Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Roles of Ambient Temperature and PM2.5 on Childhood Acute Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis from Viral Infection

Studies have associated the human respiratory syncytial virus which causes seasonal childhood acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis (CABs) with climate change and air pollution. We investigated this association using the insurance claims data of 3,965,560 children aged ≤ 12 years from Taiwan from 2006–2016. The monthly average incident CABs increased with increasing PM2.5 levels and exhibited an inverse association with temperature. The incidence was 1.6-fold greater in January than in July (13.7/100 versus 8.81/100), declined during winter breaks (February) and summer breaks (June–August). The highest incidence was 698 cases/day at <20 °C with PM2.5 > 37.0 μg/m3, with an adjusted relative risk (aRR) of 1.01 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.97–1.04) compared to 568 cases/day at <20 °C with PM2.5 < 15.0 μg/m3 (reference). The incidence at ≥30 °C decreased to 536 cases/day (aRR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.85–1.06) with PM2.5 > 37.0 μg/m3 and decreased further to 392 cases/day (aRR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.58–0.65) when PM2.5 was <15.0 μg/m3. In conclusion, CABs infections in children were associated with lowered ambient temperatures and elevated PM2.5 concentrations, and the high PM2.5 levels coincided with low temperature levels. The role of temperature should be considered in the studies of association between PM2.5 and CABs.
Evolutionary algorithms for robust methods

A drawback of robust statistical techniques is the increased computational effort often needed compared to non robust methods. Robust estimators possessing the exact fit property, for example, are NP-hard to compute. This means thatunder the widely believed assumption that the computational complexity classes NP and P are not equalthere is no hope to compute exact solutions for large high dimensional data sets. To tackle this problem, search heuristics are used to compute NP-hard estimators in high dimensions. Here, an evolutionary algorithm that is applicable to different robust estimators is presented. Further, variants of this evolutionary algorithm for selected estimatorsmost prominently least trimmed squares and least median of squaresare introduced and shown to outperform existing popular search heuristics in difficult data situations. The results increase the applicability of robust methods and underline the usefulness of evolutionary computation for computational statistics.
First-Principles Study on the Stability, Site Preference, Electronic Structure and Magnetism of Alloyed Fe3B with Ni3P-Type Structure

First-principles calculations were performed to investigate the site preference of alloying elements, and the effect of alloying elements on stability, electronic structure and magnetism of Ni3P-type Fe3B. The calculated energies suggested that all studied compounds are thermodynamically stable while it is relatively difficult to synthesize the (Fe2.875,Cu0.125)B, (Fe2.875,W0.125)B and (Fe2.875,Nb0.125)B. The (Fe2.875,W0.125)B is the most stable compound from the view of cohesive energy. Mn element prefers to occupy the Fe2 site, whereas the others are more likely to reside in the Fe1 site. It can be found from the electronic structures that the DOSs of both Fe3B and alloyed Fe3B are dominated by Fe-d states, and all the compounds mainly contain Fe-B covalent bond, Fe-Fe covalent bond and Fe-Fe metallic bond. Based on the magnetic moments (Ms) results, it can be known that the Fe3B, (Fe2.875,Mn0.125)B, (Fe2.875,Co0.125)B, (Fe2.875,Ni0.125)B and (Fe2.875,Cu0.125)B are ferromagnetic compounds, whereas the others are ferrimagnetic compounds. Only Mn and Co are able to enhance the magnetism of Fe3B. Moreover, Mn is the most favorable candidate for improving the magnetic properties of Fe3B among the alloying elements. These results can be used to guide the composition design and performance optimization of magnetic materials containing Fe3B with Ni3P-type structure.
Language Learning Motivation and Its Role in Learner Complaint Production

While motivation plays an important role in language learning, few attempts have been made to explore its significance in second language (L2) pragmatics learning. The current study investigated whether and how language learning motivation affects L2 pragmatics production. A total of 60 adult Chinese learners of English participated in this study. Data were elicited from a motivation questionnaire and a discourse completion task (DCT). The results revealed that L2 learners with high motivation performed better in making complaints in the target language than learners with low motivation. Moreover, learners’ levels of pragmatic production correlated positively with their overall L2 motivation, as well as with four motivational subscales, namely, attitudes towards learning English, ideal L2 self, intended learning efforts, and attitudes towards the L2 community. Regression analysis showed that learners’ attitude towards learning English best predicted their production of the speech act of complaints. The findings of this study support the role motivational dispositions play in learners’ L2 pragmatic production. The study provides insight into the interaction of L2 motivation and pragmatics learning.
ON THE APPROXIMATION OF TIME SERIES BY THRESHOLD AUTOREGRESSIVE MODELS

In recent years a number of nonlinear alternatives to the classical linear time series models have been developed. The most notable among these are the bilinear (Granger and Andersen, 1978 ; Subba Rao, 1981), the threshold autoregressive (TAR) (Tong and Lim, 1980 ; Tong, 1983), and the exponential autoregressive (Ozaki, 1981 ; Haggen and Ozaki, 1981) classes of models. In addition to these specific classes, Priestley (1980) has introduced a generalized class of nonlinear models, the state dependent models, (SDMs) which includes each of the above classes as a special case. In this note we show that threshold autoregressive models can almost surely approximate a general class of time series processes, including both exponential autoregressive and invertible bilinear processes. While Haggen et al. (1984) give a passing reference to TAR models as approximations to SDMs, and Tong (1983) provides an heuristic justification of TAR models as approximations to more general models, we feel the question of such approximations has not been adequetely addressed. The importance of knowing that TAR models can approximate a wide class of processes lies in their tractability and interpretability. In addition, by knowing the ranges of possible behaviour of TAR processes, we can infer the behaviour of the processes they approximate. These results also help to explain why tests designed to detect TAR-type nonlinearity (see, eg. Chan and Tong, 1987 ; Petruccelli and Davies, 1986) often perform well in detecting other types of nonlinearity such as exponential autoregressive or bilinear.
Characterization of a ground penetrating radar shielded antenna using laboratory measurements, FDTD modeling and swarm global optimization

Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) is an optimization method that retrieves high-quality images of the ground's internal electromagnetic properties, such as permittivity, permeability, or conductivity. FWI requirements include an initial subsurface image of the parameters (starting point models), a wave propagation model, a cost function, and the source wavelet used during data acquisition. Usually, the source wavelet is estimated from the acquired data, or modelled from the antenna characteristics. In this study, the materials of the shielded antenna of a commercial Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), developed by GSSI, are estimated using a global optimization method, from the observation measurements of the source signal. The estimated source is then used to model the wave propagation of the electromagnetic signal, and to estimate the electromagnetic parameters of the SEAM model via FWI. Experimental results show that the soil characteristics with the estimated source and pattern radiations retrieve better quality images than the inversion when the radiation pattern is neglected. In fact, the impact of using the correct source during the inversion is more evident when the initial model is distant from the correct solution.
Exploring the User Experience (UX) of University Learning Management System (LMS)

During the Covid19 pandemic, universities around the world had to transformed from the classroom learning into an online learning environment. Varieties of learning Management System (LMS) were developed by respective universities and software companies to assist the learning process. In Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), UFuture platform is developed to assist in the teaching and learning process. However, there is little information on the user experience (UX) among the students interacting with UFuture. This paper attempt to address the user experience of UFuture usage. The data were gathered from a focus group study consists of 50 postgraduate students that has experiences using UFuture platform for learning. The study used a standard User Experiences Questionnaire (UEQ) comprised of 26 questions in measuring six (6) scales which are Attractiveness, Perspicuity, Efficiency, Dependability, Stimulation, and Novelty. The descriptive analysis result indicates neutral evaluation, where the mean values of each scale within -0.8 to 0.8. In addition, the benchmarking between UiTM UFuture against UEQ dataset shows that the learning platform scored “below average”. For future work it is suggested, element of attractiveness, efficiency, stimulation and dependability of UFuture platform should be enhanced to heighten the overall student’s user expe rience (UX).
Boundary Elements and Other Mesh Reduction Methods XXIX

Section 1: Meshless techniques Stress analysis by local integral equations Non-overlapping domain decomposition scheme for the symmetric radial basis function meshless approach with double collocation at the sub-domain interfaces Initial stress formulation for three-dimensional elastoplastic analysis by the triple--reciprocity boundary element method A meshless solution for potential equations using a continuous-valued circular line source Adaptive error estimation of the Trefftz method for solving the Cauchy problem Section 2: Advanced formulations New boundary element analysis of acoustic problems with the fictitious eigenvalue issue A BEM formulation of free hexagons based on dynamic equilibrium Introduction of STEM for stress analysis in statically determined bodies Null-field integral equations and their applications Section 3: Dual reciprocity method Hybrid BEM for the early stage of a 3D unsteady heat diffusion process Evaluation of strong shear thinning non-Newtonian fluid flow using single domain DR-BEM DRM-MD approach for bound electron states in semiconductor nano-wires Section 4: Computational issues Comparison of radial basis functions in evaluating the Asian option Inmost singularities and appropriate quadrature rules in the boundary element method Parallelized iterative domain decomposition boundary element method for thermoelasticity Section 5: Fluid mechanics applications Flow over a square cylinder by BEM Meshless analysis of flow and concentration in a water reservoir Numerical analysis of compressible fluid flow in a channel with sharp contractions Section 6: Heat and mass transfer Multiscale simulation coupled DRBEM with FVM for the two-phase flow with phase change process of micrometer scale particles Boundary Element Method for double diffusive natural convection in a horizontal porous layer Section 7: Plates and shells Analysis of von Karman plates using a BEM formulation Linear analysis of building floor structures by a BEM formulation based on Reissner's theory Section 8: Wave propagation Time and space derivatives in a BEM formulation based on the CQM with initial conditions contribution A method for obtaining a sparse matrix from the volume integral equation for elastic wave propagation Section 9: Damage mechanics and fracture Two-parameter concept for anisotropic cracked structures Coupled FEM-BEM crack growth analysis Section 10: Electrical engineering and electromagnetics Electromagnetic modeling of a lightning rod The analysis of TM-mode and TE-mode optical responses of metallic nanostructures by new surface integral equations Measures for the postprocessing of grounding electrodes transient response Section 11: Inverse problems Singular superposition elastostatics BEM/GA algorithm for cavity detection Numerical solution of an inverse problem in magnetic resonance imaging using a regularized higher-order boundary element method
ATP levels influence cell movement during the mound phase in Dictyostelium discoideum as revealed by ATP visualization and simulation

Cell migration plays an important role in multicellular organism development. The cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum is a useful model organism for the study of cell migration during development. Although cellular ATP levels are known to determine cell fate during development, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that ATP‐rich cells efficiently move to the central tip region of the mound against rotational movement during the mound phase. A simulation analysis based on an agent‐based model reproduces the movement of ATP‐rich cells observed in the experiments. These findings indicate that ATP‐rich cells have the ability to move against the bulk flow of cells, suggesting a mechanism by which high ATP levels determine the cell fate of differentiation.
Validation of a Research Instrument to Measure Generation Y Parents’ Perception of Service Quality and Effect on Satisfaction and Word of Mouth in International Schools

This quantitative research aimed to (1) validate an adapted instrument used for measuring service quality in private hospitals to measure the perceived service quality of K-12 international schools and (2) implement the instrument to assess service quality’s impact on word of mouth and satisfaction. It was necessary to contextualize the scale items through item objective congruence test using industry experts. Scale items were adjusted to reflect the service provided by teachers, staff, and leadership of the school. The resulting 27 scale items for service quality were shown to be contextually valid and internally reliable. The instrument was then implemented to measure parental service quality’s effect satisfaction and word of mouth. The survey was piloted by 33 parents and verified for internal consistency before being administered to 422 Generation Y parents. The results showed that the modified instrument was reliable and valid. The results showed that service quality had a direct and positive effect on both satisfaction and word of mouth but it had a greater effect on satisfaction.
Hydrogel Beads of Amidoximated Starch and Chitosan as Efficient Sorbents for Inorganic and Organic Compounds

The synthesis of hydrogel beads involving natural polymers is, nowadays, a leading research area. Among natural polymers, starch and chitosan represent two biomolecules with proof of efficiency and low economic impact in various utilization fields. Therefore, herein, the features of hydrogel beads obtained from chitosan and three sorts of starch (potato, wheat and rise starches), grafted with acrylonitrile and then amidoximated, were deeply investigated for their use as sorbents for heavy metal ions and dyes. The hydrogel beads were prepared by ionotropic gelation/covalent cross-linking of chitosan and functionalized starches. The chemical structure of the hydrogel beads was analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy; their morphology was revealed by optical and scanning electron microscopies, while the influence of the starch functionalization strategies on the crystallinity changes was evaluated by X-ray diffraction. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to reveal the influence of the grafting reactions and grafted structure on the starch conformation in solution and their interactions with chitosan. The sorption capacity of the hydrogel beads was tested in batch experiments, as a function of the beads’ features (synthesis protocol, starch sort) and simulated polluted water, which included heavy metal ions (Cu2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+) and small organic molecules (Direct Blue 15 and Congo red).
Predictive Power for Thrombus Detection after Atrial Appendage Closure: Machine Learning vs. Classical Methods

Device-related thrombus (DRT) after left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is infrequent but correlates with an increased risk of thromboembolism. Therefore, the search for DRT predictors is a topic of interest. In the literature, multivariable methods have been used achieving non-consistent results, and to the best of our knowledge, machine learning techniques have not been used yet for thrombus detection after LAA occlusion. Our aim is to compare both methodologies with respect to predictive power and the search for predictors of DRT. To this end, a multicenter study including 1150 patients who underwent LAA closure was analyzed. Two lines of experiments were performed: with and without resampling. Multivariate and machine learning methodologies were applied to both lines. Predictive power and the extracted predictors for all experiments were gathered. ROC curves of 0.5446 and 0.7974 were obtained for multivariate analysis and machine learning without resampling, respectively. However, the resampling experiment showed no significant difference between them (0.52 vs. 0.53 ROC AUC). A difference between the predictors selected was observed, with the multivariable methodology being more stable. These results question the validity of predictors reported in previous studies and demonstrate their disparity. Furthermore, none of the techniques analyzed is superior to the other for these data.
Reasoning by Mathematical Induction in Children's Arithmetic

Acknowledgements. Summary. Introduction. Mathematical Induction. Mathematical induction, logical deduction, and empirical induction. Poincare's analysis of mathematical induction. Frege's and Russell's analysis of mathematical induction. Critical review. Conclusion. Reasoning by Mathematical Induction: Piaget's Critique. Piaget on the analysis of Frege and Russell. Piaget on Poincare's analysis. Inhelder and Piaget's (1963) study. Conclusion. Research on the Development of Children's Reasoning. Reasoning. Deduction. Induction. Mathematical induction. Reasoning, Reasons and Responses. Critical method. Rationale for a critical method. Children's Reasoning by Mathematical Induction. Method. Results: statistical analysis of responses. Results: epistemological analysis of reasons for responses. Conservation task. Teams tasks. Recurrence task. Discussion. Hypotheses. Developmental mechanism. Educational Implications in a Constructivist Model of Education. Piaget's model of education. Educational implications in a constructivist pedagogy. Commentary by Damon Berridge. References. Boxes, figures, tables.
Acquired Sideroblastic Anemia: An Exploratory Comparative Statistical Analysis Between Clonal and Non-clonal Cases

Sideroblastic anemia (SA) is a rare heterogenous group of inherited and acquired bone marrow disorders. We retrospectively studied the clinicopathologic characteristics, cytogenetic findings, and disease outcome of patients with acquired sideroblastic anemia (ASA) and performed a comparative analysis between clonal and non-clonal cases. 15 patients of ASA were detected: clonal SA (10 cases, 66.7%) including MDS, MDS/MPN, AML and t-MNs with ring sideroblasts) and SA secondary to non-clonal causes (5 cases; 33.3%), including copper deficiency (2 sideroblastic anemia, copper deficiency, non-clonal sideroblastic anemia cases), pyridoxine deficiency diagnosed during pregnancy, and 2 patients with idiopathic SA.Key Keywords: sideroblastic anemia, copper deficiency, non-clonal sideroblastic anemia
Tatami: The Enigmatic Toponym of Western Judah, and Use of Suffixes in Dating Toponyms

ABSTRACT Sometimes, all that remains from the history of a place is its name. Thus, toponyms may provide valuable information. Moving backward in time, we trace the ancient history of the Arab/Crusader village Bēt ˁAṭab in western Judea, with remains from Middle-Bronze II (MB II), Iron III and Hellenistic periods. In Roman times it was Eusebius’ Ēnadab, ‘Spring of ˁaṭab’, identified near the spring of this name mentioned in the Survey of Western Palestine. While missing from Masoretic Biblical town lists, Tatami of the Septuagint derives by dropping the b- from reconstructed batˁaṭami, traced to Northwest Semitic languages exhibiting the ay>ā diphthong contraction. The MB II final -i is analysed as an enclitic -mi, found also in the Execration Text (ET) Shechem, and as enclitic -ma in personal names from Alalaḫ VII. The ‘prince’ of nearby ET ‘Ashnah (=Beth Shemesh) had an identical name as later Niqmi-epuh, King of Yamḫad, suggesting settlers from Yamḫad/Alalaḫ during the early 2nd millennium bce. In Bronze Age Bēt-X toponyms X was a deity. Thus, batˁaṭami = ‘place of the vulture-goddess shrine’. This, and additional evidence, suggest that Egyptian king Senwosret III could have set a shrine to goddess Nekhbet on Bēt ˁAṭab’s summit during his Shechem campaign.
Robust Tracking Control of a Three-Phase Bidirectional Charger for Electric Vehicle

This paper presents a robust control strategy for an electric vehicle's three-phase off-board bidirectional AC-DC battery charger. The conventional constant current (CC) and constant voltage (CV) charging mode are considered to provide a fast-charging performance for the batteries. The bidirectional charger also allows using of the vehicle as an energy storage system for the grid i.e., charging during the peak-off times and delivering the energy back to the grid during peak times of electrical consumption. In discharging mode, the bidirectional charger maintains constant active power flow to the grid with a given reference. For both cases, user of a robust state feedback controller with integral action is made in the DQ-synchronous frame. The set of stabilizing gains of this controller are determined by a linear matrix inequality (LMI)-based optimization so that the convergence time to steady stead is minimized in the occurrence of the parametric uncertainties of the L-filter. The efficacy of the proposed controller is verified through simulation and experimental results on 102.4 V Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries.