Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Selenium Application and Growth Stage at Harvest on Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Antioxidants in Lamb’s Lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Laterr.)

Lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Laterr.) is a leafy green vegetable that is rich in various biological active compounds and is widely used in ready-to-eat salads. The cultivation conditions and growth stage could affect the secondary metabolism in plants and thereby modify their food value. In the present study, the effect of selenium (Se) application in various concentrations (5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 µM) on the contents of Se, phenolic compounds, vitamin C, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and antioxidant activity of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts of lamb’s lettuce harvested at three growth stages (38, 52, and 66 days after sowing (DAS)) was studied. Se application significantly increased the Se concentration in the shoots (up to 124.4 μg g−1 dry weight), as well as the contents of chlorogenic acid, total flavonoids, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll b, and the antioxidant activity of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts. A higher content of phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant activity of hydrophilic extracts was observed at the first growth stage (38 DAS). On the contrary, higher contents of lipophilic compounds (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lutein, β-carotene) and higher antioxidant activity of lipophilic extracts were found for shoots harvested at later stages (52 and 66 DAS).
Item-specific encoding reduces false recognition of homograph and implicit mediated critical lures

ABSTRACT We evaluated the effects of item-specific and relational encoding instructions on false recognition for critical lures that originated from homograph and mediated study lists. Homograph lists contained list items that were taken from two meanings of the same critical lure (e.g., autumn, trip, harvest, stumble; for fall) which disrupted thematic/gist consistency of the list. Mediated lists contained unrelated list items (e.g., slippery, spicy, vent, sleigh) that were indirectly related to a critical lure (e.g., cold), through a set of non-presented mediators (e.g., wet, hot, air, snow), and had no thematic/gist consistency. In two experiments, item-specific and relational encoding improved correct recognition relative to a read-only control task, but only item-specific encoding reduced false recognition of critical lures. Signal-detection analyses indicated that the item-specific reduction increased test-based monitoring. The item-specific reduction for homograph and mediated critical lures is consistent with the activation-monitoring framework given gist-based processes are reduced or eliminated on these list types.
A systems-biology approach identifies co-expression modules in response to low phosphate supply in maize lines of different breeding history.

Plants cope with low phosphorus availability by adjusting growth and metabolism through transcriptomic and proteomic adaptations. We hypothesize that selected genotypes with distinct P use efficiency covering the breeding history of European Flint heterotic pool provide a tool to reveal general and genotype-specific molecular responses to P limitation. We reconstructed protein and gene co-expression networks by weighted correlation network analysis and related these to phosphate deficiency-induced traits. In roots, low phosphate supply resulted in decreasing abundance of proteins in oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and a negative correlation with root and shoot phosphate content. We observed an increase in abundance and positive correlation with root and shoot phosphate content for proteins in sucrose biosynthesis, lipid metabolism, respiration and RNA processing. Purple acid phosphatases, superoxide dismutase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase were identified as up-regulated under low phosphate in all genotypes. Overall, correlations between protein and mRNA abundance changes was limited, with ribosomal proteins and the ubiquitin protein degradation pathway exclusively responding with protein abundance changes. Carbohydrate, phospho- and sulfo-lipid metabolism showed abundance changes at protein and mRNA levels. These partially non-overlapping proteomic and transcriptomic adjustments to low phosphate suggest sugar and lipid metabolism as metabolic processes associated with improved P use efficiency specifically in Founder Flint lines. We identified a MAPK-Kinase as potential genotype-specific regulator of sucrose metabolism at low phosphate in Founder Flint line EP1. We conclude that during breedingt of Elite Flint lines, regulation of primary metabolism has changed to result in a distinct low phosphate response in Founder lines.
ISO 9000 Performance in Japanese Industries

This research analyses the factors that determine the performance of ISO 9000 standards in Japanese industries. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from ISO 9000 certified companies nationwide. Our research hypothesis is that the performance of ISO 9000 depends upon the aspects that motivate a company to obtain certification, the process followed or approach taken during preparation for registration, the maintenance activities after certification, and the practice of previous or existent quality measures within the organization. These measures should predict how successful the standards are for an organization. In order to test the hypothesis, statistical data analysis includes t-test of the means, factor analysis, and regression. Slightly different trends are found in small, medium, and large organizations regarding the potential benefits from the ISO 9000 system and the influential measures. Small corporations focus on motivational issues and implementation procedures during the preparation for registration stage. In the case of medium size companies, motivational aspects, implementation procedures, maintenance activities, and previous/existent quality measures are all emphasized. Large corporations, similar to medium corporations, focus on the four independent variables, emphasizing the significance of employees' involvement and understanding, MIS, and Six Sigma. Our findings suggest that the integration of the influential issues within the organizational system allows the organization effectively to improve quality, minimize cost, develop international markets, and optimize profits through ISO 9000.
THE IMPACT OF ONLINE PRE-SALES CUSTOMER SERVICE ON PURCHASE CONVERSION

In the context of the booming e-commerce industry, the competition among e-commerce enterprises is not simply about category or logistics, but about service quality, which is the key to the development of enterprises. In this paper, we established a model from two perspectives of online customer service usage and purchase conversion, then took into account the self-selection problem due to users' conscious non-use of customer service. By building a treatment effect model, we explored the impact of online pre-sales customer service on purchase conversion from the perspective of the actual business of enterprises. The study finds these factors, e.g. urgency, uncertainty, demand, are positively correlated with the possibility of using pre-sales customer service system, and knowledge factor is negatively correlated with the possibility using pre-sales customer service system. At the same time, the use of online pre-sales customer service has a positive effect on purchase conversion. These results are helpful for enterprises to improve the utilization rate of online customer service and purchase conversation.
Impact of Design on High-Frequency Performance of Advanced MIM Capacitors Using Si $_{3}$ N $_{4}$ Dielectric Layers

High-frequency characterizations of ultra thin 32 nm PECVD Si3N4 dielectric in an advanced metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitors are presented, with focus on the impact of design on the performance of MIM capacitors. Frequency dependent capacitance has been extracted over a wide range of frequency bandwidth. An equivalent model circuit of capacitors including four parameters was developed to explain this behavior. The results have been compared with the values obtained from a 3-D electromagnetic modeling. A specific chart has been introduced to predict the electrical performance of new MIM capacitor designs.
Real-time digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a novel technology improves limit of detection for rare allele assays

Background Tumor heterogeneity may lead to false negative test results for tissue biopsy-based companion diagnostic tests. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and digital PCR assays are used to detect rare alleles in cell-free circulating DNA for liquid biopsies; however, those tests lack strong sensitivity at low allele frequencies. We show here a novel real-time digital PCR instrument that utilizes cycle-based amplification curves to further improve the sensitivity and quantification accuracy of digital PCR. Methods The novel real-time digital PCR instrument was compared to an endpoint digital PCR system to determine the sensitivity and quantification accuracy of both instruments. Samples were all thermal cycled on the real-time digital PCR instrument but were analyzed on both endpoint and real-time digital PCR instruments to compare the performance without introducing other variables. Contrived samples for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion, T790M, and L858R point mutations as well as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification were tested. Different mutant allele frequencies and wildtype to mutant gene copy number ratios were tested for EGFR and HER2, respectively. Results By removing false positive datapoints using real-time amplification curves, real-time digital PCR improved sensitivity by lowering the baseline for wildtype samples. For EGFR 19del assay, samples with 2 or more fluorescein amidite (FAM) labeled positive wells are determined positive by real-time digital PCR, while a minimum of 5 FAM positive datapoints is needed by endpoint digital PCR. Improved limit of detection for EGFR 19del mutation was also observed. Real-time digital PCR also had better quantification accuracy and sensitivity, resulting in the mutant allele frequencies being closer to the expected values for all EGFR mutations, especially at very low allele frequencies. However, at high allele frequencies or for gene amplification assays, real-time digital PCR is comparable with endpoint digital PCR. Conclusions This novel technology with improved sensitivity is important and needed because it addresses current issues with liquid biopsy tests. Due to limited amounts of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) obtained for liquid biopsy tests, few copies of mutant alleles are expected. With the lower baseline of real-time digital PCR, false negative test results from tissue biopsy would be more effectively reduced, leading to more patients receiving the targeted therapy they need for better survival.
Investigation of Machine Learning Algorithms for Intrusion Detection System in Cybersecurity

vi Chapter 1: Introduction and Background 1 1.1 Cybersecurity in the Modern Age 1 1.2 A Brief History of Intrusion Detection 2 1.3 Aims 2 1.4 Objectives 3 1.5 Dissertation Structure 4 1.6 Cybersecurity Triad 5 1.7 Intrusion Detection System 6 1.8 Feature Selection 7 1.8. 1 Filter Method 8 1.8. 2 Wrapper Method 9 1.8. 3 Embedded Method 9 1.9 Machine Learning 10 1.9. 1 Supervised Learning 11 1.9. 2 Unsupervised Learning 11 1.10 Classification of Intrusion Detection System 11 1.10. 1 Network-Based IDS 12 1.10. 2 Host-Based IDS 12 1.10. 3 Anomaly-Based IDS 13 1.10. 4 Signature-Based IDS 13 1.11 IDS Evaluation Dataset 13 1.11.1 Statistical Observations 13 1.11.2 Description of Attack Scenarios 14 Chapter 2: Effectiveness of Machine Learning Based Intrusion Detection Systems 17 2.
Exploring the Students’ Perceived Academic Value in an Exclusive Online Learning Environment

The pandemic generated by the COVID-19 challenged the education system to face the constraints of exclusively online teaching and learning. Like many other areas of life, education required rapid adaptation and finding the best solutions to continue the instructional-educational process. Teachers and researchers, educational policymakers, the community, students, and even parents, have made efforts to minimize social, emotional, cognitive losses so that the current generation is not deprived of quality education and to benefits from the optimal conditions that influence their development as autonomous, creative, physically and mentally healthy personalities. In this context, unexpected challenges arose, which teachers had to face: how to achieve a quality education in an exclusively online environment (deprived of face-to-face interaction), how to communicate effectively and transmit not only words but attitudes, examples of conduct, principles, and values, how to motivate students and how to keep in touch with each of them. The research aims to explore the students’ perceived academic value of online/distance lectures using online learning platforms (Microsoft Teams and Zoom). A model has been developed and tested on a sample of 298 university students from Lithuania and Romania. The results show that perceived enjoyment and perceived learning effectiveness are the main antecedents of the perceived academic value.
Fracture Morphology and Fracture Toughness Measurement of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Concrete

Pavement distress occurs through a variety of mechanisms, but it is always controlled by the adhesive and cohesive performance of the asphalt binder. Although the causes of pavement failures are known, the precise mechanisms by which they occur remain to be understood. Observation of the fracture morphology of asphalt concrete can provide some information in this respect. The fracture morphology of asphalt concrete is dependent on the morphology of the binder. A network structure was observed in thin asphalt binder films and the fracture morphology and engineering properties of asphalt concrete were found to be dependent on the network morphology of the asphalt binder. Addition of polymers to asphalt binders causes changes in the nature of the network structure, and its effect can be qualitatively determined by characterizing the fracture morphology. Styrene butadiene styrene (SBS), styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) latex and an epoxy-terminated reacting polyolefin (Elvaloy AM) were used in this study. A quantitative method to determine the effect of polymer modification on the fracture properties of asphalt concrete is the J-contour integral fracture toughness measurement. An experimental protocol to measure the critical J-integral fracture toughness (J1c) was developed and the low temperature (-10°C) J1c values were determined for SEBS and Elvaloy AM-modified asphalt concrete at three different concentrations.
ROBUST STATE FEEDBACK CURRENT CONTROLLER APPLIED TO CONVERTERS CONNECTED TO THE GRID THROUGH LCL FILTERS

This paper provides the design and the experimental validation of a robust state feedback controller applied to voltage fed grid connected converters with LCL lter under grid impedance uncertainties. With the proposed robust design it is possible to guarantee stability for a given set of grid impedances and to provide suitable active damping of the LCL resonance which is a desired feature mainly for the connection of renewable energy sources to the grid. The robust feedback gains are obtained from a linear matrix inequalities optimization problem, which takes into account a limit for closed-loop eigenvalue assignment. In addition, the proposed design procedure provides simultaneously the control gains for feedback of the converter state variables, for an additional variable related to the delay inherent to the digital implementation of the control law, as well as for the states of multiple resonant controllers, which ensure reference current tracking and grid voltage disturbance rejection. A very good agreement between the simulation and the experimental results has been observed. Moreover, the closed-loop system with the proposed controller also present good transient and steady state.
A General Equivalent Circuit for Coupled-Cavity Slow-Wave Structures

A number of structures of the slot-coupled cavity chain type are used in high-power traveling-wave tubes. In these, different relationships between the structure pass bands and the cavity and slot resonances are found to exist. By the construction of equivalent circuits which have patterns of current flow similar to those in the real structures, this behavior is calculated and the importance of the partial nature of the coupling and the relative alignment of the slots is illustrated. It is possible to obtain from the circuits presented a qualitative understanding of the general behavior of structures of this type.
Productivity and Play in Organizations: Executive Perspectives on the Real-World Organizational Value of Immersive Virtual Environments

Abstract In exploring the productive potential of virtual worlds, one relevant line of inquiry is the degree to which immersive online environments can support the objectives of real-world enterprises. Despite the favorable treatment of virtual worlds in the popular and business press, organizations remain cautious in their acceptance and adoption of virtual environments. Since there is a dearth of academic literature on this facet of the virtual world phenomenon, this research aims to provide an assessment of executive perspectives on the potential impact of virtual worlds on businesses and the challenges that may be encountered in organizational application of such environments. To capture business-oriented perceptions of virtual worlds we analyzed, the reports of twenty-five business executives who recently spent considerable time training in and exploring Second Life, a popular online virtual environment. We identify and discuss seven tensions reflected in their assessment of the organizational role o.
Engineering Mesophase Stability and Structure via Incorporation of Cyclic Terminal Groups

We report on the characterisation of a number of liquid-crystalline materials featuring cyclic terminal groups, which lead to significant enhancements in the temperature range of the mesomorphic state. Materials with only short terminal chains are able to support lamellar mesophase formation by appending a large terminal cyclic unit at the end of a short methylene spacer. X-ray scattering experiments reveal that the layer spacings of the lamellar smectic phase are significantly larger when a cyclic end-group is present than for equivalent linear unsubstituted materials, but there is no effect on orientational order. Fully atomistic molecular dynamics simulations faithfully reproduce experimental layer spacings and orientational order parameters, and indicate that the cyclic terminal units spontaneously segregate into diffuse sub-layers and thus cause the increased layer spacing. This shape segregation predicted by molecular dynamics simulations is observed in the crystalline solid state by X-ray diffraction.
Evaluation of the physiological data indicating the dynamic stress level of drivers

Bio-signal recordings that reflect the operating conditions of the physiological systems provide several useful metrics to determine the dynamics of internal states in human body. In this context, this study is aimed to identify the useful metrics indicating the real-time stress level of drivers. Totally 10 of drivers’ bio-signal datasets obtained from MIT-BIH PhysioNet Multi-parameter Database were used to quantify the stress level of drivers. Each dataset includes several bio-signal recordings gathered from drivers during the drives conducted in a set path where 3 different levels of stress likely occur through over 20 miles of open roads. The recordings have markings indicating the time intervals between the driving segments corresponding to a number of city and highway driving periods with initial and final rest periods. Evaluations have been completed by using the available segment based arrays of instantaneous heart rate (IHR), hand based skin conductance (HSC), foot based skin conductance (FSC) and electromyography (EMG) signals. For further evaluations, the segment based data arrays including instantaneous respiratory rate (IRR) and average number of contractions/minutes (CPM) have been derived from the respiratory and EMG signals, respectively by using a peak detection algorithm. Statistical comparisons using the overall mean and mean values of the IHR, HSC, FSC, EMG, IRR and CPM data arrays showed that with an optional exception of IRR all of these metrics can be identified as useful parameters in the future car technology to determine the dynamic stress level of drivers.
Variable-Switching-Frequency Single-Stage Bidirectional GaN AC–DC Converter for the Grid-Tied Battery Energy Storage System

This article presents a 10-kW novel gallium-nitride (GaN)-based three-phase grid to 48-V battery energy storage system (BESS). The BESS utilizes a single-stage ac–dc dual-active-bridge (DAB) converter with dual-phase-shift (DPS) and variable-frequency (VF) control. 600- and 80-V GaN power transistors, as well as planar magnetics, are used to achieve 96.6% efficiency and 50-W/in$^3$ power density. The operation principle and power transfer characteristics are derived based on time-domain analysis of the DAB inductor current. VF and DPS are utilized to achieve power factor correction and zero-voltage switching simultaneously while minimizing the DAB rms current. An online calculation algorithm is presented with short execution time, which enables the closed-loop control of the BESS. Experimental results are presented to validate the novel control.
Stakeholders’ Views and Confidence Towards Indonesian Medical Doctor National Competency Examination: A Qualitative Study

Introduction Indonesia is a huge country consisting of 33 provinces with different characteristics. There are 83 medical schools across Indonesia with different accreditation statuses. The Indonesia Medical Doctor National Competency Examination (IMDNCE) has been established to control the quality of medical school graduates. The implementation of IMDNCE needed to be evaluated to determine its impact. To date, there has not been any research in Indonesia that explores the stakeholders’ perceptions toward IMDNCE. This study aimed to explore how the stakeholders in Indonesia perceived the impact of IMDNCE towards performances of medical school graduates in clinical practice. Methods and Study Participants A qualitative study with phenomenological approach was conducted to investigate perceptions of stakeholders including representatives from consumer organizations, the National Health Coverage, the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Medical Association, employers (hospital and health center directors), clinical supervisors as well as patients across Indonesia. Data were obtained through focus group discussions (FGDs) and interviews. The study used thematic analysis methods to obtain the results. Results A total of 90 study participants participated in the study including 10 representatives of consumer watchdog organizations, the National Health Coverage, the Ministry of Health, the Indonesian Medical Association, 31 employers, 32 professionals, and 17 patients. The study found three general themes which represent the perceptions of the stakeholders towards performances of medical school graduates in clinical practice: IMDNCE as an effort to standardize doctor graduates in Indonesia, the results of IMDNCE as a mean to reflect the quality of medical education in Indonesia, and IMDNCE as an effort to improve health services in Indonesia through the quality of graduates. Conclusion In general, the stakeholders perceived that the IMDNCE was able to standardize medical school graduates from various medical schools across Indonesia. However, the IMDNCE needs to be further developed to maximize its potential in improving the competences of Indonesian medical students.