Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Moderating Role of Attention Control in the Relationship Between Academic Distraction and Performance

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of social media engagement, which includes frequency of using social media platforms (FSMP) and social media involvement, on the academic distraction and academic performance of the student. The study further tests the moderating role of attention control on the relationship between academic distraction and academic performance. Method: Data were collected from 272 students studying in universities in India. Students answered questions on the frequency of visiting social media platforms and social media involvement, components of academic distraction, and attention control. AMOS software was used to test the structural model. Results: FSMP does not contribute to academic distraction; however, consistent social media involvement does predict academic distraction. Unlike previous studies, academic distraction does not influence the academic performance of students born in the digital era, who have accessed social media throughout their childhood. Attention control moderates the relationship between academic distraction and academic performance. Conclusions: The study challenges past research that claims social media engagement has a negative effect on student academic performance. Social media involvement, such as texting, commenting, and sharing updates, causes academic distraction but may not affect student academic performance. A novel finding is that the strength and direction of the relationship between academic distraction on academic performance vary with attention control. Implication for Theory and/or Practice: The study can be useful for educators and policy makers to build strategies for developing digital citizenship behaviours among students and thereby leverage social media for improved academic achievements of students. In particular, the potential moderating role of attention control in the interaction between academic distraction and academic performance has implications for educators and researchers.
contribution of SNS to social capital in times of restricted physical contact

Social capital is the collection of social assets and resources that provide value to an individual and on which they can rely in times of need. Social networking sites (SNS) have contributed significantly to the development of social capital. A common classification of social capital is into bridging, bonding and maintained social capital. Often social capital is built and maintained in the online and offline environments together but each environment can foster social capital separately. With the constraints on physical contact and interactivity brought about by Covid-19-related restrictions, the assumption is that there would be greater reliance on SNS to develop and maintain social capital. This research examined whether, in an environment of ongoing restricted physical social contact, the use of SNS contributes positively to the establishment and development of social capital; and whether the use of different SNS exert different influences on the establishment and development of social capital. SNS use was assessed in terms of frequency and intensity of use; and social capital was assessed in terms of bridging, bonding and maintained social capital. Three SNS (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) were studied. A cross-sectional survey of 282 New Zealand residents was used to gather the data, and regression analyses were conducted to analyse the data. Findings indicated that frequency and intensity of use were key contributors to social capital, contributing mostly towards bridging social capital and the least towards bonding social capital. Additionally, intense and frequent use of Instagram contributed most towards bridging and maintained social capital, whereas intense and frequent use of WhatsApp contributed most towards bonding social capital. The research contributes to the theoretical understanding of the role of SNS, particularly with regard to the building and maintenance of social capital but also against a background of restricted physical social contact. It is furthermore of benefit to managers who have - and can - embraced the use of SNS to build and maintain team cultures, especially in terms of Covid-19-related contact restrictions.
Surgery after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: A Clip-Based Technique to Improve Surgical Outcomes, a Single-Center Experience

Simple Summary Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has an important role in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer. After NACT, some lesions may be no longer visible at preoperative imaging, making breast and axillary conservative surgery more difficult. Among others, radiopaque clips are the most commonly used method to mark lymph nodes and tumor sites to tailor surgery in the post neoadjuvant setting. Abstract Background: This study aims to describe the surgical management of breast cancer patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with attention to the impact on surgical outcomes of a clip-based marking technique. Methods: Patients who underwent NACT at the Breast Unit of the A. O Ordine Mauriziano of Turin from January 2018 and had a surgical intervention by January 2022 were included. Data on the feasibility of clip insertion, after-treatment visibility, and successful removal during surgery were collected prospectively. Surgical outcomes in terms of breast-conserving surgery and axillary dissection reduction were described. Results: In 51 patients who had surgery after NACT, 55 clips were placed (34 breast and 21 axillary clips). Ultrasound visibility of the clips was optimal (91%) as well as preoperative localization and retrieval within the surgical specimen. Moreover, the use of the clip positively affected surgical outcomes. In our study, clip insertion allowed to avoid mastectomy and axillary dissection in patients with a complete radiological response. Conclusions: In our findings, the use of breast and/or lymph node clips has proved to be a simple and effective method to improve surgical conservative management of breast cancer patients after NACT.
Feasibility Study on Amalgamation of Multiple Measures to Detect Driver Drowsiness

Driver drowsiness is one of the major causes of road accidents which leads to fatal and non-fatal injuries, sudden deaths, and substantial monetary losses. Due to advancements in technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), various approaches have been carried out to detect driver drowsiness at the early stage. The existing measures comprises certain issues like intrusiveness, variation in results, and tested in simulated environment only. A hybrid solution is the need for early detection of drowsiness of driver by amalgamation of multiple effective measures. Many researchers have concluded that developing a driver drowsiness detection system by using hybrid measures would be more efficient and highly recommended. The main contribution of this paper is to evaluate and identify the effective measures to detect driver drowsiness and choose the best measures to combine. It will help in early detection of the driver drowsiness in a more efficient manner and avoid crashes on the roads.
Elimination of Pendimethalin in Integrated Rice and Procambarus clarkii Breeding Models and Dietary Risk Assessments

This study investigated elimination of the herbicide pendimethalin using an integrated rice and Procambarus clarkii breeding model of indoor and outdoor (pond culture) exposure tests. The pendimethalin levels in 484 samples from the primary rice and P. clarkii integrated breeding areas in Hubei province were monitored, and dietary risk assessments of pendimethalin were calculated. Pendimethalin was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and detection levels were linear in the range of 1.0 to 10.0 μg/L, and peak areas were positively correlated with concentration, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996. Recoveries ranged from 86.9 to 103.5%, and the limit of quantitation was 2.5 × 10−4 μg/L in water, and 1 × 10−2 μg/kg in tissues, sediments, and waterweeds. The dissipation rate of pendimethalin in tissues and water followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives of 0.51–5.64 d. In 484 samples taken from aquaculture farms, pendimethalin was detected in 8.67% of the samples at levels in the range of 1.95 to 8.26 μg/kg in Hubei province from 2018 to 2020. The maximum residue limit of pendimethalin in P. clarkii has not been established in China, but our dietary risk assessments indicated that consumption of P. clarkii from integrated rice farms was acceptable.
Multilayer perceptron neural network for detecting singular points of photoplethysmogram

Photoplethysmography is an important optical method in healthcare and contains a wealth of information about physiological dynamics. For a quantitative assessment of vascular tone indices, an effective and modern method of analyzing the relief of the photoplethysmogram within the pulse cycle is required. A new method for detecting singular points of the contour of photoplethysmograms is proposed, based on the model of a multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN). The successful work of the network of the method for finding the systolic peak, dicrotic notch and diastolic peak has been demonstrated. It is shown that the average relative error does not exceed 5 percent. The proposed method can be used in computer monitoring systems for vascular tone.
Traffic Request Generation through a Variational Auto Encoder Approach

Traffic and transportation forecasting is a key issue in urban planning aimed to provide a greener and more sustainable environment to residents. Their privacy is a second key issue that requires synthetic travel data. A possible solution is offered by generative models. Here, a variational autoencoder architecture has been trained on a floating car dataset in order to grasp the statistical features of the traffic demand in the city of Rome. The architecture is based on multilayer dense neural networks for encoding and decoding parts. A brief analysis of parameter influence is conducted. The generated trajectories are compared with those in the dataset. The resulting reconstructed synthetic data are employed to compute the traffic fluxes and geographic distribution of parked cars. Further work directions are provided.
The effect of climate and air pollution on the development of complicated appendicitis

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine whether there is a relationship between complicated appendicitis and seasons, weekends, and air pollution. Materials and methods: Patients who had undergone appendectomy in the last three years due to acute appendicitis were filtered from the database. Patients’ demographic features, date of the surgery, pathology reports, data on atmospheric temperatures, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, and air pollution on the date of the surgery were collected and compared between complicated and non-complicated appendicitis groups. Results: Out of 360 patients, 238 were men. The median age was 39 years for women and 29 years for men. Complicated appendicitis was seen in 78 (21.7%) patients, and the incidence rates were similar between the sexes (p = 0.69); this rate increased with increasing age (p = 0.001). The day of the week in which the surgery was performed (p = 0.55) and weekdays versus weekends (p = 0.16) did not change the complicated appendicitis incidence rate. This rate was similar among seasons (p = 0.44), temperature (p = 0.81), humidity (p = 0.62), and atmospheric pressure (p = 0.95). There was no difference between the groups for all noxious gases or PM2.5 levels, but for PM10 levels there was a significant difference (p = 0.045). In multivariate analysis, age (p = 0.001) and PM10 air pollution (p = 0.045) significantly affected the development of complicated appendicitis. Conclusions: Air pollution of PM10 may have a real effect on the incidence of complicated appendicitis.
Secondary education as a stepping stone on the road

Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen op gezag van de rector magnificus prof. dr. Simon en Dominik dank voor de diepgaande gesprekken en de humor tijdens de SIGs en de EARLIs. Xavier, it was meant to be that we met in 2008 in Leuven during the JURE. We shared, and still share, the same dilemmas and the aversion to " selling the motorbike. " Xavier, you also acted as a motivator for me: yes, it is possible to combine your job as a researcher and being a teacher in secondary education at the same time. Orlaith, hoe jij op consciëntieuze wijze mijn papers doorakkerde op het Engelse taalgebruik was buitengewoon. Dank. 10 INhOuD chapter 1
Endometrial Dysbiosis Is Related to Inflammatory Factors in Women with Repeated Implantation Failure: A Pilot Study

An abnormal endometrial microbiota has been suggested to impair the process of embryo implantation, thus leading to repeated implantation failure (RIF) in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, the molecular mechanisms linking uterine microbiota and IVF out-comes are still an open question. The aim of this cohort study was to outline the relationship between endometrial microbiota, inflammation and IVF outcomes. To this purpose, endometrial microbiota and selected components of the “cytokine network” were analyzed in women presenting RIF and divided between eubiosis and dysbiosis groups, according to the percentage of endometrial lactobacilli (≥90% or <90%, respectively). The Dysbiosis group presented significantly higher tissue concentrations of the inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-1β, HIF-1α and COX-2) and significantly lower levels of the anti-inflammatory/well-being factors, IL-10 and IGF-1, with respect to women with eubiosis. Moreover, the Lactobacillus percentage was negatively related to the concentrations of the inflammatory molecules and positively related to IL-10/IGF-1. Interestingly, the number of IVF attempts was directly related to the levels of the inflammatory factors COX-2, IL-1β and HIF-1α in the eubiosis group. Overall, endometrial dysbiosis was demonstrated to be associated with inflammation-related endometrial changes affecting the process of embryo implantation, underlining the importance of assessing uterine microbiota in patients undergoing IVF.
Label-Free Detection of Saxitoxin with Field-Effect Device-Based Biosensor

Saxitoxin (STX) is a highly toxic and widely distributed paralytic shellfish toxin (PSP), posing a serious hazard to the environment and human health. Thus, it is highly required to develop new STX detection approaches that are convenient, desirable, and affordable. This study presented a label-free electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) sensor covered with a layer-by-layer developed positively charged Poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer. An aptamer (Apt), which is sensitive to STX was electrostatically immobilized onto the PAMAM dendrimer layer. This results in an Apt that is preferably flat inside a Debye length, resulting in less charge-screening effect and a higher sensor signal. Capacitance-voltage and constant-capacitance measurements were utilized to monitor each step of a sensor surface variation, namely, the immobilization of PAMAM dendrimers, Apt, and STX. Additionally, the surface morphology of PAMAM dendrimer layers was studied by using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Fluorescence microscopy was utilized to confirm that Apt was successfully immobilized on a PAMAM dendrimer-modified EIS sensor. The results presented an aptasensor with a detection range of 0.5–100 nM for STX detection and a limit of detection was 0.09 nM. Additionally, the aptasensor demonstrated high selectivity and 9-day stability. The extraction of mussel tissue indicated that an aptasensor may be applied to the detection of STX in real samples. An aptasensor enables marine toxin detection in a rapid and label-free manner.
On the sovereign debt crisis: sovereign credit default swaps and their interaction with stock market indices

ABSTRACT This paper examines the European credit default swap spreads and their relationship to other financial assets such as stock indices. This study aims at better investigating the European sovereign debt crisis from the beginning of 2010 to the end of 2013. For this purpose, using daily data covering the period from January 2004 to December 2018, first we examine the impact of the sovereign crisis on spread sovereign credit default swaps, using both an asymmetric DCC-MGARCH model and a Copula-based Multivariate GARCH model (C-MGARCH). Then, we estimate the relations between spread sovereign credit default swaps and equity indices. We analyse in particular the lead–lag relationship between these two financial indicators by using a vector autoregressive model. We note a negative correlation between the spreads and stock market indices. There is a significant unidirectional causality from CDS spread changes to stock market indices returns. Our findings show that the CDS spreads have played a leading role in most European countries during this crisis. These results are potentially important because the current pandemic is threatening the economies of European countries, especially Greece.
Electrically Pumped Vertical-Cavity Amplifiers

In this work, the design of electrically pumped vertical-cavity semiconductor optical amplifiers (eVCAs) for use in a mode-locked external-cavity laser has been developed, investigated and analysed. Four different eVCAs, one top-emitting and three bottom-emitting structures, have been designed and produced, of which only the top-emitting was tested in an external laser cavity. The other designs have encountered problems either in the growth of the wafers or in the processing of the devices, leaving them with insufficient gain for an external cavity laser. The top-emitting design does not have enough lateral current spreading to support large aperture diameters. The output power is thus very limited in these devices. The top-emitting design is, however, estimated to be able to mode-lock in an external cavity with a saturable absorber with a very low, but realisable, saturation fluence. The prospects of one of our bottom-emitting designs are good. It has an optical output power that is promising for use in an external-cavity mode-locked laser. The growth of the structure however went wrong and the structure has no net gain, which spoiled our chances to investigate it further in an external cavity. Detailed descriptions of the structure designs, clean room processing procedures and characterisations of the designs are presented in this thesis. Furthermore, comprehensive simulations of carrier distributions in the quantum well sections and the gain saturation of the different designs are performed and discussed. The thesis concludes with recommendations for further work towards the realisation of compact electrically pumped mode-locked vertical externalcavity surface emitting lasers.
Osteonecrosis in Korean Paediatric and Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia or Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A Nationwide Epidemiological Study

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a serious complication of acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) or lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) treatment, and there is little information regarding ON in Korean paediatric and young adult patients. This retrospective cohort study assessed the cumulative incidence of and risk factors for ON using national health insurance claims data from 2008 to 2019 in 4861 ALL/LBL patients. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative incidence of ON according to age groups; the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify risk factors related to ON development after diagnosing ALL/LBL. A cause-specific hazard model with time-varying covariates was used to assess the effects of risk factors. Overall, 158 (3.25%) patients were diagnosed with ON, among whom 23 underwent orthopaedic surgeries. Older age, radiotherapy (HR = 2.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.87–3.66), HSCT (HR = 2.40, 95% CI 1.74–3.31), steroid use and anthracycline use (HR = 2.76, CI 1.85–4.14) were related to ON in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, age and steroid and asparaginase use (HR = 1.99, CI 1.30–3.06) were factors associated with ON. These results suggest that Korean patients with ALL/LBL who used steroids and asparaginase should be closely monitored during follow-up, even among young adult patients.
Changing gender role declines maize yield, but remittances offset: Findings from migrant households in the central Himalayas, Nepal

In this paper, we investigate the interplay between labor out-migration, changes in gender roles, and their effects on the maize farming system. The paper unravels these interactions using the data collected from 1053 migrant households in the mountains of Nepal. The result shows that household size positively and the number of 17–60-year-old household members negatively influence maize yield. Remittance income and raising farm animals enhanced maize yield. Geography, especially maize farming in the mountains, showed a reduction (25.6%) in yield. The migrants’ wives stated less maize yield (5%) compared to the other household members. In addition to these contextual factors, women's increased participation in the household chores, rearing and caring of farm animals, and community activities significantly compromised maize yield. However, the remittance income offsets the loss. As women's role in agriculture is central, especially in the context of male labor out-migration, gender-transformative approaches to research and development practices would ensure social justice and equitable benefit sharing. Accounting for their choices and preferences in developing and designing agricultural interventions is thus vital for the long-term sustainability of the mountain farming systems.
The Mechanisms Governing the Robustness of Fresh Self-Compacting Concrete

English). 21 Abstract (Dutch) . 25Dutch) . 25 Chapter 1: General Introduction . 29 1. Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC) . 29 2. Mix design of SCC . 30 3. Robustness of SCC . 33 4. Particle clustering inside SCC . 33 5. Research objectives . 34 Chapter 2: Literature Review . 37