Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Modification Processes on Bond Energy of Asphalt Binders

Performance of asphalt pavements depends on the properties of its constituent materials, mixture volumetrics, and external factors such as load and environment. An important material property that influences the performance of an asphalt mixture is the surface free energy of the asphalt binder and the aggregate. Surface free energy governs the adhesive bond strength between the asphalt binder and the aggregate as well as the cohesive bond strength of the asphalt binder. These bond energies in turn influence the resistance of the asphalt mixture to distresses such as fatigue cracking and moisture induced damage. Asphalt binders undergo several types of engineering and natural modifications that influence their chemical and mechanical properties. Three common examples of modifications are the addition of polymers, addition of additives (e.g., antistrip agents), and oxidative aging of the asphalt binder. This paper is part of a study conducted to examine the effect of different types of modifications on the surface free energy components of the asphalt binder. The change in surface free energy was used to calculate parameters that are related to the performance of the asphalt mixtures. Results from this study demonstrate that the magnitude and nature of change to the surface free energy and concomitant performance-related parameters varied significantly among different asphalt binders. For example, certain modifications improved the performance of some binders while adversely affecting the performance of others. The experiment and analysis methods presented in this study can be used to examine the influence of modifications on performance and optimize the engineering properties of binders and asphalt mixtures.
Telemedicine and patient satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case–control study of outpatient pediatric urology patients

Telemedicine has increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Our objective was to determine if patient satisfaction with telemedicine differed from in-person visits in an academic pediatric urology clinic. Following outpatient telemedicine and in-person pediatric urology visits, the validated NRC Health© Patient Survey was used to assess patient experience. Patient satisfaction was assessed on a 10-point scale with scores of 9–10 considered “satisfied” and 1–8 considered “not satisfied. ” Satisfaction scores between telemedicine and in-person groups were compared using McNemar’s test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and conditional logistic regression. Fifty-one patients had urology telemedicine visits during April–August 2020 and completed the NRC Health© Patient Survey. Propensity score matching was used to identify 102 in-person controls between January 2019 and March 2020. Ninety-two percent of telemedicine patients were satisfied compared to 87% of in-person patients (OR 1.7 95% CI [0.53–5.6]). Regression analysis adjusting for matching variables demonstrated that patient satisfaction was higher for telemedicine compared to in-person visits but was not statistically significant (OR 1.5 95% CI [0.43–5.6]). Patient satisfaction with telemedicine was similar to in-person visits in the pediatric urology clinic. Reduced waiting time and convenience associated with telemedicine visits provide an opportunity for telemedicine as a useful modality for pediatric urology.
Relation-specific creative performance in voluntary collaborations: A micro-foundation for competitive advantage?

A fundamental question in the strategy literature is how sustainable competitive advantage can be generated within one firm and yet difficult to copy by another. We offer one solution to this conundrum by way of relation-specific performance that is developed in creative projects ? where the individuals involved have significant latitude on the intended objectives as well as their collaborators on these projects. Because higher-level cognition is involved in navigating such projects from conception to implementation, there is heightened relation-specificity in their performance ? as measured by how widely they are adopted by third-party users. This relation-specificity means that any performance improvement as a result of repeated collaborative efforts of a group of individuals is difficult to emulate or sustain outside of this specific group. This thus offers one way to simultaneously address several important critiques of the resource-based view of the firm. We rely on a novel set of data on user-written Facebook applications to demonstrate the relation-specificity of creative performance.
FE-simulation for polymeric packaging materials

Finite element (FE) simulations represent a useful tool to evaluate the thermomechanical behaviour of electronic packages. However, the use of the FE-method generates special difficulties, with particular regard to the proper constitutive modelling of materials used in the assembly. One more general problem in the numerical investigations of encapsulated silicon chips is the occurrence of interfaces between the dissimilar materials. Due to the assumption of sharp interface edges and interface crack tips, stress singularities arise which might be accounted for only approximately in the FE-calculation. The paper intends to show solutions of these simulation difficulties, also by means of materials testing. The complex material behaviour is discussed for different filled epoxy materials, with particular regard to the influence of filler content. A new solution method for the interfacial edge problem is briefly introduced. As an example, the pull strength test is used and the asymptotic solution for an interface edge is presented.
DYNAMICS OF A TWO-PATCH NICHOLSON’S BLOWFLIES MODEL WITH RANDOM DISPERSAL

The global dynamics of the Nicholson’s blowfly reaction-diffusion model with zero Dirichlet boundary condition is less understood. In this paper, we provide a discrete version of diffusive Nichlson’s blowflies equation with zero Dirichlet boundary condition. Local and global stability of the equilibria are obtained by some comparison arguments, fluctuation method and the theory of exponential ordering. Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium and the global existence of the periodic solutions are studied by local and global Hopf bifurcation theory.
Assessing Patient Experience and Attitude: BSC-PATIENT Development, Translation, and Psychometric Evaluation—A Cross-Sectional Study

Health care organizations (HCO) did not consider engaging patients in balanced scorecard (BSC) implementations to evaluate their performance. This paper aims to develop an instrument to engage patients in assessing BSC perspectives (BSC-PATIENT) and customize it for Palestinian hospitals. Two panels of experts participated in the item generation of BSC-PATIENT. Translation was performed based on guidelines. Pretesting was performed for 30 patients at one hospital. Then, 1000 patients were recruited at 14 hospitals between January and October 2021. Construct validity was tested through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Additionally, the composite reliability (CR), interitem correlation (IIC), and corrected item total correlation (CITC) were assessed to find redundant and low correlated items. As a result, the scales had a highly adequate model fit in the EFA and CFA. The final best fit model in CFA comprised ten constructs with 36 items. In conclusion, BSC-PATIENT is the first self-administered questionnaire specifically developed to engage patients in BSC and will allow future researchers to evaluate the impact of patient experience on attitudes toward BSC perspectives, as well as to compare the differences based on patient and hospital characteristics.
Multilevel beam SOI-MEMS fabrication and applications

A microfabrication technology has been developed and demonstrated, which enhances the capabilities and applications of high aspect ratio silicon-on-insulator microelectromechanical systems (SOI-MEMS) by enabling additional independent degrees of freedom of operation: both upward and downward vertical pistoning motion as well as bi-directional rotation. This is accomplished by applying multiple-mask high aspect ratio etches from both the front- and back-side of the SOI device layer, forming beams at different levels. The processes utilize four masks, two for front-side and two for back-side etching. As a result, single-crystal silicon beams with four different cross-sections are fabricated, and can be combined to form many additional beam cross-sections. By this methodology, unique high aspect ratio micromirror devices were demonstrated with fully isolated and accurately self-aligned vertical combdrives in the SOI device layer, with initial combfinger overlap. Examples of fabricated devices are given.
Preparation and Characterization of Pickering Emulsions with Modified Okara Insoluble Dietary Fiber

Modified okara insoluble dietary fiber (OIDF) has attracted great interest as a promising Pickering emulsifier. At present, the modification methods are mainly physicochemical methods, and the research on microbial modified OIDF as stabilizer is not clear. In this work, modified OIDF was prepared by yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus fermentation. The potential of modified OIDF as a Pickering emulsifier and the formation and stability of OIDF-Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified OIDF were characterized, respectively. The results showed that the specific surface area, hydrophilicity, and electronegativity of the modified OIDF were all enhanced compared with the unmodified OIDF. The existence of the network structure between droplets is the key to maintain the stability of the emulsions, as indicated by Croy-Scanning Electron Microscope (Croy-SEM) and rheological properties measurements. The stability of OIDF-Pickering emulsions was evaluated in terms of storage time, centrifugal force, pH value, and ionic strength (NaCl). Moreover, the OIDF-Pickering emulsions stabilized by modified OIDF showed better stability. These results will contribute to the development of efficient OIDF-based emulsifiers, expand the application of emulsions in more fields, and will greatly improve the high-value utilization of okara by-products.
Sea motorways as a part of the logistics chain

This paper presents the main tools of Sea Motorways as an important part of the logistics chain and can be used presented methodically as a framework for designing logistics or supply chains along with sea motorways. Various factors influencing the choice of logistics chains with sea motorway part are described. The methodology of evaluating sea motorways and the logistics chain is furnished. The paper concludes by identifying the best logistics chains including sea motorways.
El Ni ˜ no–Southern Oscillation and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

: The relationship between El Ni ˜ no – Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the transatlantic slave trade (TAST) is examined using the Slave Voyages dataset and several reconstructed ENSO indices. The ENSO indices are used as a proxy for West African rainfall and temperature. In the Sahel, the El Ni ˜ no (warm) phase of ENSO is associated with less rainfall and warmer temperatures, whereas the La Ni ˜ na (cold) phase of ENSO is associated with more rainfall and cooler temperatures. The association between ENSO and the TAST is weak but statistically signi ﬁ cant at a 2-yr lag. In this case, El Ni ˜ no (drier and warmer) years are associated with a decrease in the export of enslaved Africans. The response of the TAST to El Ni ˜ no is explained in terms of the societal response to agricultural stresses brought on by less rainfall and warmer temperatures. ENSO-induced changes to the TAST are brie ﬂ y discussed in light of climate-induced movements of peoples in centuries past and the drought-induced movement of peoples in the Middle East today. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The transatlantic slave trade was driven by economic and political forces, subject to the vagaries of the weather; it spanned two hemispheres and four continents and lasted more than 400 years. In this study we show that El Ni ˜ no – Southern Oscillation, and its proxy association with West African rainfall and temperature, are signi ﬁ cantly associated with the number of enslaved Africans that were transported from West Africa to the Americas. Lessons learned from the effects of weather and climate on the transatlantic slave trade reverberate today: extreme weather and climate change will continue to catalyze and amplify human con ﬂ ict and migrations.
Key-Frame Based Video Super-Resolution for Hybrid Cameras

This work focuses on the high frequency restoration of video sequences captured by a hybrid camera, using key-frames as high frequency samples. The proposed method outlines a hierarchy to the super-resolution process, and is aimed at maximizing both speed and performance. Additionally, an advanced image processing simulator (EngineX) was developed to fine tune the algorithm.
New Properties and Mitochondrial Targets of Polyphenol Agrimoniin as a Natural Anticancer and Preventive Agent

Agrimoniin is a polyphenol from the group of tannins with antioxidant and anticancer activities. It is assumed that the anticancer action of agrimoniin is associated with the activation of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, but its mitochondrial targets have not been estimated. We examined the direct influence of agrimoniin on different mitochondrial functions, including the induction of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) as the primary mechanism of mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Agrimoniin was isolated from Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb by multistep purification. The content of agrimoniin in the resulting substance reached 80%, as determined by NMR spectroscopy. The cytotoxic effect of purified agrimoniin was confirmed on the cultures of K562 and HeLa cancer cells by the MTT assay. When tested on isolated rat liver mitochondria, agrimoniin at a low concentration (10 µM) induced the low-amplitude swelling, which was inhibited by the MPTP inhibitors ADP and cyclosporine A, activated the opening of MPTP by calcium ions and stimulated the respiration supported by succinate oxidation. Also, agrimoniin reduced the electron acceptor DCPIP in a concentration-dependent manner and chelated iron ions. Owing to all these properties, agrimoniin can stimulate apoptosis or activate mitochondrial functions, which can be helpful in the prevention and elimination of stagnant pathological states.
Heterologous Prime-Boost Vaccination with a Peptide-Based Vaccine and Viral Vector Reshapes Dendritic Cell, CD4+ and CD8+ T Cell Phenotypes to Improve the Antitumor Therapeutic Effect

Simple Summary Developing new therapeutic cancer vaccines is of paramount importance to counteract tumor escape observed after conventional therapies in certain types of cancer. We have previously shown that the combination of two different vaccine platforms, targeting tumor-specific antigens, resulted in potent immune responses in preclinical models. Here, we show that the heterologous prime-boost combination with a protein vaccine and a viral vector vesicular stomatitis virus immunologically reshapes the immune-excluded TC-1 tumor model as well as the inflamed MC-38 tumor model, leading to beneficial therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the treatment with a multi-epitope vaccine allowed us to appreciate the various repartition among three antigen-specific cytotoxic T-cell responses combined with the viral boost. The combination leads to improved efficacy in all animals and highlights the importance of combining tumor epitopes. Our vaccine strategy could be further extended to prophylactic cancer vaccines and beyond, for infectious diseases. Abstract Heterologous prime-boost settings with a protein vaccine and the viral vector vesicular stomatitis virus, both expressing tumor-associated antigens (KISIMA-TAA and VSV-GP-TAA), have been previously shown to generate potent antitumor immunity. In the cold TC-1 model (HPV antigen) and the immune-infiltrate MC-38 model (Adpgk, Reps1 and Rpl18 neo-antigens), we further investigated pivotal immune cells that educate CD8+ T cells. Heterologous prime-boost vaccination induced a superior antitumor response characterized by the increase in number and functionality of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells, recruitment of cross-presenting dendritic cells, and polarization of CD4+ T cells towards an antitumor Th1 phenotype within the tumor and tumor-draining lymph nodes, turning the cold TC-1 tumor into a hot, inflamed tumor. In the inflamed MC-38 tumor model, treatment combination markedly prolonged the overall survival of mice. Treatment with multi-epitope vaccines also induced high frequencies of multiple antigen specificities in the periphery and in the tumor. Prime-boost treatment reduced tumor-infiltrating regulatory CD4+ T cells whilst increasing cross-presenting dendritic cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. In conclusion, heterologous prime-boost vaccination possesses the ability to induce a potent anti-tumor response in both immune-excluded and immune-infiltrated mouse tumor models. Additionally, this study highlights the design of a multi-epitope vaccine for cancer immunotherapy.
Different Shades of Nudges: Moderating Effects of Individual Characteristics and States on the Effectiveness of Nudges during a Fast-Food Order

Nudges, or subtle changes to a choice environment, are increasingly used in online food ordering platforms to improve dietary choices and reduce calorie intake. We report the results of an experiment aimed at nudging young adults to reduce calories in a fast-food order (N = 994). The nudging interventions used were: an order assistant, a color-coded system, and a combination of the order assistant and color-coded system. We hypothesized that participants’ characteristics (sex, BMI, education) and states (positive affect, negative affect, hunger) moderate the effectiveness of nudges. Our analysis shows that the effect of nudges is slightly increasing at higher BMI levels. In the combined treatment, hunger and negative affect significantly moderate the effect of nudges. We do not observe the moderating effects of participants’ sex, educational level, and positive affect in any of the treatments.
Ergonomics at work

Looks at the communication links between people and their man-made environment such as workplaces, controls, displays, etc., and considers features of this environment which can affect performance, comfort and safety. It is used in many courses on ergonomics, management and safety. Although the structure of the Second Edition remains the same as in the first, a number of chapters have been extensively rewritten and expanded. More information has been added relating ergonomics concepts to modern technology as well as to basic aspects of body mobility. Features of the environment have been covered in more depth and the list of references has been lengthened.
Mental Health Outcomes among Chinese College Students over a Decade

Background: Economic growth in China has brought about significant social and psychological changes in society. Objective: This study aims to explore how the mental and psychological health of college students has changed over the past decade. Methods: We observed several cohort samples in a Chinese university over a decade and looked at five mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, depression, optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support, throughout each year of testing. Results: Our study highlights the declining rates of suicidal ideation and depression, combined with relative stability and even small increases in optimism, self-esteem, and perceived social support across a range of demographic variables. Conclusions: The findings of this study imply that in the context of economic growth, stabilizing and improving positive mental health states can help prevent and reduce the risk of depression and suicidal ideation among college students. The study also highlighted the need for more public health campaigns and interventions in universities to help students cope with mental health problems.
Driving restrictions following deep brain stimulation surgery

Background There are currently no Australian guidelines to assist clinicians performing deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures in setting postoperative driving restrictions. Purpose We aimed to provide recommendations for post-DBS driving restrictions to guide practice in Australia. Methods A review of current Australian and international driving guidelines, literature regarding the adverse effects of DBS and literature regarding the long-term effect of neurostimulation on driving was conducted using Elton B Stephens Company discovery service-linked databases. Australian neurologists and neurosurgeons who perform DBS were surveyed to gain insight into existing practice. Results No guidance on driving restrictions following DBS surgery was found, either in existing driving guidelines or in the literature. There was a wide difference seen in the rates of reported adverse effects from DBS surgery. The most serious adverse events (haemorrhage, seizure and neurological dysfunction) were uncommon. Longer term, there does not appear to be any adverse effect of DBS on driving ability. Survey of Australian practitioners revealed a universal acceptance of the need for and use of driving restrictions after DBS but significant heterogeneity in how return to driving is managed. Conclusion We propose a 6-week driving restriction for private licences and 6-month driving restriction for commercial licences in uncomplicated DBS. We also highlight some of the potential pitfalls and pearls to assist clinicians to modify these recommendations where needed. Ultimately, we hope this will stimulate further examination of this issue in research and by regulatory bodies to provide more robust direction for practitioners performing DBS implantation.
Negative bias temperature instability of pMOSFETs with ultra-thin SiON gate dielectrics

The negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) of pMOSFETs with ultra-thin gate dielectrics was investigated from four points of view: basic mechanism of NBTI, dependence of NBTI on gate dielectric thickness, mechanism of NBTI enhancement caused by addition of nitrogen to the gate dielectrics, and possibility of applying SiON gate dielectrics with a high concentration of nitrogen. By investigating the behavior of FET characteristics after NBT stresses were stopped, it was clarified that a portion (60%, in our case) of hydrogen atoms released by the NBT stress remains in the gate dielectric in the case of a 1.85-nm-thick NO-oxynitride gate dielectric. The existence of the hydrogen was shown to lead to the generation of positive fixed charges in the gate dielectric. It was also found that NBTI depends little on gate dielectric thickness. Moreover, we revealed that the origin of NBTI enhancement by incorporating nitrogen into gate dielectrics is the property of attracting H/sub 2/O or OH. We speculate that this property is due to the existence of positive fixed charges induced by undesirable nitrogen. We evaluated NBTI immunity of SiN gate dielectrics with an oxygen-enriched interface (OI-SiN) in which high carrier mobility was obtained by reducing positive fixed charges. OI-SiN gate dielectrics with EOTs of 1.4 and 1.6 nm were found to have sufficient lifetime for practical use under 1 V operation.