Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling Driver Compliance to VSL and Quantifying Impacts of Compliance Levels and Control Strategy in Mobility and Safety

Variable Speed Limits (VSL) aim to improve freeway mobility and safety by controlling collective behaviours of drivers who are coming from upstream and ramps. Thus, VSL benefits should be positively correlated with VSL compliance level (CL). Surprisingly, a number of heuristic VSL control strategies have shown that VSL with increased CLs can, in fact, increase travel time. However, it is yet to be analyzed whether or not that outcome is due to the control strategy design or the CL. Some recent studies have shown that, regardless of CL, a proactive optimal VSL control provides mobility benefits; however, no evidence was found to indicate which CL is most achievable in practice, nor was a description found for the distribution of speed of a given VSL. The objective of this paper is to quantify the relative contribution that CLs with a proactive optimal VSL control have on improving mobility and safety. In this study, several CL-to-VSL strategies were modeled after real-world driver behaviour. To quantify the impact of CLs only, speed distributions were altered with the static speed limit. Then, the benefits were quantified by implementing a proactive optimal VSL control strategy with the CLs. The simulation evaluation showed that both VSL mobility and safety benefits are positively correlated with increasing CLs. Specifically, the travel time, throughput, and collision probability are improved in the range of 5- 15%, 6-8%, and 50-60%, respectively. The study findings will help guide transportation agencies in deploying VSL control considering CL, so as to achieve maximum mobility and safety benefits.
Evidence that Adiponectin Fuels LKB1/ERα Interaction in Breast Cancer Cells

Obesity is characterized by a chronic and excessive growth of adipose tissue and it is increasingly recognized as an oncogenic factor. Due to its endocrine function, adipose tissue secretes several bioactive molecules known as adipocytokines. Among these, adiponectin plays a key role in the pathogenesis of different obesity‐associated diseases, including malignancies, such as breast cancer.
Meat, Commerce and the City: The London Food Market, 1800–1855

Introduction 1 The Smithfield System in the Nineteenth Century: A Grand Complexus 2 The Smithfield System in the Nineteenth Century: The Consumers 3 The Smithfield Battle Begins 4 Smithfield's Urban Landscape: Space in Transition 5 'A Grateful Odor Runneth Round': Public Health and Smithfield 6 Necessarily Cruel? Beef, Brutes and Women in Smithfield 7 The Final Act: 1840-55 Epilogue
Optimization of 3D Inlay Mode of “Z-Pins Like” V0.9-Si0.1 Rods and Their Improvement Effect on the Anti-Ablative Performance of C/C-ZrC-SiC

Neoteric “Z-pins like” vanadium0.9-silicon0.1 rods (V0.9-Si0.1 rods) as polybasic multiphase oxide compensators were prepared to improve the anti-ablation of C/C-ZrC-SiC over 2500 °C. The microstructure and improvement effect on the anti-ablation of different C/C-ZrC-SiC surface were investigated. Results show that the density of “Z-pins like” V0.9-Si0.1 rod was effectively improved after adding Si. When ablation time was less than 180 s, “Z-pins like” V0.9-Si0.1 rods perpendicular to non-woven cloth layer presented the best improvement of the anti-ablation performance by liquid/gaseous multicomponent oxide compensation. However, when ablation time was greater than 180 s, “Z-pins like” V0.9-Si0.1 rods perpendicular to non-woven cloth layer increased another harm that weaken the anti-ablative performance of C/C-ZrC-SiC, namely, the corrosion damage of oxide layer on the matrix surface caused by excessive oxide melt. Therefore, there is a best improvement of the anti-ablation performance of “Z-pins like” V0.9-Si0.1 rods parallel to non-woven cloth layer.
Wind Power

The free convections of the fluids water and air over the globe lead to evaporation of water and generation of winds, respectively. Heinrich Hertz and M King Hubbert both assign 40000·10 12 W solar power for evaporation of water and subsequent annual rainfall of around one meter over the globe. However, Hertz has mentioned two estimates 400·10 12 W and 4000·10 12 W in his handwritten lecture notes of 1885 for the wind power. This ambiguity is resolved in present paper showing wind power is of the order 400·10 12 W on the basis of his statement that winds should be of the same order of magnitude as that involved in rainfall. This estimate for wind power also matches with the value 370·10 12 W assigned by M King Hubbert. Craig F Bohren’s observation that heat transfer coefficient for water is 120 times larger than air is shown to be equal to the ratio of solar power going into evaporation and wind channels. Both Hertz’s and Hubbert’s estimates for evaporation and wind channels further show that solar power for evaporation is two order magnitudes more than solar power generating the winds.
Clinical and radiological factors predict unexplained early neurological deterioration after intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke

Background Some patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke (MCA-stroke) cannot benefit from thrombolysis and develop early neurological deterioration (END) within 24 hours. Except for several defenitive causes such as symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, malignant edema, and early recurrent stroke, no definitive mechanism (unexplained END) account for majority of END cases deserving our attention. Methods We retrospectively collected 142 MCA-stroke patients who had pretreatment multimodal CT including non-contrast CT (NCCT), CT angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) and received intravenous thrombolytic therapy within 4.5h of onset and. Unexplained END was denited as NIHSS scores increased from baseline within 24 hours after thrombolysis ≥ 4 points or death without definite causes. The clinical and imaging data based on multimodal CT were compared between unexplained END and no END through univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Results The prevalence of unexplained END (24 patients, 16.9%) outnumbered the prevalence of END due to other causes. Univariate analysis showed that higher admission glucose (P= 0.039), lower initial NIHSS score (P=0.026), lower r-LMC score (P= 0.003), proximal occlusion (P=0.003) and large penumbra volume(P<0.001) were more frequently observed in patients with unexplained END; In multivariate analysis, lower NIHSS score (OR=1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.32; P=0.001), proximal occlusion (OR=0.32; 95% CI, 0.06-0.92; P=0.038), lower r-LMC score (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.02-1.35; P=0.028) and larger penumbra volume (OR=0.98; 95% CI, 0.96-0.99; P=0.003) were associated with unexplained END. Conclusion Lower NIHSS score, proximal occlusion, lower r-LMC score and larger penumbra volume can predict unexplained END in the hyperacute phase of MCA-stroke and contribute to develop treatment strategies.
Statistical Joint Modeling of Longitudinal CD4 Cell variation and Time-to-Lost Follow-up from ART Predictors on HIV/AIDS Patients: A case of Mekelle General Hospital

Back ground: Time-to-lost follow-up and CD4 cell variation measures are the outcome variables of infection in HIV/AIDS patients after starting ART in this study. The time-to-lost follow-up from ART was determined by month time interval among dates of ART commencement to drop-out, as documented by the health information data administrator. The main goal of this study was to identify association of CD4 cell variation measurements on time-to-lost follow-up and main predictors of HIV/AIDS positive patients.Methods: Institution based retrospective cohort study design was used among 216 HIV/AIDS patients under ART follow-up from period September 11, 2013 to September 5, 2016 at Mekelle General Hospital, Ethiopia and employed both survival and longitudinal outcome to fit separate and statistical joint modeling approach.Results: A total of 216 HIV/AIDS patients were selected using systematic random sampling technique to analyze the longitudinal and survival outcome using joint model study. The result of this study showed that relationship between CD4 cell variation on hazard of time-to-lost follow-up was negatively statistical significant. Thus, time-to-lost follow-up from ART is less probable to occur in HIV/AIDS patients which have higher CD4 cell evolution. In survival sub-model Baseline CD4, sex of male, living in rural and comorbidity HIV/TB were significant factors of risk to time-to-lost follow-up from ART of HIV/AIDS patients. The longitudinal sub-model shows Baseline CD4 cell and being bedridden were significant factors of variation at 5% significance levels.Conclusions: The author assessed relationship of repeated measured CD4 cell variation on hazard of time-to-lost follow-up was negatively statistical significant and performance of both separate and statistical joint sub-models in terms model parsimony, smaller AIC & smaller standard error in statistical joint model performs. Thus, the author concluded that statistical joint model was preferred for simultaneous analyses of repeated biomarker CD4 cell and survival time-to-lost follow-up data.
Effect of Barley Flour on Quality of Restructured Spent Hen Meat Blocks

Background: Spent hen meat is considered as poor because of comparatively higher toughness and chewiness. The present study was envisaged to find out the effect of barley flour on the quality characteristics of restructured spent hen meat blocks.Methods: Barley flour (1:1 hydration, w/w) was incorporated at the levels of 4, 6 and 8% by replacing the lean meat in pre-standardized restructured spent hen meat blocks (RSHMB) formulation and evaluated for physico-chemical, sensory and textural quality.Result: Product yield was significantly higher (P less than 0.05) and at 6 and 8% level of barley flour as compared to control. Fat percentage and shear force value of RSHMB was significantly lower (P less than 0.05) at 8% level of barley flour as compared to control. There were no significant differences in the scores for general appearance, texture, binding, juiciness and overall acceptability of RSHMB of control as well as those incorporated with different levels of barley flour. Texture profile analysis revealed that the hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of RSHMB with 8% barley flour were significantly lower (P less than 0.05) than that of control. Optimum incorporation level of barley flour for the preparation of restructured spent hen meat blocks was adjudged as 8%. The production cost of RSHMB with 8% barley flour reduced by Rs. 18.4/Kg than that of control. The developed restructured spent hen meat blocks with 8% barley flour can be utilized as texture-modified nutritious soft food products.
Operational Evaluation of Right Turns Followed by U-Turns at Signalized Intersections (6 or More Lanes) as an Alternative to Direct Left Turns

Florida uses restrictive medians and directional median openings to manage left turns and crossing movements on multilane highways. Left turn egress movements from driveways or side streets are replaced by turning right onto the major road and then making U-turns at downstream median openings or signalized intersections. One of the public concerns regarding this treatment is that drivers making a right-turn followed by a U-turn (RTUT) could experience much longer delay and travel time than those who would otherwise make a direct left turn (DLT). This study analyzed the operational effects of this widely used access management treatment. Data were collected on eight selected street segments in the Tampa Bay area in Florida. A total of more than 300 hours of traffic data were collected using video cameras. Empirical models were developed based on the collected field data to quantitatively evaluate the operational impacts. Delay and travel time models provided a tool to help address public concerns related to the operational impacts of U-turns and were particularly helpful in identifying the circumstances in which the RTUT takes less time than the DLT. Additionally, a ratio model was developed to estimate how many drivers would like to make a RTUT instead of a DLT under specific traffic volume and roadway geometric conditions. The findings of this study are helpful in providing local and state transportation agencies with recommendations for the design and selection of median treatments in six- to eight-lane urban or suburban arterial roads.
Deciphering early-warning signals of SARS-CoV-2 elimination and resurgence from limited data at multiple scales

Inferring the transmission potential of an infectious disease during low-incidence periods following epidemic waves is crucial for preparedness. In such periods, scarce data may hinder existing inference methods, blurring early-warning signals essential for discriminating between the likelihoods of resurgence versus elimination. Advanced insight into whether elevating caseloads (requiring swift community-wide interventions) or local elimination (allowing controls to be relaxed or refocussed on case-importation) might occur can separate decisive from ineffective policy. By generalizing and fusing recent approaches, we propose a novel early-warning framework that maximizes the information extracted from low-incidence data to robustly infer the chances of sustained local transmission or elimination in real time, at any scale of investigation (assuming sufficiently good surveillance). Applying this framework, we decipher hidden disease-transmission signals in prolonged low-incidence COVID-19 data from New Zealand, Hong Kong and Victoria, Australia. We uncover how timely interventions associate with averting resurgent waves, support official elimination declarations and evidence the effectiveness of the rapid, adaptive COVID-19 responses employed in these regions.
Impact of spontaneous hepatocellular carcinoma rupture on surgical outcome after liver resection: a systemic review and meta-analysis

Background Spontaneous tumor rupture is a rare but life-threatening complication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The impact of spontaneous ruptured HCC on long-term survival after liver resection (LR) remains unclear. Our aim was to compare the surgical outcome in patients who underwent LR with ruptured and non-ruptured HCC . Methods A comprehensive search using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Science Citation Index Expanded databases was performed. The primary outcomes were the hazard ratio (HR) for overall survival ( OS) and disease free survival (DFS). The secondary outcomes included morbidity, hospital mortality and recurrence rate . Results Ten retrospective studies including 3222 patients met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis revealed a significantly poorer OS and DFS for patients with ruptured HCC compared to patients with non-ruptured HCC (HR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.61-2.54; P< 0.00001 and HR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.56-2.35; P<0.00001, respectively). In the subgroup analysis, both the propensity score matching (PSM) and non-PSM studies demonstrated a significantly poorer OS in the ruptured HCC group (P=0.02 and P<0.00001, respectively). However, meta-analysis of two PSM studies showed that there was not significant difference in the DFS between the two groups (P=0.50). Patients in the ruptured HCC group had a higher mortality and recurrence rate than the non-ruptured HCC group, but the difference was not significant (P = 0.05 and P = 0.06, respectively) Conclusions Surgical outcomes of the patients with the ruptured or non-ruptured HCC undergoing LR were not only affected by tumor rupture itself, but also by the tumor characteristics and liver functional status. Therefore, classifying all ruptured but resectable HCC as T4 stage is unable to accurately represent their true prognosis.
‘Please leave your mobile phone on’ : Social educational networking in a social society : Encouraging in-class engagement at QUT across physical and virtual learning environments

Though stadium style seating in large lecture theatres may suggest otherwise, effective teaching and learning is a not a spectator sport. A challenge in creating effective learning environments in both physical and virtual spaces is to provide optimal opportunity for student engagement in active learning. Queensland University of Technology (QUT) has developed the Open Web Lecture (OWL), a new web-based student response application, which seamlessly integrates a virtual learning environment within the physical learning space. The result is a blended learning experience; a fluid collaboration between academic and students connected to OWL via the University’s Wi-Fi using their own laptop or mobile web device. QUT is currently piloting the OWL application to encourage student engagement. OWL offers opportunities for participants to: • Post comments and questions • Reply to comments • "Like" comments • Poll students and review data • Review archived sessions. Many of these features instinctively appeal to student users of social networking media, yet avail the academic of control within the University network. Student privacy is respected through a system of preserving peer-peer anonymity, a functionality that seeks to address a traditional reluctance to speak up in large classes. The pilot is establishing OWL as an opportunity for engaging students in active learning opportunities by enabling • virtual learning in physical spaces for large group lectures, seminar groups, workshops and conferences • live collaborative technology connecting students and the academic via the wireless network using their own laptop or mobile device • an non- intimidating environment in which to ask questions • promotion of a sense of community • instant feedback • problem based learning. The student and academic response to OWL has been overwhelmingly positive, crediting OWL as an easy to use application, which creates effective learning opportunities though interactivity and immediate feedback. This poster and accompanying online presentation of the technology will demonstrate how OWL offers new possibilities for active learning in physical spaces by: • providing increased opportunity for student engagement • supporting a range of learners and learning activities • fostering blended learning experiences. The presentation will feature visual displays of the technology, its various interfaces and feedback including clips from interviews with students and academics participating in the early stages of the pilot.
Community Health Workers’ Involvement in Mother-Child Care During the First Year After Birth, in Kaya Health District, Burkina Faso: A Contribution Analysis

Background: Maternal and infant morbidity and mortality remain high in the world and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. However, actions to strengthen postpartum care are still weak and mainly limited to health facilities (HFs). The Missed Opportunities in Mother and Infant Health (MOMI) project implemented in the Kaya health district in Burkina Faso included community-based health workers (CHWs) in the care of women and children during the first year postpartum through home visits, accompanying mothers to health facilities and outreach sessions. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of CHWs to postpartum women’s health facilities attendance.Methods: We conducted an effect assessment using Mayne and Lemire's contribution analysis framework. This was a mixed methodsstudy. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through project document review and individual semi-structured interviews with key-informants.Results:The CHW carried out home visits, accompanied women to HFs, conducted outreach sessions and referred to health facilities, mothers or children who were showing signs of danger.All the participants interviewed acknowledged that the number of women, who came to postpartum care, had increased since the implementation of the project activities. Postpartum consultation rates within the first week postpartum increased from 29% in 2011 to 80% in 2015 and from 19% to 50% within 6 weeks. Others interventions such as the Performance based financing, the Save The Children (NGO) nutritional project and the health services component of MOMI were the alternative explanations.Conclusions: Community-based health workers involvement in the care of women contributed to improve their adherence to postpartum consultations in Kaya health district.
A Case Study of Server Selection by Tina Tyan

Replication is a commonly used technique to improve availability and performance in a distributed system. Server selection takes advantage of the replicas to improve the end-toend performance seen by users of the system. CFS is a distributed, cooperative file system that inherently replicates each piece of data and spreads it to machines dispersed around the network. It provides mechanisms for both locating and retrieving data. This thesis considers the application of server selection to improving performance in CFS, in both the data location and data retrieval steps. Various server selection metrics and methods were tested in an Internet testbed of 10-15 hosts to evaluate the relative benefits and costs of each method. For the lookup step, we find that the triangle inequality holds with good enough correlation that past latency data stored on intermediary nodes can be used to select each server along the lookup path and reduce overall latency. For the data retrieval step, we find that selecting based on an initial ping probe significantly improves performance over random selection, and is only somewhat worse than issuing parallel requests to every replica and taking the first to respond. We also find that it may be possible to use past latency data for data retrieval. Thesis Supervisor: M. Frans Kaashoek Title: Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
INTELLIGENT SPEED ADAPTATION - EFFECTS ON DRIVING BEHAVIOUR

The objective of this study was to answer the following questions: How do the drivers experience Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) - informative, compulsory and recording? How does ISA affect driving behaviour? What are the differences between the different types of ISA systems? In a field study 24 subjects drove the instrumented car with route guidance and ISA. Every subject drove the same route four times. The route included different types of traffic environment with different speed limits. The speed limits were 40, 60, 70 and 80 kilometres per hour and the environment varied from motorway to residential area. This paper discusses the study and its results.
The Effectiveness of Mentoring in ELT Context

In their beginning stages of learning, the teachers require more practical ideas on how to choose and behave effectively to be a successful teacher. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of mentoring as a tool for aiding teachers’ development and teacher’s portfolio assessment of the teaching skills of Iranian ELT teachers. Classroom observation via a checklist and an interview was used to examine the effectiveness of mentoring in the Iranian ELT context. The findings indicated the effectiveness of mentoring in teachers' teaching skills and some of its shortcomings.
Investigation of internal bus safety measures

This project sought to: 1. Investigate the costs and associated implications of implementing vehicle-based countermeasures or actions; 2. Determine the economic value of each countermeasure or action; 3. Identify the tasks involved and the timing options for implementation. The project was conducted in two stages. During the first stage key stakeholders and bus manufacturers were contacted in an effort to collect information relating to the operation of school bus fleets across Australia. During the second stage the collected information was reviewed. The financial costs and implications associated with the potential implementation of the vehicle-based countermeasures under investigation were also examined as part of this review. This examination provides an analysis of the potential costs that could be expected if additional internal bus safety measures were implemented. This information is expected to assist jurisdictions in their consideration of school bus safety issues.