Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relay Selection and Power Allocation for Energy Efficiency Maximization in Hybrid Satellite-UAV Networks With CoMP-NOMA Transmission

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and coordinated multi-point (CoMP) are two fundamental techniques considered for the fifth generation (5 G) of wireless communications. In this paper, a hybrid satellite-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) relay network (HSURN) is proposed where the UAV relays (URs) employ CoMP transmission to serve the terrestrial users (UEs). Furthermore, all UEs associated with the CoMP-URs form a single NOMA cluster. For this model, an optimization problem is formulated subject to the minimum quality of services (QoSs) requirements of the UEs, transmission power budgets and, successive interference cancellation (SIC), to select URs and allocate their transmission powers for the energy efficiency (EE) maximization. With this insight, first, a computationally efficient sub-optimal UR selection scheme is proposed. Then, the powers are allocated to the selected URs via the Lagrange multipliers optimization (LMO) method. Due to the non-convex nature of the considered problem, it is relatively difficult to be solved. Hence, a metaheuristic teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm is employed to achieve an efficient solution. Simulation results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed sub-optimal relay selection scheme and the TLBO-based power allocation method compared to the LMO conventional method. Besides, the obtained results also reveal that the CoMP-NOMA transmission in the proposed scenario significantly improves the spectral efficiency (SE) and outage probability (OP) of the system compared to non-comp NOMA transmission case.
Maintaining Clinical Training Continuity during COVID-19 Pandemic: Nursing Students’ Perceptions about Simulation-Based Learning

Background: Simulation-based learning (SBL) in nursing education is an innovative pedagogical approach that has significantly improved nursing education. Adopting SBL provides a controlled environment for meeting educational objectives without the risk of harm to real patients. Given that social distancing is required during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, SBL is a suitable alternative to clinical training for nursing students to learn and acquire the required clinical competencies. The study aimed to describe the effectiveness of SBL as a complete substitute for clinical experience from the perspective of students. This cross-sectional descriptive survey investigated students’ perceptions regarding the description of the effectiveness of SBL in four nursing colleges at four different universities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Settings: Four nursing colleges at four different universities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Participants included nursing students who attended simulation sessions. Data were collected by distributing a self-administrated online questionnaire, the Modified Simulation Effectiveness Tool (SET-M), which is a 19-item. Results: Approximately two-thirds of the participants were in their third (30.4%) and fourth (44.5%) academic year. The highest student presentation was for Site 1 (39.5%) and Site 2 (32.5%). Significant differences existed in all domains according to sex and university (p ≤ 0.001). There was a significant difference in relation to the level of agreement for pre-briefing, scenario, and debriefing domains (<0.001). Conclusions: SBL is a valuable teaching strategy that enhances nursing students’ self-awareness, self-confidence, clinical performance, and efficiency in performing procedures with considerable gender variation. Female students had more positive perceptions toward simulation effectiveness.
Asphaltenes as model compounds of the UIBs/AIBs detected in various astrophysical objects. Part 3: Petroleum asphaltenes high energy radiation processed

Abstract The asphaltenes isolated from a heavy petroleum fractions were subjected to radiation damage using either neutron bombardment (corpuscular radiation simulating cosmic rays) or γ-rays (high energy electromagnetic radiation). The purpose was to study how the radiation damage changes the spectral, thermal properties and other properties of the asphaltenes in a possible simulation of the destiny of these molecules exposed to the harsh circumstellar and interstellar medium. In fact, the asphaltenes were proposed as model molecules matching the MAONs model (mixed aromatic/aliphatic organic nanoparticles), the supposed carriers of the unidentified infrared bands known also as aromatic infrared bands or the unidentified infrared bands which represent a series of discrete infrared emission bands detected in numerous and different astrophysical environments. Thus, the pristine and radiation-damaged asphaltenes were studied with scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA-DTG) and electron spin resonance.
An Economic Evaluation of ‘Sheds for Life’: A Community-Based Men’s Health Initiative for Men’s Sheds in Ireland

Men’s Sheds (‘Sheds’) attract a diverse cohort of men and, as such, have been identified as spaces with the potential to engage marginalized subpopulations with more structured health promotion. ‘Sheds for Life’ is a 10-week men’s health initiative for Sheds in Ireland and the first structured health promotion initiative formally evaluated in Sheds. Cost is an important implementation outcome in the evaluation of Sheds for Life when operating in an environment where budgets are limited. Therefore, an economic evaluation is critical to highlight cost-effectiveness for decision makers who determine sustainability. This is the first study to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of health endeavors in Sheds. All costs from pre-implementation to maintenance phases were gathered, and questionnaires incorporating the SF-6D were administered to participants (n = 421) at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Then, utility scores were generated to determine quality-adjusted life years (QALYS). Results demonstrate that the intervention group experienced an average 3.3% gain in QALYS from baseline to 3 months and a further 2% gain from 3 months to 6 months at an estimated cost per QALY of €15,724. These findings highlight that Sheds for Life is a cost-effective initiative that effectively engages and enhances the well-being of Shed members.
Academic development as a strategy to enhance teaching quality in research intensive universities: the Portuguese context

Academic development in Portugal was until recently not a priority in universities. This situation has altered, partially motivated by the demands for high-quality teaching and learning, mainly influenced by the international and national guidelines and principles of quality assurance, and by a certain ‘pressure’ for accountability and improvement purposes of teaching and learning. This paper discusses the recent interest for academic development in Portuguese higher education institutions after the so called ‘Bologna process’, and the implications that such initiatives have for promoting teaching quality and a ‘teaching culture’ in research intensive universities. This discussion will be oriented through the view of a researcher on higher education who has been involved in academic development since 2005. Setting the scene The higher education (HE) system in Portugal comprises university and polytechnic institutions, which can be public, state-university foundations, or private. There are 133 HE institutions, which 39 are public or state-university foundations and 94 private. The university and polytechnic systems have fairly different approaches, dynamics and legislation. The polytechnics are vocationally or professionally oriented and do not carry out fundamental research as do the universities. Only applied research is conducted at the polytechnics. The educational aim of polytechnics is, mainly, to train students to be successful professionals in their working place. The number of HE institutions in Portugal expanded rapidly in the eighties and early nineties as a response to an increase in student numbers enrolling. The number of students in HE institutions has grown from 30,000 in the sixties to nearly 400,000 in 2003. Nevertheless, recent and projected downturn in enrolments has led to a marked imbalance between supply and demand for study programmes. The result is an enhanced competition between institutions and an increased need for a more effective means of assuring academic standards are maintained as well as for more effective institutional management and governance (Dimas, 2005). This article focuses the discussion on how academic development can enhance teaching in a research environment and how academic development has been implemented in Portuguese HE institutions. The discussion is supported by data gathered in the context of academic development courses and workshops that ran between 2005 and 2010, and from the ‘Quality
General and unique predictors of student success in online courses: A systematic review and focus group

Despite the increase in the availability and popularity of online educational programs, there is a lack of understanding of non-academic as well as academic predictors of online student success. In this study, we have investigated predictors of tertiary level student success via the Psychology discipline, a popular online subject. A systematic literature review, followed by focus groups with students and instructors from online Psychology courses, revealed several important findings including a profile of general predictors of online student success and the existence of discipline-specific online student success predictors which can be extended to a variety of health care courses. Understanding the indicators of effective online education will allow course designers and instructors to develop strategies specific to the online mode and particular disciplines, enabling implementation of evidence-based education practices, which can support academic and non-academic student success in a range of online courses.
Association between oral anticoagulants and COVID-19-related outcomes: a population-based cohort study

Background Early evidence has shown that anticoagulant reduces the risk of thrombotic events in those infected with COVID-19. However, evidence of the role of routinely prescribed oral anticoagulants (OACs) in COVID-19 outcomes is limited. Aim To investigate the association between OACs and COVID-19 outcomes in those with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2. Design and setting On behalf of NHS England, a population-based cohort study was conducted. Method The study used primary care data and pseudonymously-linked SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing data, hospital admissions, and death records from England. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for COVID-19 outcomes comparing people with current OAC use versus non-use, accounting for age, sex, comorbidities, other medications, deprivation, and general practice. Results Of 71 103 people with atrial fibrillation and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2, there were 52 832 current OAC users and 18 271 non-users. No difference in risk of being tested for SARS-CoV-2 was associated with current use (adjusted HR [aHR] 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.95 to 1.04) versus non-use. A lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (aHR 0.77, 95% CI = 0.63 to 0.95) and a marginally lower risk of COVID-19-related death (aHR, 0.74, 95% CI = 0.53 to 1.04) were associated with current use versus non-use. Conclusion Among those at low baseline stroke risk, people receiving OACs had a lower risk of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and severe COVID-19 outcomes than non-users; this might be explained by a causal effect of OACs in preventing severe COVID-19 outcomes or unmeasured confounding, including more cautious behaviours leading to reduced infection risk.
Media effects on opinions about climate change mitigation and the Norwegian petroleum industry

With this thesis I aim to investigate the media influences on Norwegian public opinions on climate change mitigation policies, with a particular emphasis on mitigation policies that target the Norwegian petroleum industry. This is acheived within a theoretical framework that is built to fit both the media and trust as important influences on public opinion. Drawing on theories of motivated reasoning, media representation, and trust in a politically legitimating capacity, I study Norwegian survey data from the first wave of the Norwegian citizen panel. The results show that people relying on TV for their news update are more prone to be negative toward climate change mitigation policies that target the petroleum industry, whereas people who read the newspapers and use Twitter are positive toward the proposed policies. In addition, people who are supportive of mitigation policies targeting the petroleum industry do not trust the Norwegian cabinet, but they do trust other people. The results are the opposite when the respondents are unsupportive of the proposed policies. These findings suggests first, that there might be substantial differences between the content of the TV news as compared to the newspapers. Second, that the petroleum industry rises the stakes, and talking about climate change and the petroleum industry at the same time engages people more than if industries in general are discussed. Third, political trust may be built on trust norms that emphasize values such as national economic development and competitiveness, which renders much support for the Norwegian petroleum industry among the public, and will make it hard to establish policies that are not reciprocated by other countries. On the other hand, the level of social trust is relatively high, which may indicate that establishing collective action on climate change is well within the realm of the possible.
Haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve long-term survival for children with high-risk T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in first complete remission

Abstract Background: The role of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with high-risk (HR) T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in first complete remission (CR1) is still under evaluation. Moreover, relapse is the main factor affecting survival. This study aimed to explore the effect of allo-HSCT (especially haploidentical HSCT [haplo-HSCT]) on improving survival and reducing relapse for HR childhood T-ALL in CR1 and the prognostic factors of childhood T-ALL in order to identify who could benefit from HSCT. Methods: A total of 74 newly diagnosed pediatric T-ALL patients between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2018 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were stratified into the low-risk chemotherapy cohort (n = 16), HR chemotherapy cohort (n = 31), and HR transplant cohort (n = 27). Characteristics, survival outcomes, and prognostic factors of all patients were then analyzed. Results: Patient prognosis in the HR chemotherapy cohort was significantly worse than that in the low-risk chemotherapy cohort (5year overall survival [OS]: 58.5% vs. 100%, P = 0.003; 5-year event-free survival [EFS]: 54.1% vs. 83.4%, P = 0.010; 5-year cumulative incidence of relapse [CIR]: 45.2% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.011). In HR patients, allo-HSCT improved the 5-year EFS and CIR compared to that of chemotherapy (5-year EFS: 80.1% vs. 54.1%, P = 0.041; 5-year CIR: 11.6% vs. 45.2%, P = 0.006). The 5-year OS was higher in the HR transplant cohort than that in the HR chemotherapy cohort (81.0% vs. 58.5%, P = 0.084). Minimal residual disease re-emergence was an independent risk factor for 5-year OS, EFS, and CIR; age ≥10 years was an independent risk factor for OS and EFS; and high white blood cell count was an independent risk factor for EFS and CIR. Conclusion: Allo-HSCT, especially haplo-HSCT, could effectively reduce relapse of children with HR T-ALL in CR1.
Crescimento e sobrevivência de castanheira (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl., Lecythidaceae) plantada em diferentes condições de luminosidade após seis anos de plantio na região do rio Trombetas, Oriximiná, Pará

Este estudo avaliou o desempenho e a sobrevivência da castanheira (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl., Lecythidaceae) em três ambientes com diferentes condições de luz em plantios experimentais localizados na região do rio Trombetas (Oriximiná, Pará). Três tratamentos ambientais de exposição à luz: roçados de mandioca abandonados (100% de abertura de dossel), capoeiras jovens (20-80%) e sub-bosque de castanhais (< 10%), com quatro repetições, foram utilizados para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa. Por seis anos, mediram-se as plantas (altura, diâmetro do caule) e registraram-se os episódios de mortalidade e rebrotação. As plantas de castanheira no roçado tiveram um crescimento muito maior, em altura e diâmetro, que as dos outros dois tratamentos. O índice de sobrevivência das castanheiras plantadas variou conforme o tratamento adotado: 90% (roçado), 77% (capoeira) e 21% (sub-bosque de castanhal). A capacidade de rebrotação das plantas de castanheira foi altíssima no tratamento de roçado, recuperando-se de forma significativa após um ano da perturbação severa causada por fogo e com surgimento majoritário de mais de um caule. Conclui-se que a castanheira é uma árvore fortemente dependente de luz para o seu desempenho juvenil, com alta sobrevivência em condições de exposição à luz e com alta capacidade de rebrotação após perturbação por fogo.
Physics and psychoacoustics of plucked-string instruments

The overall goal of this work is to help classical guitar makers to have better control over the potential sound of their instruments. This is done by correlating changes in the vibrational behaviour of an instrument with perceivable changes in its radiated sound. Three strategies have been employed in this thesis in an attempt to accomplish this goal. An investigation is carried out on the vibrational properties and radiated sound of a classical guitar, steel-string folk guitar and a five-string banjo. The aim here is to demonstrate how large constructional differences in plucked-string instruments lead to their unique acoustical characteristics. Results demonstrate that effective masses of low-order body modes relative to higher-order ones, internal damping of strings and amount of coupling between strings and the body of an instrument are responsible for the main characteristics of these instruments’ acoustical signatures. The problem of over-coupling a string to the body of a classical guitar is then addressed. Over-coupling creates an uneven tone quality between notes, an effect known as wolf notes. Knowledge of the perceptual threshold of over-coupling, which is found using psychoacoustical tests, can help instrument makers build a strongly radiating instrument without wolf notes. Simple remedies are suggested to minimise the effects of wolf notes on existing guitars in the most effective manner. Finally, the smallest perceivable changes are found in the parameters of a physical model of a classical guitar. The parameters that are responsible for the most perceptually obvious changes are likely to be the most important ones for the maker to control because these are the parameters to which our ears are most sensitive. The effective mass and effective area of low-order modes are studied in detail because these parameters have been identified previously as having a strong influence over the radiated sound from the instrument.
Modeling and design of a three-degree-of-freedom permanent magnet spherical actuator

A permanent magnet (PM) spherical actuator based on electromagnetic principle is proposed in this study. The PM spherical actuator consists of a ball-like rotor and a spherical-shell-like stator. PM poles are mounted along the rotor equator, whereas layers of air-core coils are assembled on the stator. By varying current in coils, three degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) rotational motion of the rotor can be achieved. This thesis focuses on modeling, design and experimental investigation of this proposed PM spherical actuator. Based on the PM poles pattern on the rotor, the magnetic field distribution surrounding the rotor is formulated using Laplace’s equations. Magnetic scalar potential is obtained according to the magnetic properties of rotor materials. With appropriate boundary conditions, the magnetic scalar potential is solved analytically. An analytical torque model is important for real-time motion control of electric actuators. Using Lorentz force law, the differential torque exerted on a wire segment in the magnetic field of the PM-pole rotor can be expressed. Integrating this differential torque within the entire coil volume produces the torque generated by a single coil within the magnetic field. The total torque generated by a full set of coils can be formulated based on principle of superposition. The superimposed actuator torque is directly proportional to the current input, which facilitates position and velocity control of the spherical actuator. The non-singularity property of the actuator workspace is verified from the torque model. Because the actuator torque model is an analytical expression, parametric design on the spherical actuator performance, especially the torque output is possible. Based on the theoretical analysis, a research prototype xx ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library
The implementation of a hybrid learning environment at a community college in the mechanical trades

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A HYBRID LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN THE MECHANICAL TRADES Christopher Carlson, Ed.D. Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment Northern Illinois University, 2014 Dr. Hayley Mayall & Dr. Cindy York The study was a case-based exploratory study providing data for the implementation of hybrid learning in the trade classes at a community college. The research focused on understanding the ability of students to perform in a hybrid environment, specifically measuring the students’ abilities to monitor, predict and reflect on their own learning self-regulated learning behaviors. The study utilized a mixed methods approach to determine if the students in the newly implemented hybrid environment were academically capable of performing and if they would be receptive to the change which is required for success. The quantitative research provided results that indicated students who participated in classes concurrently demonstrated the ability to adapt to the hybrid platform more so than the students who took one class utilizing the hybrid platform. The qualitative research supported acceptance of the hybrid manner of