Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the virtual classroom: A case of intensive English course in the Next Normal

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has automatically become a normal practice of the “Next Normal”. Intensive English is a compact three-week course offered to get first-year students ready for university study. Online learning was something new for both students and instructors. A key challenge in online learning was how to make virtual classroom as lively and interactive as possible. The aim of this study was thus to design an instructional program which integrated various technological tools and applications to optimize the virtual classroom. The 63 first-year students from two intact sections of Intensive English were used as participants of the study. A technology acceptance model (TAM) questionnaire (Davis, 1989; Hernandez, 2021) was adapted to assess the effectiveness of the instructional program. The results of the study revealed that all of the participants achieved the overall objective of the course and the target CEFR’s A2 level. They found their online learning experience rewarding. They were satisfied with this online learning experience and were willing to participate in similar online learning in the future. Additionally, recommendations for further research were discussed.
Electric vehicle routing problem with flexible deliveries

Growing concerns about the climate change have forced governments to initiate tighter environmental regulations and tougher emission reduction targets, increasing the interest on electromobility. Logistics operators started employing electric vehicles (EVs) and must face new operational planning challenges. Moreover, with an ever-growing interest in e-commerce, parcel delivery is taking new shapes by offering flexible delivery options to the customers. To mitigate these issues, we introduce the Electric Vehicle Routing Problem with Flexible Deliveries (EVRP-FD), where the customers are served using a fleet of EVs that can recharge their batteries along their routes. In this problem, a customer may specify different delivery locations for different time windows. Our objective is to serve the customers while minimising the total travelled distance using minimum number of vehicles. We first give the mathematical model and then develop a hybrid Variable Neighbourhood Search coupled with Tabu Search by proposing new mechanisms to solve the problem effectively. Then, we verify the performance of our algorithm on instances from the literature. We also introduce new instances for the EVRP-FD and perform an extensive computational study to investigate the trade-offs associated with different operational factors. Finally, we present a case study in Nottingham, UK to provide further insights.
Citizen Science Helps in Tracking the Range Expansions of Non-Indigenous and Neo-Native Species in Greece and Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Raising knowledge of the dispersal of non-indigenous species (NIS) in new geographic areas is a matter of major concern, as alien species may outcompete the native biota through competition, predation, and hybridization. In the Mediterranean Sea, where biological invasions constitute a serious threat, the combined use of citizen science and social networks amplified the results obtained via traditional research activities, often recording species that would otherwise presumably have passed unnoticed. We hereby report unpublished data for five NIS (the annelid Branchiomma luctuosum, the shrimp Saron marmoratus and the fishes Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Oxyurichthys petersii, and specimens of the group of Abudefduf saxatilis/vaigiensis/troschelii) and one neo-native species (Seriola fasciata) in Greece and Cyprus (eastern Mediterranean Sea), the majority of which were obtained via a focused citizen-science project and constitute new records at a country level. We also revise and update their known distribution in the invaded area, thus contributing to the study of large-scale and well-defined distributional patterns of alien species spreading in the Mediterranean Sea.
Untangling irrigation effects on maize water and heat stress alleviation using satellite data

Abstract. Irrigation has important implications for sustaining global food production by enabling crop water demand to be met even under dry conditions. Added water also cools crop plants through transpiration; irrigation might thus play an important role in a warmer climate by simultaneously moderating water and high temperature stresses. Here we used satellite-derived evapotranspiration estimates, land surface temperature (LST) measurements, and crop phenological stage information from Nebraska maize to quantify how irrigation relieves both water and temperature stresses. Unlike air temperature metrics, satellite-derived LST revealed a significant irrigation-induced cooling effect, especially during the grain filling period (GFP) of crop growth. This cooling appeared to extend the maize growing season, especially for GFP, likely due to the stronger temperature sensitivity of phenological development during this stage. Our analysis also revealed that irrigation not only reduced water and temperature stress but also weakened the response of yield to these stresses. Specifically, temperature stress was significantly weakened for reproductive processes in irrigated maize. Attribution analysis further suggested that water and high temperature stress alleviation was responsible for 65±10 % and 35±5.3 % of the irrigation yield benefit, respectively. Our study underlines the relative importance of high temperature stress alleviation in yield improvement and the necessity of simulating crop surface temperature to better quantify heat stress effects in crop yield models. Finally, considering the potentially strong interaction between water and heat stress, future research on irrigation benefits should explore the interaction effects between heat and drought alleviation.
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ECTOPARASITOID Diglyphus isaea WALKER (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE) ON THE SERPENTINE LEAFMINER Liriomyza trifolii (BURGESS) IN TOMATO GREENHOUSES .

Natural abundance of the ectoparasitoid Diglyphus isaea Walker was studied in four tomato greenhouses at Sakha, Mehalla Al-Kobra, and Metobus. The parasitoid showed low populations in March, then developed good populations that kept the populations of the serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii at low densities till the end of the season in all studied greenhouses. D. isaea recorded two peaks of abundance in three of the greenhouses, the highest peak recorded 21, 36, 28 and 31 individuals/ 50infested leaflets in greenhouses 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively . The highest average numbers occurred in April in all greenhouses recording 18 ± 2.9, 24.3 ± 8.3, 23.0 ± 5.2 and 26.0 ± 5.2 individuals/ 50infested leaflets in greenhouses 1,2,3 and 4 ,respectively. On the other hand, the percentage of parasitism ranged between 17.8 ± 0.9 and 47.3 ± 1.3% recording its highest numbers in May in greenhouse 1 (43.3 ± 5.3%), and in April in greenhouses,2,3 and 4 recording 46.4 ± 5.1 , 43.6 ± 2.3 and 47.3 ±1.3% , respectively. The percentage of killed larvae according to host-feeding recorded its highest monthly average numbers in May in greenhouses 1, 2 and 3 (43.5 ± 5.3 , 29.0 ± 9.2 and 24.0 ± 7.3% respectively) and in June in greenhouse 4 recording 30.6 ± 6.4% .
Invisible Friend or Foe?How Journalists Use and Perceive Algorithmic-Driven Tools in Their Research Process

Abstract The use of algorithmic tools by journalists for information-gathering has received particular attention in recent years. While it might facilitate the research process, there are also concerns about their impact on journalism. Based on reconstruction interviews with 27 journalists, we first answer the primary question to what extent journalists actually use algorithmic-driven tools for research purposes. Then, we analyze which folk theories journalists create during their use of algorithm-driven tools. Results show that algorithmic tools specifically designed for the journalistic research process are rarely or not at all used. Yet, more crucially, search engines and social media, that are driven by algorithms, play a major role when it comes to the search, selection, and verification of sources and information. However, journalists are not aware of this hidden research assistant facilitating their research process. When explicitly asked, they profess specific notions regarding the use of algorithmic-driven tools in the form of folk theories, which are predominantly negative regarding the influence of AI on journalism. At the same time, there is a still a strong feeling of a professional authority among journalists who feel they are able to work autonomously of any kind of influence, including algorithms.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Cervical Cancer in Light of the LACC Trial: What Have We Learned?

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy and the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide. Over the last two decades, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) emerged as the mainstay in the surgical management of cervical cancer, bringing advantages such as lower operative morbidity and shorter hospital stay compared to open surgery while maintaining comparable oncologic outcomes in numerous retrospective studies. However, in 2018, a prospective phase III randomized controlled trial, “Laparoscopic Approach to Carcinoma of the Cervix (LACC)”, unexpectedly reported that MIS was associated with a statistically significant poorer overall survival and disease-free survival compared to open surgery in patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Various hypotheses have been raised by the authors to try to explain these results, but the LACC trial was not powered to answer those questions. In this study, through an exhaustive literature review, we wish to explore some of the potential causes that may explain the poorer oncologic outcomes associated with MIS, including the type of MIS surgery, the size of the lesion, the impact of CO2 pneumoperitoneum, prior conization, the use of uterine manipulator, the use of protective measures, and the effect of surgical expertise/learning curve.
Identifying English language needs among administrative support staff in a Malaysian Public University: A preliminary study

English skills particularly in conversation are essential in workplace situations especially in the context of higher learning institutions. Little attention is being given to examining the needs of English communication skills and issues related to administrative support staff at their workplace particularly at public universities. A questionnaire was adopted to gauge the English language needs of support staff, their English skills perception as well as usage at the workplace. Data were collected from a group of 40 support administrative staff from Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) involving three administrative departments. The findings were gathered using survey and analyzed using content descriptive analysis. The results of the study revealed that the majority of the respondents strongly agreed that having a good English ability will increase their chance of being promoted to a higher position. Data also revealed that staff use English mostly during interaction with foreign staff and students. In addition, staff perceived that they need to improve their English writing skills the most. This study hopes to give better insight towards English proficiency among administrative support staff and explicit policy on English language at workplace. Therefore, English continuous professional development programmes should be developed and introduced to assist in improving their English language abilities.
Optimizing the physical parameters for bio-hydrogen production from food waste co-digested with mixed consortia of clostridium

Food waste along with its two individual components, noodle waste and rice waste, were tested for bio-hydrogen production by using sludge as a source of mix consortia of Clostridium under different physical conditions (pH 5, 6, and 7; temperature 37 °C and 55 °C). The increase in pH increased the bio-hydrogen yield for all tested wastes, whereas an increase in temperature increased the bio-hydrogen yield just for food waste. The highest experimental yield of 115.76 ml/VSremoved was produced in the mesophilic noodle waste reactor at pH 7. The drop in pH from 7 to 4.8 ± 0.2 was found optimum for bio-hydrogen production for all tested wastes under mesophilic as well as thermophilic conditions. Most of the hydrogen production was observed within 72 h of incubation, which can be used as the optimum bio-hydrogen production period for food waste. The bio-hydrogen yield, final volatile fatty acids (VFA), and glucose consumption at 72 h were analyzed with the help of the response surface methodology. The resultant.
Anatomical variations of the ethmoid sinuses and their association with health or pathology of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses in a Southern Chinese population: An analysis using cone-beam computed tomography

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of clinically relevant anatomical variations of the ethmoid sinuses and their potential association with ethmoid and maxillary sinus pathologies on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Additionally, potential associations with different sides and demographic factors, including age and sex, were evaluated. Materials and Methods In total, 273 CBCT scans with complete ethmoid and maxillary sinuses were analyzed to determine the prevalence of Agger nasi cell, supraorbital ethmoid cell, Haller cell, Onodi cell, and ethmomaxillary sinus. In addition, the health or pathology of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses was also recorded to assess correlations with the aforementioned variations. Results The prevalence of Agger nasi cell was found to be the highest (95.6%) in this study, followed by Onodi cell (60.4%), Haller cell (29.3%), and supraorbital ethmoid cell (19.4%). Ethmomaxillary sinus was the least common finding (16.5%). Males and persons above 61 years of age had a significantly higher frequency of supraorbital ethmoid cell and Onodi cell, respectively. However, no significant relationships were noted between anatomical variations of the ethmoid sinus and pathologies of the ethmoid or maxillary sinus. Conclusion There was a high prevalence of ethmoid sinus variations in this Southern Chinese population. The prevalence of Agger nasi cell and Onodi cell was higher than that of other anatomical variations of the ethmoid sinuses. Anatomical variations of the ethmoid sinuses were not associated with ethmoid or maxillary sinus pathologies in this patient cohort.
The effect of compositional and geometrical changes to the bending strength of the Ghanaian ceramic pot filter

Pure Home Water (PHW) is a non-profit organization with the goal of providing safe drinking water through household water treatment and storage (HWTS) to the inhabitants of Ghana, particularly in the Northern Region. To this end, PHW has pursued the distribution and training in the use of the Kosim ceramic pot filter (CPF), and now wishes to pursue its manufacture. Laboratory studies have found the CPF to be between 97.8 and 100% efficient in the removal of E. coil bacteria. One of the main reasons for a household's discontinued use of the CPF is breakage. In a follow up monitoring of 1,000 homes receiving CPFs after an emergency flood distribution in 2008, the rate of breakage was found to be 12%. To address this critical problem, the author performed a three-point bending test on rectangular-prism clay samples with varying recipes and thicknesses in an attempt to determine bending strengths associated with the recipes with the aim of moderating the lip failure due to the possible failure mechanism of bending stress. Filter recipes were assigned numbers 1 through 14 based on combustible type, presence or absence of grog, combustible volume, and manufacturing process. The recipes which incorporated only fine, sieved combustible materials yielded the highest mean bending strengths. Statistically significant decreases in bending strength were realized with the increase of combustible mass. The inclusion of grog was generally found to have no statistically significant impact on the bending strength. Experimentally observed gains in bending strength with increased thickness supported theoretical strength gains with the square of the thickness. The variable of firing condition was found to be a significant but unquantifiable variable in the bending strength of the samples. In all cases, the lower bound of a 95% confidence interval of the mean bending strength of the materials was found to exceed the expected bending stress on the filter lip due to predicted loading conditions. It is recommended that PHW pursue the manufacture of a fine-and-waste rice husk recipe with a 3:8 combustible-to-clay ratio without the inclusion of grog. It is recommended that the lip of the filter be thickened to 25 mm. It is recommended that pyrometric cones be placed in the spy-hole and door of the kiln during each firing and monitored once an hour until the guide cone bends, and once every fifteen minutes thereafter until the firing cone bends, at which time firing should cease. It is recommended that consultation with kiln designer Manny Hernandez be maintained so as to create even firing conditions within the kiln.
Stress, growth, cytokines and histopathological effects of permethrin in common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

ABSTRACT Although permethrin has low toxicity in mammals, it affects many aquatic organisms directly or indirectly due to its high insecticide potential. In this study, changes in the levels of some hormones, cytokines and histopathological effects in the gill and liver were studied in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to permethrin at different doses (0, 10 and 20 ppm) and durations (4 days and 21 days). Permethrin exposure showed significant (P < 0.05) elevation in the serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol (CORT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL- 1β) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) while decrease in growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in duration- and concentration dependent-manner compared to the control group. Histopathological findings such as reduction in secondary interlamellar space in the gill tissue, shortening of secondary lamellae, merging, fusion, oedema and telangiectasia were obtained. In the liver tissue, histopathological symptoms such as vacuolization of hepatocytes, passive hyperaemia, mononuclear cell infiltration and hepatocellular degeneration were observed. As a result, it was determined that permethrin had a toxic effect on common carp depending on the dose and duration exposure.
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Routing on Software-Defined Networks

With an exponential increase in network traffic demands requiring quality of services, the need for routing optimization has become more prominent. Recently, the advent of software-defined networking (SDN) technology enables centralized management and operation, and the networking resources such as switches become flexibly configurable through programmable interfaces. In this paper, we propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based routing optimization on an SDN. In the proposed method, the DRL agent learns the interdependency between the traffic load of network switches and the network performance, and decides an optimal set of link weights to make a balance between the end-to-end delay and packet losses of the network. The SDN controller determines the routing paths using the set of link weights and installs the flow-rules on the SDN-enabled switches. To overcome an extensively long learning process of DRL in a case of topology change, we develop an M/M/1/K queue-based network model and perform the learning process of DRL using the network model in an offline manner until it is converged. The simulation results demonstrate the proposed routing method outperforms a conventional hop-count routing and a traffic demand-based RL algorithm in several network topologies.
Clinicopathological features and prognosis of papillary thyroid cancer patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and patients with PTC alone were explored and compared in order to provide a more reasonable treatment plan for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of these patients. Methods A total of 1,771 patients from January 2017 to December 2019 who underwent PTC surgery for the first time in the west branch of the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 111 patients had PTC with T2DM (D-T group) and 1,660 patients had PTC alone (PTC group). The differences in general data and clinical characteristics between the D-T group and the PTC group were analyzed. Results There were statistically significant differences in age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) between the D-T group and PTC group (P<0.05). Multifocality and extra-glandular invasion in the D-T group were significantly higher than the PTC group (P<0.05). In women, the D-T group was older, had a higher BMI, and was more likely to have extra-glandular invasion (P<0.05) than the PTC group. The prognosis of the D-T group was worse than that of the PTC group as determined by 3 well-developed prognostic staging systems, 8th AJCC TNM staging, MAGIS SCORE, AMES staging, and the results were statistically significant (P=0.001, P<0.001, P=0.021). Conclusions Our study showed that the overall prognosis of PTC patients with T2DM was worse than that of patients with PTC alone. At the same time, especially in patients younger than 55 years of age, multifocal carcinoma and extra-glandular invasion are likely to occur. In addition, female patients with T2DM are more likely to have extra-glandular invasion than male patients. Therefore, for such patients, preoperative evaluation should be fully conducted.
Access Site Bleeding Complications with NOACs versus VKAs in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Cardiac Implantable Device Intervention

There are no data on procedure-related bleeding outcome with non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (NOACs) versus vitamin K antagonist anticoagulants (VKAs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) intervention. Our aim was to evaluate whether NOACs have a safety benefit even in terms of fewer hemorrhagic complications at the site of CIED implant. Consecutive AF patients receiving NOACs or VKAs at the time of CIED procedure were included in this observational, retrospective, and monocentric investigation. Primary endpoint was the incidence of post-intervention pocket hematoma. A total of 311 patients were enrolled, 146 on NOACs, and 165 on VKAs. The incidence of pocket hematoma was 3.4% in the NOAC versus 13.3% in the VKA group (p = 0.002). Primary outcome-free survival at 30-days was 96.6% in patients on NOACs and 86.0% in those on VKAs (p = 0.019). Multivariate analysis, adjusted by propensity-score calculation of inverse-probability-weighting, showed a significantly lower occurrence of pocket hematoma in patients receiving NOACs versus VKAs (HR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13–0.96, p = 0.042). Such NOACs benefit was confirmed versus patients on VKAs without peri-procedural bridging with low-molecular-weight heparin (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.11–0.99, p = 0.048). The incidence of pocket infection, surgical pocket evacuation, ischemic events, and major bleeding complications at 30 days (secondary endpoints) was similar in the two groups. In conclusion, our data suggest that, among patients with AF undergoing implantable cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker intervention, the use of NOACs versus VKAs may be associated with significant reduction of post-procedural pocket hematoma, regardless of bridging with low-molecular-weight heparin in the VKA group. These results are hypothesis generating and need to be confirmed in a specific randomized study.