Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development and Validation of a Nomogram for Predicting Overall Survival to Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy in Patients with Locally Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

This study aims to develop and validate a effective prognostic nomogram for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (LA-ESCC) patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Retrospective analysis of 503 patients with LA-ESCC given CCRT in our hospital from 2009 to 2016 was conducted. Two-thirds of the patients were randomly assigned to the training set (n = 335), and one-third were assigned to the validation set (n = 168). In order to generate the nomogram, multivariate cox regression analysis was undertaken in the training set for uncovering significant prognostic variables for overall survival. The C-index and calibration plot were used to verify nomogram discrimination and calibration, respectively. Five independent prognostic variables were found and incorporated into a nomogram: age, N stage, location, tumor response, and MLR (monocyte/lymphocyte ratio). The C-indexes of the training set and the validation set were 0.730 and 0.745, respectively. The discrimination and calibration of this nomogram showed good predictive power in both sets. Conclusively, the proposed nomogram may be served as an effective tool for prognostic evaluation of LA-ESCC patients receiving CCRT.
Low-level nutrient enrichment during thermal stress delays bleaching and ameliorates calcification in three Hawaiian reef coral species

Terrestrial-based nutrient pollution has emerged as one of the most detrimental factors to coral health in many reef habitats. Recent studies have shown that excessive dissolved inorganic nutrients can reduce coral thermal tolerance thresholds and even exacerbate bleaching during thermal stress, yet the effects of minor nutrient enrichment under heat stress have not been extensively studied. In this study, Lobactis scutaria, Montipora capitata, and Pocillopora acuta colonies under heated conditions (~30.5 °C) were exposed to low and balanced nitrogen and phosphorous concentrations over a 31-day heating period. Coral colonies were collected from Kāne‘ohe Bay, O‘ahu, which has a unique history of nutrient pollution, and held in mesocosms that allowed for environmental manipulation yet are also influenced by local field conditions. Principal findings included delays in the bleaching of nutrient-enriched heated colonies as compared to heated-only colonies, in addition to relatively greater calcification rates and lower proportions of early-stage paling. Species-specific outcomes were prevalent, with L. scutaria demonstrating no difference in calcification with enrichment under heat stress. By the end of the heating stage, however, many heated colonies were at least partially impacted by bleaching or mortality. Despite this, our findings suggest that low levels of balanced nutrient enrichment may serve as a mitigative force during thermal events. Further field-based studies will be required to assess these results in different reef habitats.
The impact of financial constraints on investment efficiency in South Africa

Shifts from firm-level investment efficiency occur due to market imperfections and informationasymmetry. This translates to an increased cost of capital, which leads to over or under-investments. This study demonstrates the absence of a direct association between investmentefficiency and financial constraints in African firms, complementing the efficient markethypothesis. We observed firms across different industries listed on the JSE from 2009 to 2019.Empirical results from panel data analysis reveal that financial constraints drive improvedinvestment levels and firms in this region depend on external funds – specifically credits – toinvest.
Coordinated Development of Languages in Multiethnic Inhabited Areas by Big Data Algorithm

The coordinated development of ethnic languages has always been an important task in the construction of ethnic culture. The rapid social and cultural innovation has had a certain impact on the language views of various ethnic groups, and the phenomenon of ethnic languages being endangered has become more and more serious. In order to alleviate this phenomenon, it is urgent to analyze and study the coordinated development of languages in multiethnic areas. However, in view of the current field of language development analysis, the analysis methods used are often traditional field analysis and manual calculation, which not only affects the efficiency of analysis work but also makes it impossible to conduct in-depth research. This paper studies the coordinated development of languages in multiethnic areas in combination with big data algorithms. On the basis of fully understanding the factors affecting language development, the cluster analysis in big data algorithms is used to study the language development of a multiethnic area. The experimental results show that the proportion of bilingual and multilingual people in this area is 27.01% and 20.11% in formal occasions. Combined with the actual investigation, the accuracy of these data is high. The popularization of big data algorithms in the current stage of language coordination development analysis can effectively eliminate interfering factors, make accurate judgments based on the most relevant information and data, and provide certain decisions and suggestions.
Bridging the Targeting Gap: Assessing Humanitarian Beneficiaries' Likely Eligibility for Social Protection in Iraq

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.
Assessment of Socket Pressure during Walking in Rapid Fit Prosthetic Sockets

(1) Background: A sustainable casting system that combines the use of a polystyrene bag, a prosthetic liner and a vacuum system was developed to reduce fabrication time while maintaining comfort for the trans-tibial prosthesis user. (2) Methods: Eight prosthetists (28.7 ± 8.25 years old) fit ten trans-tibial prosthesis wearers (46 ± 12.4 years old) with two types of total surface bearing (TSB) prostheses; a polystyrene bead (PS) prosthesis and a plaster of paris (POP) prosthesis. Duration of casting and combined mean peak pressure was measured at six locations on the residual limb using Force Sensing Resistors (FSR). A pressure uniformity score (%) was determined. Socket Comfort Scale (SCS) was also measured. (3) Results: Duration of casting for the POP method was 64.8 ± 9.53 min and 7.8 ± 2 min for the PS method, (p = 0.006). Pressure uniformity in the POP prosthesis was 79.3 ± 6.54 and 81.7 ± 5.83 in the PS prosthesis (p = 0.027). SCS in both prosthesis types were equivalent. (4) Conclusion: A rapid fit PS prosthesis was developed, with significantly shorter duration than the traditional POP method. Socket pressure uniformity was confirmed and improved in the PS method. Socket comfort was equal between the two prothesis types.
BSC-Based Performance Evaluation Model for Securities Industry and Its Application

In the study on China’s securities industry, the securities industry is divided into four types: investment in securities, securities brokerage, securities consulting, and securities underwriting and asset management. In this paper, a performance evaluation index system for the securities industry is established by using the balanced scorecard method. Based on the analytic hierarchy process, entropy weight method, and improved entropy weight method, we propose the traditional integrated weighting method and improved integrated weighting method, thus arriving at four different index weight systems. Finally, we work out the comprehensive scores of four types of securities companies under the four index weight systems, analyze the actual situation of China’s securities industry by comparing the scores and rankings of securities companies under the four index weight systems, and then put forward specific suggestions.
Effect of tip rake angle on the hydrodynamic characteristics and sound pressure level around the marine propeller

ABSTRACT This paper presents the effect of the tip rake angle on the hydrodynamic characteristics and sound pressure level (SPL) around the ship propeller by Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes solver. Tip rake angle may cause changes in tip vortex and hydrodynamic performance and noise level. The two-step Fflowcs Williams and Hawkings (FW-H) equations are used to calculate the pressure distribution, hydrodynamic characteristics as well as SPL at various points around the propeller. The DTMB4382 propeller is selected. The effects of the tip rake angle on the hydrodynamic and SPL around the propeller are investigated. Various numerical results such as SPL at different downstream points and different topside points of the propeller and hydrodynamic characteristics are presented and discussed. Main conclusion is found that when the positive or negative rake is increased the efficiency is slightly decreased and the SPL is also diminished.
Electron Microscope Observation of Acupuncture and Nerve Repair in the Treatment of Peripheral Facial Paralysis

The repair of peripheral facial paralysis is a long-term problem in neurosurgery, and nerve repair is often needed. Due to the high differentiation of nerve tissue and the slow regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers, the repair effect after peripheral nerve injury is not ideal. In recent years, studies have found that the inflammatory response after peripheral nerve injury also has an important impact on the repair of peripheral nerve defects. This study depends on the utilization of traditional needle therapy in the treatment of fringe facial loss of motion, and the clinical adequacy of needle therapy in addition to nerve fix in the intense period of fringe facial loss of motion was seen with an electron magnifying lens. Endeavor to give significant exploration results to the clinical treatment of fringe facial loss of motion gives a straightforward, simple, protected, and successful new treatment innovation for the clinical treatment of the infection and enriches the treatment plan for peripheral facial paralysis. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed that 21 days after the artificial nerve was repaired, the nerve injury showed different degrees of recovery, and the myelin sheath was forming and gradually wrapping the new axons, which was similar to the catheter group (NC) and hydrogel group (HC). In contrast, the myelin layer of the fibroblast group (FHC) is more obvious, and the repair effect is better. In the maintenance of fringe nerve surrenders, irritation is an unavoidable interaction, and moderate needle therapy is useful to advance the maintenance of fringe nerve abandons. Talking about the law of nerve fix reaction in fringe nerve imperfection fix is helpful to the examination of fringe nerve deformity fix. Tests have shown that utilizing needle therapy and moxibustion joined with nerve fixes has accomplished great outcomes in the treatment of fringe facial loss of motion, and the patient's recuperation rate has expanded by over 30%.
WLAN RSS-Based Fingerprinting for Indoor Localization: A Machine Learning Inspired Bag-of-Features Approach

Location-based services have permeated Smart academic institutions, enhancing the quality of higher education. Position information of people and objects can predict different potential requirements and provide relevant services to meet those needs. Indoor positioning system (IPS) research has attained robust location-based services in complex indoor structures. Unforeseeable propagation loss in complex indoor environments results in poor localization accuracy of the system. Various IPSs have been developed based on fingerprinting to precisely locate an object even in the presence of indoor artifacts such as multipath and unpredictable radio propagation losses. However, such methods are deleteriously affected by the vulnerability of fingerprint matching frameworks. In this paper, we propose a novel machine learning framework consisting of Bag-of-Features and followed by a k-nearest neighbor classifier to categorize the final features into their respective geographical coordinate data. BoF calculates the vocabulary set using k-mean clustering, where the frequency of the vocabulary in the raw fingerprint data represents the robust final features that improve localization accuracy. Experimental results from simulation-based indoor scenarios and real-time experiments demonstrate that the proposed framework outperforms previously developed models.
Identification of Metropolitan Area Boundaries Based on Comprehensive Spatial Linkages of Cities: A Case Study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

As a regional management unit to solve "urban diseases,” metropolitan areas are gradually attracting widespread attention. How to objectively and accurately delineate the boundaries of a metropolitan area is the primary prerequisite for carrying out targeted studies and precisely formulating regional planning measures. However, the existing methods for delineating metropolitan area boundaries have problems, such as high data acquisition costs, subjectivity, and a single perspective of urban linkage. To address the above problems, we propose a “bottom-up” approach to metropolitan area boundary delineation based on urban comprehensive spatial linkages. We used only publicly available data to construct a directionally weighted network of urban spatial linkages, and applied community detection algorithms to delineate metropolitan area boundaries. Taking the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region as a case study area, the method’s validity was confirmed. The results showed the following: (1) Eight metropolitan areas were delineated within the region, with two types of metropolitan areas: “Inter-municipal” and “single-city”. (2) The overall accuracy of the delineation results reached 83.41%, which is highly consistent with their corresponding isochrone maps. (3) Most metropolitan areas were observed to have an obvious “central–peripheral” structure, with only the JingJinLang metropolitan area being a polycentric mature metropolitan area, whereas the other metropolitan areas remained in the initial stage of development, with Zhangjiakou and Chengde not yet having formed metropolitan areas. This study’s methodology highlights the basic criteria of “inter-city spatial linkage” as the foundation for boundary delineation, avoiding the inaccuracy caused by the subjective selection of boundary thresholds, and can also accurately determine the developmental stage and internal spatial structure of metropolitan areas. Our method can provide new perspectives for regional boundary delineation and spatial planning policy formulation.
Large-area patterning for broadband, quasi-omnidirectional low-reflectance glass

A method for producing large-area, broadband, quasi-omnidirectional low-reflectivity glass surfaces is presented. Using block copolymer patterning and inductively coupled plasma etching, near-periodic arrays of pillars are formed in glass. The patterned surface has reflectivity < 0.5%—almost an order of magnitude smaller than plain glass—with a bandwidth of ∼300 nm. Substrates etched on both sides transmit > 99.5% across the wavelength range 850–1200 nm, with > 99% down to λ = 650 nm. The process is demonstrated on a 5 cm diameter fused silica wafer and high transmittance is maintained up to at least 70∘ incidence. The resulting substrates might find application as lab optics (windows, lenses, etc) display screens for televisions, computers, phones, and as encapsulants for optoelectronic devices.
Choline Supplementation Modifies the Effects of Developmental Alcohol Exposure on Immune Responses in Adult Rats

Prenatal alcohol exposure can disrupt the development of numerous systems, including the immune system. Indeed, alterations in cytokine levels may contribute to the neuropathological, behavioral, and cognitive problems, and other adverse outcomes observed in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Importantly, supplementation with the essential nutrient choline can improve performance in hippocampal-dependent behaviors; thus, the present study examined the effects of choline on plasma and hippocampal cytokines in adult rats exposed to ethanol in early development. From postnatal day (PD) 4–9 (third trimester equivalent), pups received ethanol (5.25 g/kg/day) or Sham intubations. Subjects were treated with choline chloride (100 mg/kg/day) or saline from PD10–30. On PD60, plasma and hippocampal tissue was collected before and after an immune challenge (lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 50 ug/kg). Prior to the immune challenge, ethanol-exposed subjects showed an overall increase in hippocampal pro-inflammatory cytokines, an effect mitigated by choline supplementation. In contrast, in the plasma, choline reduced LPS-related increases in pro-inflammatory markers, particularly in ethanol-exposed subjects. Thus, early choline supplementation may modify both brain and peripheral inflammation. These results suggest that early choline can mitigate some long-term effects of ethanol exposure on hippocampal inflammation, which may contribute to improved hippocampal function, and could also influence peripheral immune responses that may impact overall health.
The Smart Church, a New Normal Church in Digital Era

—COVID-19 has become the trigger to speed up churches’ move to digital platform. While the world is gathering big data and operating in artificial intelligence, churches are limited in its approach to digital Sunday services. More than just an online church that airs services to replace indoor services, the smart church is fulfilling its mission to build relationships and make disciples, supported by big data as the backbone of the ministry. The goal is not filling the building back after COVID-19, but accomplishing the mission through state-of-the-art technology. The purpose of this paper is to examine the future of church that is not necessarily contained within the four walls of the church building but rather as smaller communities of disciples meeting in various locations. This paper will provide a model for a church that fosters relationships in a digital age, providing ways to invite people, discipling them, growing them as leaders, and sending them to influence the world. Research Contribution: This research will help churches to have a new paradigm to enter the digital world that is now becoming a reality. It will also provide a model for churches that promotes discipleship in the new normal.
Asset Allocation: From Markowitz to Deep Reinforcement Learning

Asset allocation is an investment strategy that aims to balance risk and reward by constantly redistributing the portfolio's assets according to certain goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula that can find the right allocation for every individual. As a result, investors may use different asset allocations' strategy to try to fulfil their financial objectives. In this work, we conduct an extensive benchmark study to determine the efficacy and reliability of a number of optimization techniques. In particular, we focus on traditional approaches based on Modern Portfolio Theory, and on machine-learning approaches based on deep reinforcement learning. We assess the model's performance under different market tendency, i.e., both bullish and bearish markets. For reproducibility, we provide the code implementation code in this repository.
Analysis of Interventional Application Effect of Ultrasound-Guided QLB and TAPB in the Treatment and Analgesia of Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system. In order to study the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB in the treatment and postoperative analgesia of patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery. A total of 96 patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery from January 2021 to January 2022 are selected as the study subjects. The results show that ultrasound-guided QLB and TAPB therapy have good analgesic effects in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal surgery, and QLB treatment and postoperative analgesic effect are better than TAPB.
The Role of Spirituality on the Quality of the Life Among Elderly People in the Multicultural Context

The aim of the research is to compare the well-being and social life of people over sixty years of age depending on the degree of national spirituality. The goal is to capture and describe the quality of life and spirituality among the Bhutanese, Norwegian and Chinese populations in comparison with Czech participants, mainly by semi-structured interviews and the use of interpretative phenomenological analysis serving as a tool for evaluating given interviews. For research work, it is crucial to contribute to the understanding of phenomena that can lead to greater seniors' satisfaction, which is important because the amount of these people is still increasing. The current results have shown a big difference between the religion in Norway and Bhutan, the country of happiness. There was found a strong belief in Tibetan Buddhism among Bhutanese participants so far. None of the participants considered himself an atheist or a person with non-religious spirituality. All respondents showed a high level of satisfaction with life, and they often experienced joy. They come from well functional families and are happy with themselves. Norwegian participants are mostly agnostic or non-religious spiritual persons. None of them has proved to be a practicing believer nor a strict atheist. They felt the sense of life primarily in sport and in nature, they often mention cross-country skiing as a way of getting closer to the spirit. Furthermore, the intention is to extend the research on other nations.
Aerial Remote Sensing Image Cascaded Road Detection Network Based on Edge Sensing Module and Attention Module

Automatic road detection has always been an important research problem in the field of remote sensing image processing, which is of great significance for many applications. However, many road areas cannot be effectively detected and the existing road detection methods suffer from unsmooth edges due to shadow phenomena and the occlusion of objects such as trees. For this reason, we propose a cascaded automatic road detection network based on edge sensing module (ESM) and attention module (AM), called CasEANet. CasEANet consists of three tasks including road surface detection, road edge detection, and road centerline extraction. An encoder–decoder structure integrating ESM and AM is applied to detect the road surface. In order to obtain smoother road edges, the ESM is designed to enhance the perception of road edges. The AM is employed to guide the network to reinforce the perception of global information, aiming to solve the problem of discontinuity in the detection of road surfaces that are obscured by trees. The centerline extraction is adopted to assist the training of road surface detection. Experiments carried out on the RNBD dataset prove the effectiveness of CasEANet. Specially, the F1 score, overall accuracy (OA), and balanced error rates (BER) of the CasEANet (0.946, 0.986, and 0.0219, respectively) outperform the other state-of-the-art methods. The code will release soon on https://github.com/HITLDY/CasEANet.