exhaustive characterization work required as a first step towards an automated assembly. Picking and placing operations have been experimentally studied, and solutions are proposed to tackle the typical related problems. The component feeding should be studied in detail.
Pressure Buildup Mechanism in a Textured Inlet of a Hydrodynamic Contact

A flow analysis is carried out for an inclined slider bearing with the aim of showing the governing mechanism at conditions where an optimum in load carrying capacity is achieved. The effects of surface texture on pressure buildup and load carrying capacity are explained for a textured slider bearing geometry. Numerical simulations are performed for laminar, steady, and isothermal flows. The energy transferred to the fluid from the moving wall is converted into pressure in the initial part of the converging contact and into losses in the second part. The convergence ratio can be increased, in order to get the greatest pressure gradient, until the limiting value where flow recirculation begins to occur. The texture appears to achieve its maximum efficiency when its depth is such that the velocity profile is stretched at its maximum extent without incurring incoming recirculating flow. The wall profile shape controlling the velocity profile can be optimized for many hydrodynamic contacts.
Did Diversified and Less Risky Banks Perform Better Amid the Pandemic?

This study thrives on the Covid-19 induced economic burden to examine the effects of income diversification and credit risk on bank performance. The results suggest that amid tightened credit conditions and deteriorating asset quality due to the pandemic induced economic hardships, rising credit risk adversely affected bank performance. However, income diversification is positively related to bank performance and offers alternative means of enhancing sustainable financial performance amid the ongoing pandemic.
Non-communicable diseases, medication adherence and social support among elderly medical clinic attendees of the Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka

Introduction: Sri Lankans 60 years and above are among the highest in South Asia and the country's population is fast ageing. This trend would increase the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD). Objectives: To determine the prevalence of NCD, medication adherence and social support among elders at the medical clinics in Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among medical clinic attendees aged 60 years and above. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demography, NCD, medication adherence and perceived social support. Data were collected from every eighth elderly patient attending the medical clinic on clinic days for a month. Binary logistic regression was performed to determine the signiﬁcant association between study variables (p<0.05). Results: Data of 459 elders were included for the analysis. Hypertension (76%), diabetes mellitus (44%), ischaemic heart disease (38%), dyslipidaemia (32%), and bronchial asthma (21%) were the top ﬁve NCDs observed. High levels of medication adherence and social support were seen only in 24% and 20%, respectively. A signiﬁcant association for medication adherence was found with social support (p<0.05; Spearman rho 0.09). Conclusions & Recommendations: Hypertension was the most common NCD among the elders. A signiﬁcant association for medication adherence was found with social support. Hence, medication adherence among elders could be improved by enhancing perceived social support.
Active optical components at the Institute of Optics and Electronics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

The active optical components, including deformable mirrors, tip-tilt mirrors, optical precision translational devices, and active mirrors, can be used to control wavefront, direction, path length of optical beams as well as the optical figure of mirrors. They make optical systems adjustable and controllable and endow the optical systems with flexibility and adaptability. In recent 20 years, a series of active components have been developed in Institute of Optics and Electronics, CAS. , and used in adaptive optical systems, tracking systems and laser systems. In this paper the main specifications of these components will be described. Some typical results of systems using these components will be presented too.
The Release of Inflammatory Mediators from Acid-Stimulated Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Favours Tumour Invasiveness and Metastasis in Osteosarcoma

Simple Summary We aimed to validate the correlation between tumour glycolysis/acidosis and inflammation in osteosarcoma-associated mesenchymal stromal cells and investigate the role of acidity-induced inflammation in the development of metastasis in this very aggressive cancer. We confirmed the presence of an acidic microenvironment in osteosarcoma xenografts, both subcutaneous and orthotopic, using state-of-the-art imaging technologies; corroborated the correlation between tumour glycolysis, acidosis, and inflammatory markers in human patients; and finally, explored the use of anti-IL6 antibody to target these pathogenic pathways, using advanced 3D microfluidic models. In the future, advanced imaging systems for the measurement of tumour glycolysis and/or pH may help identify osteosarcoma patients who would benefit from anti-IL6 therapies to complement conventional therapy. Abstract Osteosarcoma is the most frequent primary malignant bone tumour with an impressive tendency to metastasise. Highly proliferative tumour cells release a remarkable amount of protons into the extracellular space that activates the NF-kB inflammatory pathway in adjacent stromal cells. In this study, we further validated the correlation between tumour glycolysis/acidosis and its role in metastases. In patients, at diagnosis, we found high circulating levels of inflammatory mediators (IL6, IL8 and miR-136-5p-containing extracellular vesicles). IL6 serum levels significantly correlated with disease-free survival and 18F-FDG PET/CT uptake, an indirect measurement of tumour glycolysis and, hence, of acidosis. In vivo subcutaneous and orthotopic models, co-injected with mesenchymal stromal (MSC) and osteosarcoma cells, formed an acidic tumour microenvironment (mean pH 6.86, as assessed by in vivo MRI-CEST pH imaging). In these xenografts, we enlightened the expression of both IL6 and the NF-kB complex subunit in stromal cells infiltrating the tumour acidic area. The co-injection with MSC also significantly increased lung metastases. Finally, by using 3D microfluidic models, we directly showed the promotion of osteosarcoma invasiveness by acidosis via IL6 and MSC. In conclusion, osteosarcoma-associated MSC react to intratumoural acidosis by triggering an inflammatory response that, in turn, promotes tumour invasiveness at the primary site toward metastasis development.
Effects of different types of low‐intensity management on plant‐pollinator interactions in Estonian grasslands

Abstract In the face of global pollinator decline, extensively managed grasslands play an important role in supporting stable pollinator communities. However, different types of extensive management may promote particular plant species and thus particular functional traits. As the functional traits of flowering plant species (e.g., flower size and shape) in a habitat help determine the identity and frequency of pollinator visitors, they can also influence the structures of plant−pollinator interaction networks (i.e., pollination networks). The aim of this study was to examine how the type of low‐intensity traditional management influences plant and pollinator composition, the structure of plant−pollinator interactions, and their mediation by floral and insect functional traits. Specifically, we compared mown wooded meadows to grazed alvar pastures in western Estonia. We found that both management types fostered equal diversity of plants and pollinators, and overlapping, though still distinct, plant and pollinator compositions. Wooded meadow pollination networks had significantly higher connectance and specialization, while alvar pasture networks achieved higher interaction diversity at a standardized sampling of interactions. Pollinators with small body sizes and short proboscis lengths were more specialized in their preference for particular plant species and the specialization of individual pollinators was higher in alvar pastures than in wooded meadows. All in all, the two management types promoted diverse plant and pollinator communities, which enabled the development of equally even and nested pollination networks. The same generalist plant and pollinator species were important for the pollination networks of both wooded meadows and alvar pastures; however, they were complemented by management‐specific species, which accounted for differences in network structure. Therefore, the implementation of both management types in the same landscape helps to maintain high species and interaction diversity.
Understanding “Atmosome”, the Personal Atmospheric Exposome: Comprehensive Approach (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Modern environmental health research extensively focuses on outdoor air pollutants and their effects on public health. However, research on monitoring and enhancing individual indoor air quality is lacking. The field of exposomics encompasses the totality of human environmental exposures and its effects on health. A subset of this exposome deals with atmospheric exposure, termed the “atmosome. ” The atmosome plays a pivotal role in health and has significant effects on DNA, metabolism, skin integrity, and lung health. OBJECTIVE The aim of this work is to develop a low-cost, comprehensive measurement system for collecting and analyzing atmosomic factors. The research explores the significance of the atmosome in personalized and preventive care for public health. METHODS An internet of things microcontroller-based system is introduced and demonstrated. The system collects real-time indoor air quality data and posts it to the cloud for immediate access. RESULTS The experimental results yield air quality measurements with an accuracy of 90% when compared with precalibrated commercial devices and demonstrate a direct correlation between lifestyle and air quality. CONCLUSIONS Quantifying the individual atmosome is a monumental step in advancing personalized health, medical research, and epidemiological research. The 2 main goals in this work are to present the atmosome as a measurable concept and to demonstrate how to implement it using low-cost electronics. By enabling atmosome measurements at a communal scale, this work also opens up potential new directions for public health research. Researchers will now have the data to model the impact of indoor air pollutants on the health of individuals, communities, and specific demographics, leading to novel approaches for predicting and preventing diseases.
Simulator sickness and HMD configurations

The helmet-mounted display (HMD), often used in non-vehicle- based virtual environments (VEs), can be configured as either a stereoscopic or bi-ocular display. As a stereoscopic display the computer modeling the VE calculates two different views for each eye, based upon the views each eye normally receives due to their separation in the head. On the other hand, the same view can be presented to each eye, resulting in a bi- ocular display. The normally linked processes of accommodation and vergence must be decoupled when viewing through an HMD. This way of perceiving may lead to physiological problems. For example, a common problem with virtual environments (VE) is simulator sickness. Its symptoms are similar to those experienced in motion sickness, and include problems with eyestrain, disorientation, and nausea. A study was conducted in which both relative differences in simulator sickness and performance were examined for walking, tracking, distance estimation, and micromanipulation tasks. Using the self-report simulator sickness questionnaire (SSQ), data revealed that the stereoscopic condition was more nauseogenic. In addition, post-experimental disorientation, oculomotor discomfort and total severity measures correlated significantly with completion time on a task that required more near-far focal transitions within a short period of time than any other task.
Gmsh: A 3‐D finite element mesh generator with built‐in pre‐ and post‐processing facilities

Gmsh is an open‐source 3‐D finite element grid generator with a build‐in CAD engine and post‐processor. Its design goal is to provide a fast, light and user‐friendly meshing tool with parametric input and advanced visualization capabilities. This paper presents the overall philosophy, the main design choices and some of the original algorithms implemented in Gmsh. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Voting on Punishment Systems within a Heterogeneous Group

We consider a voluntary contributions game, in which players may punish others after contributions are made and observed. The productivity of contributions, as captured in the marginal-per-capita return, differs among individuals, so that there are two types: high and low productivity. Every two or eight periods, depending on the treatment, individuals vote on a punishment regime, in which certain individuals are permitted, but not required, to have punishment directed toward them. The punishment system can condition on type and contribution history. The results indicate that the most effective regime, in terms of contributions and earnings, is one that allows punishment of low contributors only, regardless of productivity. Nevertheless, only a minority of sessions converge to this system, indicating a tendency for the voting process to lead to suboptimal institutional choice.
Rigorous beam propagation analysis of tapered spot-size converters in deep-etched semiconductor waveguides

A rigorous study of a tapered spot-size converter in a deep-etched GaAs/AlGaAs optical modulator is reported through the use of full vectorial approaches. Mode beating in the tapered section, the expansion of the spot-size, and the consequent enhancement of the coupling to an optical fiber are also reported.
Thermal Contact Resistance Optimization of Press-Pack IGBT Device Based on Liquid Metal Thermal Interface Material

Thermal contact resistances usually account for more than 50% of the total thermal resistance in a press-pack insulated-gate bipolar transistor (PP-IGBT) device, which affect the heat dissipation of the PP-IGBT device and lead to a high junction temperature. In this article, a method for optimizing the thermal contact resistances of the PP-IGBT device is proposed by filling the liquid metal thermal interface materials in the contact surface. Bismuth-based liquid metal with high thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity is chosen, and the material is used for filling between the insulated-gate bipolar transistor chip and the molybdenum layers. The thermal characteristics are compared with the traditional commercial PP-IGBT device using finite-element simulation and experimental methods. The high-voltage insulation reliability of the proposed optimized method is verified by blocking voltage test, and the long-term reliability of the device is verified by a power cycling test. The results show that the junction-to-case thermal resistance of the optimized PP-IGBT device can be reduced by more than 30%, which is helpful for improving the thermal reliability of large-capacity PP-IGBT devices.
ARE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS’ BUSINESS PERFORMANCES INFLUENCED BY FINANCIAL RESOURCES? EMPOWERING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN MALAYSIA THROUGH FINANCIAL RESOURCES POST-COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Entrepreneurship has always been women's interest, and women have risen in the business arena. On the other hand, statistic shows that Malaysian women's participation in entrepreneurship is still minute but vital to Malaysia's economic development, as indicated by previous researchers. Additionally, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has caused adverse effects on women-owned businesses in Malaysia. This research aims to offer an insight into how financial capital, the amount of capital needed, and personal savings of women entrepreneurs induces business performance among women entrepreneurs in Malaysia. This study used quantitative methods to produce empirical outcomes and substantiations to answer the research questions. A total of 312 women entrepreneurs participated in this study which facilitated the findings and conclusions. The results demonstrated that financial capital, the amount of capital needed, and personal savings were statistically significant for the women entrepreneurs post Covid-19. Additionally, the findings of this research will undoubtedly give confidence to the women entrepreneurs to come out of the Covid-19 shock and operate their business more remarkably as well as continue to progress and enhance their business performance taking into account the significance of financial resources. JEL: L20; L23 Article visualizations:
Nonlinear Static Methods vs. Experimental Shaking Table Test Results

Three different Nonlinear Static Methods (NSM's), based on pushover analysis, are applied to a 3-story, 2-bay, RC frame. They are (i) the Capacity Spectrum Method (CSM), described in ATC-40, (ii) the Displacement Coefficient Method (DCM), presented in FEMA-273 and further developed in FEMA 356, and (iii) the N2 Method, implemented in the Eurocode 8. Pushover analyses are conducted with DRAIN-3DX by using four different lateral force distributions, according to the acceleration profile assumed along the height of the structure: uniform, triangular, modal-proportional, and multimodal fully adaptive. In the numerical model, RC members are modeled as fiber elements. The numerical predictions of each method are compared to the experimental results of the shaking table tests carried out on two similar 1:3.3-scale structural models, with and without infilled masonry panels, respectively. The comparison is made in terms of maximum story displacements, interstory drifts, and shear forces. All the NSM's are found to predict with adequate accuracy the maximum seismic response of the structure, provided that the associated parameters are properly estimated. The lateral load pattern, instead, is found to little affect the accuracy of the results for the three-story model considered, even if collapse occurs with a soft story mechanism.
Comparison of different methods for the prediction of the field strength in the VHF range

A number of prediction methods have been proposed in the literature in recent years. By using topographical data from a terrain data bank, these methods should lead to a more accurate prediction of the field strength in irregular terrain. The prediction accuracy of these methods has been examined by comparing the field strengths they yield to those experimentally determined at VHF in the coverage area of the transmitter Feldberg/Schwarzwald. Also, the prediction according to CCIR Rec. 370-4, [1], which takes topography into account only by statistical parameters, was included in the comparison. The substantial elements of the methods will be summarized and the results of the comparison will be discussed.